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View Full Version : MH Bulbs, which one should I go with?


brad23
01/25/2006, 06:59 PM
I'm sure what bulb to go with. I have a 75g

I'm looking at the XM 10k and I see it has a really high par reading above most other bulbs.

Also I was looking at the EVC TEK 10k or 14k as they are $20 cheaper with this retro combo.

I'm mostly keeping LPS some softies, but want a clam and maybe some SPS later on. Which setup would be best for me?

brad23
01/25/2006, 08:39 PM
bump

JR719
01/25/2006, 08:46 PM
I went from Ushio 10K's to XM 10k's. I'm going back to Ushio when the XM's are used up. Mine have a yellow tint to them as my Ushio's were a nice white. Others have said their XM's are a crisp white, but not mine. Don't want to spend the money again just to get yellow bulbs.
The par on the XM's is greater though. I am more interested in the overall look. Even with 2 URI VHO actinics, still a tinge of yellow.

brad23
01/25/2006, 09:28 PM
I might go with the EVC 14k I was told they are more bue and not to yellow or white. Will they put out enough par for what I want to keep?

brad23
01/25/2006, 10:54 PM
bump

Entropy
01/25/2006, 11:38 PM
Are you supplementing with actinic? If not I would stay away from any 10k bulb unless you like bright white (no blue). The hamiliton 14ks look nice (175w SE's). What wattage and type bulb are you looking at?

brad23
01/26/2006, 09:13 AM
I wasn't going have actinic for now just the MH bulbs. Maybe I should stay with a 14k.

timr
01/26/2006, 12:18 PM
Look here at Sanjay's info on the bulbs. He a lot of info on 175 and 250 watt bulbs. I have the EVC 14K 175 bulb and it is definitely blue. From a quality perspective I have not had a problem with the EVC equipment in the 1 year I have owned the system. Here is the link to Sanjay's site:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

brad23
01/26/2006, 01:13 PM
I don't know, I will get actinic sometime or another I could probably deal with looking at 10k for a while.

timr
01/26/2006, 02:12 PM
If you compare the EVC 10K and 14K bulbs at 175 watts it is surprising that the 14k bulb has a par of 58 compared to 57 for the 10k bulb. This makes the 14k bulb slightly more efficient than the 10k bulb as well.

In the 175 watt class the bulbs there is almost no difference in PAR. BUT at the 250 watt EVC bulbs the par is 110 for a 10K and only 71 for the 14k.

brad23
01/26/2006, 02:24 PM
Hmmmmmm now I don't know what to get. I don't really plan on getting SPS maybe a peace. I'd a clam and maybe a BTA.

Ceak
01/26/2006, 03:04 PM
If you're looking for a DE bulb then get the Phoenix 14Ks. They are crisp white with a good hint of blue (nice blue not purple) and look very nice with our without actinic supplementation. The PAR is good too, way better then most 13-15k bulbs ...

brad23
01/26/2006, 03:32 PM
These were the units I was looking at buying, they do have a selcetion of bulbs you can choose for it.

http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=OE&Product_Code=E2R&Category_Code=EVMHR

Paulairduck
01/26/2006, 04:27 PM
I am using Hamilton 14k ,175 watt and love them! I am not using actinic supplementation and the tank still looks good.

brad23
01/26/2006, 08:55 PM
bump

Sindjin
01/26/2006, 08:58 PM
I just added Hamilton 14k's today. I love them!
I also have 2 VHO ACtinic supplements.
I love the blueish white... it really brought out the color of my tort!
I was running ReefGrow 10k's...way too yellow, IMO.

brad23
01/26/2006, 09:08 PM
What is the difference between the Hamilton 14k and the EVC 14k?

brad23
01/26/2006, 09:15 PM
I just looked at Sanjays graphs and the EVC and Hamilton seem to be very close with the EVC slightly ahead in par read out.

VaderWS6
01/26/2006, 10:01 PM
If you want awesome intensity with incredible PAR (950!) go with SE Iwasakis on a PFO HQI ballast. I'm running two 250watt Iwasakis on a PFO dual 250watt HQI ballast, and the intensity is incredible! I even tried my new replacement SE XM 250watt 10k's on the HQI, and they burn super white and very intense (unlike the previous defective yellow XM 10ks). I doubt you would ever have problems with XM SE bulbs as long as you used an HQI ballast. As for the SE Iwasakis, they even burn brighter than any DE 250watt HQI bulb I've seen. Using the HQI ballast with Iwasakis pretty much eliminates the yellow you would get from a standard mh ballast. They burn nice and white, almost as white as the XMs. Spend the extra $$$ and get the HQI ballast.

By the way, you won't even need actinic supplements if you use the HQI ballast. Yeah, it looks that good.

want2reef
01/27/2006, 07:13 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6597815#post6597815 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brad23
What is the difference between the Hamilton 14k and the EVC 14k?

I've had both in 250W.

EVC has a lot more blue.

Wolfgang
01/27/2006, 07:58 AM
XM 10K's get my Vote! The Reeflux look promising as well.

john rochon
01/27/2006, 07:59 AM
uh yeh because the HQI ballast is over driveing the lamps bigtime therefore shortening there lifespan by alot! those ballasts were meant for DE lamps and some euro lamps.:D

brad23
01/27/2006, 08:37 AM
I think I'm going with the EVC 14k bulbs I don't want a 10k and my tank looking white until I can buy blue light which will not be for a few months.

phishlet
01/27/2006, 08:09 PM
I'd go for just about anything over the XM 10k. Yes they are bright but they've had color consistency problems, color shifting issues and they just seem to be more yellow to me than other options. In the 10k range try the AB 10k lamps or the Reeflux 10k lamp.

VaderWS6
01/27/2006, 08:40 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6600174#post6600174 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john rochon
uh yeh because the HQI ballast is over driveing the lamps bigtime therefore shortening there lifespan by alot!

Yeah, thats pretty much a given. But if you're using Iwasakis, you really don't have anything to worry about. ;) XM is a different story. We'll see how long their color lasts on my HQI, I'll keep you guys posted.