New Bulb

[JimD]

Anyone seen or used these yet? They look very interesting!
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ALS-TA250-10/20&Category_Code=mh-250w

[brewercm]

Interesting item. So many are moving away from MH I'd figure they'd come up with something new to try to get some back. Electric bills are just too high now and at least here in SA they will be going up even more soon.

[JimD]

I doubt Ill ever get away from halides, of course Im only using two at the moment so cost isnt really an issue. Im just not sold yet on T5's as a primary source of light and Id never give up my shimmer. lol

[Jonthefishguy]

Saw these while I was in Los Angeles and will be selling this line up as soon as they are released. I thought they looked nice lit up. Everyone has them on pre-order right now as they actually havent been released just yet. At least thats what I have been told.

[Bill S]

Hmm. Can some one tell me what the point of them is? I'm not sure I understand.

[Jonthefishguy]

The way they are setup is is that the dual 20K arc lamps will supposedly last twice as long however the manufacture does recommend based on how many hours the lights are actually used to change them at least every 12 months. Both arcs do not power up at the same time. They alternate eat time it fires up. I personally dont see the need to use the double arc same color unless of course you simply dont want to buy a replacement bulb in a year. Since the bulb hold two of the same exact color and alternating, it is said to last twice as long. However, I did find the dual arc different kelvin was very interesting and looked cool. Again they do not light up at the same time but alternate.

The dual arc different kelvin comes in 10K/20k. This means that the 10K will give you growth and the following time it turns on the is 20K which will give you color.

Example: each day you can split the amount of time the metal halides are on. For instance, on an 8 hour day with MH 4 hours can be 10K and the other 4 can be 20K. Obviously they have to be on timers so that there is a 5 minute break in between each arc firing up. Again the point is to get growth and color all in one bulb.

The bulbs are a bit longer than the typical MH bulbs now on the market and will not fit in every MH fixture. Currently they are only 250 watt and Mogul.

[Bill S]

OK, that kind of makes sense, John. Must be a total pain if (when) they get off-sequence though.

[LoneStar]

OK, that kind of makes sense, John. Must be a total pain if (when) they get off-sequence though.

Yeah, I agree. Sounds like an over engineered solution to a simple problem. I'd just stick with VHO actinic suppliment if I needed it.

[JimD]

Ive often thought about putting a 10k and a 20k bulb under the same reflector. If this bulb had two seperate k temps it would make better sense.