MH light bulb question

[polarbear]

I was wondering what the best 250w metal halide bulb is that will give me a blue tint to the tank. Just picked up new fixture at a great prices and want the tint to be blueish like my T5's give off. I was looking at the phoenix hexarc 250w 14000k but not sure.

[koa25]

You saw my big corner tank in the living room today. That blue? Or less blue?

[Big_Pun]

what kind of ballast are you running... that's a big factor

[polarbear]

You saw my big corner tank in the living room today. That blue? Or less blue?

Ya that was a nice color. What type of bulb?

[polarbear]

I have Hamilton 250W HQI ballast

[Big_Pun]

I have Hamilton 250W HQI ballast

I can't remeber if that's magnetic or electronic. if its a big box with a fan it's magnetic, if you could find ANSI number I can help you. some bulbs don't work we'll with magnetic and the ANSI number helps determine what will work. is it mogul base bulb. sorry for 20 questions just tryin to get you an exact answer

[mkengr45]

I always used 20k radium bulbs for mogul bases...and I think megachrome for DE. Now I'm a friggin LED guy and feel like I'm constantly chasing my tail to get the right balance...

[polarbear]

I can't remeber if that's magnetic or electronic. if its a big box with a fan it's magnetic, if you could find ANSI number I can help you. some bulbs don't work we'll with magnetic and the ANSI number helps determine what will work. is it mogul base bulb. sorry for 20 questions just tryin to get you an exact answer

It is the big box but with no fan. I believe it's magnetic. I took it apart and no fans. The ANSI code on the ballast is M80. Its a double ended bulb. Thanks for the help.

[Big_Pun]

you should have no problem with most bulbs as m80 is recommended for the Phoenix since its a hqi ballast. that said the Phoenix 14k is nice not too blue, ushio, Hamilton, bulbs are nice.

[reefreak]

I have 20k bulbs on mine

[CoryDude]

Go with the Phoenix/Hexarc 14k bulb. I haven't haven't a better bulb yet.

[polarbear]

I'm thinking about it. I saw some videos online and I really like the color. Where do you get your lights from?

[CoryDude]

Take a look at post 302 on my tank's thread. I've been using those bulbs since I found them a few years back. They hold their color really well.

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?62469-Some-Dude-s-Reef-New-FTS-11-5-12/page31

[polarbear]

Is that the same bulb in all four pictures?

[CoryDude]

Yeah, I adjusted the white balance on the last pic. But, it's pretty true to the way it looks. I also use 4 vho actinics so my tank is a little overdriven on the blue spectrum. Plus, the last pic was taken about a week ago and I need to replace the mh bulbs as of about 2 months ago. The earlier pics were from when the bulbs were only about 1-3 months old.

I would honestly say that the phoenix bulbs are closer to a 12k bulb, where as most advertised 14k bulbs are actually closer to a 20k spectrum. As you already know, you get a really good look with 20k bulbs, but you sacrifice coral grown. You get excellent growth with a 10k bulb, but they look too yellow. The phoenix bulbs are just the right combination of growth potential and a nice blue tint.

[alton]

I saw the M80 for the ballast but I did not see if you mentioned SE or DE? I have a used 250w SE Radium lamp if you want to borrow it to try and see if you like the color? I order them through Elegant Reef. I would think Jason could get them too. I like Radium because of the color, growth, longevity, and the fact they don't lose there color. I had three lamps one was 20 months, one at 3 months, the other 8 months and you could not tell with a naked eye which was which. I change my lamps when they drop 10% in foot candles and PAR levels.

[polarbear]

Sorry. Mine are DE bulbs. Wish I could have tired the one you have though before buying new bulbs.

[Big_Pun]

i have ordered bulbs from these guys in the past and they even took the time and money to be at MACNA just to show there support for the hobby, there aquatic bulbs sales are a small part of what they do but they still showed up and where very helpful and informative. they had phoenix Hexarc new t5 bulb on display also

http://www.soslightbulbs.com/Aquarium-Replacement-Bulbs.aspx