best 400 watt MH bulb wo supplement

[bluface]

Hi All,

I bet this question was asked a billion times. But here goes.

I need two MH SE bulbs to replace my old no name 14k bulbs and need to know the best bulb out there. My ballasts are from Aquamedic. They are supposed to be magnetic pulse start.
I am of course, looking for par and nice coloration on the bluer side of the spectrum. Any thoughts appreciated! Thanks. And if you can post pics that would be wonderful too!

[flyin2jz]

Hands down for me. Radiums. Especially in 400s. I have 250s and it's perfect bluish white. I hear they are a bit bluer in 400 which would only look better to me.

[Nanook]

[moved]

[EmDy]

Speaking from my own experience, I have used radium, reeflux, Helios, ushios, I like reeflux 12k without supplement. Best bang for the buck.

[bluface]

I have heard so much about Radiums and not reeflux. Are you able to post some pics? Thanks..

[EmDy]

unfortunately I dont have any pics to back up my post.

[bluface]

Thanks.
Any other thoughts out there?

[t4zalews]

I've used radiums, XM 20k and reeflux 12k. I personally like the XM 20k's the best. Radiums were very nice too, but the XM's I feel had a little bit more blue. The reeflux was a nice bulb, but had too much a "purplish" tint for my liking.

[bluface]

So you guys have used all these bulbs. Which one would have given the best growth?

[Paulairduck]

Radium 20K and reeflux 12k are great bulbs withour supp, in the 400 watt category used them both. I would go with the reeflux and you will save about 20 per bulb

stay away from the 400 watt 20K reeflux, this is whiter than the 12K

[zaheda]

BLV 20k give of a very nice specctrum light.

[Sig45]

I've used 20K XM & Radiums in 400W on HQI. Prefer the Radiums color. Growth so far is the same but coloration of corals looks better with Radium.

[bluface]

Bump

[stephane]

XM 20k and I try them all

[bluface]

I have tried xm. I find a little dim

[Monti]

I also highly recommend the Reeflux 12k, have used for quite some time w/out supplement and really like the color/growth. Best bang for your buck for sure.

[bluface]

Any pics??

[bluface]

bump

[reeflord]

I have always used Xm20k with out actinics..... the color was great and the growth was good.... 4 weeks ago I decided to try something new, I ordered a radium 20k.....


I am hooked on the radium, it is so awesome!!
perfect blue/white mix imo

[Monti]

Here's a few pics of my corals under Reeflux 12k, no supps.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/skink6/Undata.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/skink6/SteveElias.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/skink6/GermanGreenwbluepolyps.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/skink6/Monticapitata.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/skink6/PokerstarandEchino.jpg

[bluface]

Thank you for these georgeous pics! If they are true to life I llike it. Very natural looking!
How long have you been using these bulbs?

[Monti]

Thanks for the compliments, I've been using the Reeflux 12ks for a little over two years.

[xtremereefer]

Monti,

What ballast are you running your lights on? Thanks.

[Monti]

The Coralvue Electronic ballast. I've heard that these bulbs are designed to run better with these ballasts. Not sure if that's true or if it's a sales pitch, but it's worked well for me!

[grigsy]

Radium is a good choice or XM 20K is a good alternative too.

[bluface]

Here's a few pics of my corals under Reeflux 12k, no supps.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/skink6/Undata.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/skink6/SteveElias.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/skink6/GermanGreenwbluepolyps.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/skink6/Monticapitata.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/skink6/PokerstarandEchino.jpg



How do you find the growth on these?

[dwhanc00]

would love to hear more. Looking for some 400's as well. I was thinking the Ushio 14K or the radium 12K.

[Monti]

I've found the growth to be very good. Almost all of my corals started off as frags, so the fact that I have some very big colonies now (several were about a foot wide before I had to cut them back) speaks very well about these bulbs for color and growth.