MH bulbs - Page 2

reeferaddict · #11 07-20-2006, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danny zubot

Sorry to Hi-jack.

I need to replcae my MH bulb soon too. I have a plain old magnetic 400 watt balast, and I want the bluest bulb I can get for it. Any suggestions?

Ushio 20K I believe....

fortheloveofcrabs · #12 07-20-2006, 10:30 PM

An XM 20k should also be fine.

danny zubot · #13 07-20-2006, 10:56 PM

I don't really feel like taking the balast apart to see if it is pulse or probe. I also don't feel like paying for Radiums, though they are the best 20K I think.

If XM 20K's are good bulbs I think I'll try one, after all they are very reasonably priced, as said before.

Delphinus · #14 07-20-2006, 11:09 PM

There's no markings on the outside to indicate what ANSI rating the ballast is?

My guess is, you'd probably know if it was a pulse-start, they tend to be a tiny bit more cost-wise, so if it wasn't advertised as such when you bought it, it's probably a probe start.

Seems to me that every so often there's a sale on Radiums, that's basically the time to pick them up. I haven't really followed the prices of 400W lamps in the last few years since I haven't been using them. In the meantime try the XM's maybe. I *was* just about to suggest looking into the Venture bulbs, but never mind - I see they're about the same price as the Radiums nowadays (what the heck is up with that? There was a time they were *way* less expensive than the other lamps! I tried some Venture 250's last year coming off my Iwasaki's but coming off the Iwasaki's they were *way* too blue .. it like a discotheque in the basement kind of blue so to avoid culture shock I asked to exchange them for some XM's 10's instead).

OCDP · #15 07-21-2006, 12:38 AM

Ushio 20k's are super blue.. a good blue though. Brings out tons of colour in your corals.

Mind you, I only used the 150w HQI bulb...

Aquattro · #16 07-21-2006, 02:38 AM

I just replaced my 400w radiums with XM 10k, so far the look is nice. We'll see how they burn in and affect the corals, I'll post a bit down the road with an update.
The 9 month old radiums are going to the curb, but if anyone local wants them for testing and demonstration purposes, let me know...

danny zubot · #17 07-21-2006, 02:42 PM

Any chance you have before and after pics Brad?

Aquattro · #18 07-21-2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danny zubot

Any chance you have before and after pics Brad?

I have before pics, so I can take a new shot and post it once I've run them for a week

StirCrazy · #19 07-22-2006, 12:48 AM

one thing to note, if you are talking probe and pulse start a probe ballast will not start a pulse bulb, but a pulse ballast will start either.

also a thing to not usaly a pulse start ballast is only 15 bucks or so more than a probe type, by spending the extra money one a pulse start ballastt you will extend your usefull bulb life as it is kinder to the bulb with this method of starting.

so spend the extra couple bucks and get a pulse start. (Oh and for thoes that might wonder an HQI ballast is a pulse start type also. a little more bucks again but the best bang for your tank out of the 3)

Steve

reeferaddict · #20 07-22-2006, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

one thing to note, if you are talking probe and pulse start a probe ballast will not start a pulse bulb, but a pulse ballast will start either.

also a thing to not usaly a pulse start ballast is only 15 bucks or so more than a probe type, by spending the extra money one a pulse start ballastt you will extend your usefull bulb life as it is kinder to the bulb with this method of starting.

so spend the extra couple bucks and get a pulse start. (Oh and for thoes that might wonder an HQI ballast is a pulse start type also. a little more bucks again but the best bang for your tank out of the 3)

Steve

Yup... you can run anything on an HQI ballast...