same two bulbs... two different colors

[Bobby A.]

I have two 150w double ended HQi bulbs from SPS that I bought about a month ago... one looks awesome the other starts out kinda pink when it comes on and ends up more white than the other one.... any suggestions?

thanks
bobby

[luther1200]

Are they both oriented the same way? I mean is the bump up on both bulbs?

[lReef_lKeeper]

are they running on the same ballasts ??

[clairendave]

Iirc they don't ignite if installed upside down?
Sounds like a ballast issue to me, unless they are cheap bulbs ?

[luther1200]

I thought they would ignite upside down but it could affect color? I am not 100% sure though. Anybody know for sure?

[ThaNgBOm321]

do they have similar amount of Hrs on them?

[carnut]

If the little filling nipple is beyond horizontal downward it affects the colour , above horizontal equals more blue at least on se bulbs. As per reef aquarium 3 book.

[Shane Hoffman]

Also this is from reeflux site.


We recommend that Reeflux bulbs should be run with electronic metal halide ballasts or pulse start magnetic ballasts. Probe start magnetic ballasts will not fire Reeflux lamps properly, which could lead to difficulties with the bulbs. The Reeflux lamps are pulse start. Probe start ballasts may ignite the lamp, however the drawbacks are shorter life, color variation between lamps, a shift in color over time, and low efficiency. Our Reeflux lamps require an ignitor to fire throughout its life cycle.

[Bobby A.]

yeah they have the same hours... put in at the same time.. the nipple is above horizontal....they are SPS brand bulbs.....

[mm949]

switch bulbs to see if its the ballast....
if so could be a bad capacitor

[luther1200]

Thats what I would try, swap the bulbs from each side to the other side and see if the color change follows the bulb or stays with the ballst.

[2cool4u]

i had to same bulbs same ballast one was brighter i switch out the bulbs to other ballast and it was just a bright as other side i ended up having one ballast not fier a bulb right