Metal Halide bulb help, please

[tyler206]

hello everyone, i have odyssea fixture with 2 250w metal halide, the bulbs are old, so i need to change it with a new one but i dont know which brand is good, or where to order it, im in budget so i want to get it cheap it possible with quality bulbs,thank you for your help

[DownwardDawg]

DE or SE? (double or single ended bulbs)

[tyler206]

its double end bulb, thanks

[Mmiller40gt]

Pheonix. Check and see if marine depot has them for 40$ still. Also someone on amazon was selling 2 packs for about the same price

[DownwardDawg]

Plusrite can be bought for about $20 if you're looking for cheap. I would change them out after 6 months though. You pretty much get what you pay for. They look ok, but nothing like a Phoenix. I would defintely go with the Phoenix DE if it were me.

[usmc121581]

Plusrite can be bought for about $20 if you're looking for cheap. I would change them out after 6 months though. You pretty much get what you pay for. They look ok, but nothing like a Phoenix. I would defintely go with the Phoenix DE if it were me.

I did plusrite once and 2 months later bought good bulbs. Just spend the money now if you can. It will cost more in the long run going cheap.

[JAustin]

Plusrite sucks. Don't waste your money when Phoenix can be bought for $40-$50 and last twice as long without color shift or nearly as much drop in par.

[meshwheel]

HAMILTON 14K!!! Same exact PAR readings as a Radium! Excellent bulb that thei will warrantee! Color is excellent and price is 40.00. a bulb. Phoenix will make your tank look toilet bowl blue! Literally!

[tyler206]

thank you for your help, how about bulbs from
http://www.fishneedit.com
have anybody order from them

[Sprier]

I was wondering the same thing, thamks. What is the very top of the line in mh?

[Mmiller40gt]

thank you for your help, how about bulbs from
http://www.fishneedit.com
have anybody order from them

No name bulbs.. I would not use them.

[tkeracer619]

For DE
A phoenix or hamilton 14k is probably the best choice. The phoenix will be deeper blue. Ballast determines end output and color.

If I were to pick the best halide for most tanks it would be a SE Radium 20k 250w on a Aquamedic m80 magnetic ballast. If cost is not factored in then it would be SE Radium 20k 400w on a HQI ballast with 6 month bulb changes.

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting4/tmp/07369c2dce5095b899c48d13750043d8.png

[Nanook]

For DE
A phoenix or hamilton 14k is probably the best choice. The phoenix will be deeper blue. Ballast determines end output and color.

If I were to pick the best halide for most tanks it would be a SE Radium 20k 250w on a Aquamedic m80 magnetic ballast. If cost is not factored in then it would be SE Radium 20k 400w on a HQI ballast with 6 month bulb changes.

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting4/tmp/07369c2dce5095b899c48d13750043d8.png

Very good advice.

[cody6766]

Phoenix an Radium bulbs are my favorites. Since you have a DE light, the Radium is out of the question, and I recommend a Phoenix. Toilet bowl blue is a big exaggeration,but they aren't as white as a radium.

[Nanook]

I have a friend with Phoenix 14K DE bulbs over his 120 gallon tank and the color is a bluish-white, definitely not toilet water.

[tkeracer619]

I see this discussion going down the drain ;)

It really depends on the ballasts but driven properly they are a good crisp bulb. I have seem the phoenix 14k look just like windex. Unfortunately I have no idea what ballasts he was using. I run them on one of my tanks and they look great. Not artificial at all.

[usmc121581]

Just do not go the cheap route!��

[Nanook]

I run 8 250 watt Phoenix SE bulbs on HQI ballast and supplement them with VHO super actinics. The color is about the best I've seen.

[meshwheel]

Bear in mind, YOU GET A WARRANTEE WITH THE HAMILTON 14K BULB!!!! That about says it all there. You ahve a problem, they will pro-rate it for you.
The Phoenix does indeed look like Windex! And it washes out some of the reds and yellows in your corals. Evne the Radium 20K does. But it's a great bulb, no question about it!
Years ago I ran Osram PowerStars. 400 watt 20K. Best bulb I have ever used. Only till they disappeared did Radium raise in popularity! NUFF SAID!

[pcfish]

SOS lighting has Phoenix bulbs for 47.99 . Marine Depot will always do a price match here is the link.

http://www.soslightbulbs.com/Metal-Halide-Double-End.aspx

If you are using the original ballast that came with your unit I would look at upgrading them to better ballast. I had a friend that had an odyssea fixture and he changed his ballast it was the best thing he ever did.

[Nanook]

I've never had an issue with Phoenix yet and my tanks don't look like Windex or toidy water:lol: You can ask my whole reef club:D

[tkeracer619]

Its all about the ballast.

If you don't have a m80 ballast or an HQI setting on your select a watt ballast odds are it is going to look more blue. They are supposed to be run on a 250w m80 hqi ballast not on an electronic.

[meshwheel]

Ballasts can make or break a bulb indeed! Run the correct ballast and you are fine. I run a Ice Cap Electronic with my Hamilton 14K 250 watt bulb and love it.
However, the OP stated he runs a Odysee ballst and I think it's probably not the best of ballasts. Maybe someone can chime in on the ballast, as I have never used one.....

[DownwardDawg]

Plusrite sucks. Don't waste your money when Phoenix can be bought for $40-$50 and last twice as long without color shift or nearly as much drop in par.

He mentioned being on a budget so that's why I mentioned them. I bought one for my 30 gal tank because it was time for a new bulb and I'm cycling my new 125 now with 3-250watt Radiums. I didn't want to spend the extra money on something that would be taken down in a few months. It's been an "ok" bulb so far.
Here is a tank with Plusrite bulbs;
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2008050

[dunedinplankton]

odessya bulbs are like 14.00 on the bay of e...i run 10ks in my frag lasted 7 months so far

[Mekanic]

I'm using XM 20k's now, they look a lot like my old phoenix bulbs but don't seem as bright.

I'm going to go back to phoenix on next bulb change.

[mordibv]

Ballasts can make or break a bulb indeed! Run the correct ballast and you are fine. I run a Ice Cap Electronic with my Hamilton 14K 250 watt bulb and love it.
However, the OP stated he runs a Odysee ballst and I think it's probably not the best of ballasts. Maybe someone can chime in on the ballast, as I have never used one.....

If the fixture was bought new within a year or two it should be fine for firing a phoenix 14k bulb. The phoenix has a crisp blue white color . I have a buddy running. 72 inch unit and saw it in person in June of this year so no windex look.
The older units will not even fire a phoenix bulb or their own replacement bulb.The older ballast were not made well but the newer units do fair better.