20,000k MH Bulbs

[brick-brothers]

I know alot of Reefs ditch T5's and MH Lighting and went the LEDs route. Me personally I had great success in growing sps with my 400w MH. With that being said, for those who still running MH, are you still going with the 20k Radiums? And had anyone tried these MH bulbs

 

[P-Dub]

I know alot of Reefs ditch T5's and MH Lighting and went the LEDs route. Me personally I had great success in growing sps with my 400w MH. With that being said, for those who still running MH, are you still going with the 20k Radiums? And had anyone tried these MH bulbs

Try them and report back!

 

[brick-brothers]

Try them and report back!

Are you running MH?

 

[Vette67]

I run MH but not 400. I have the Hamilton 14,000K bulbs and love them. I have a 250W in the center of my tank and 2 - 175's on each side. I prefer the color of the 14,000K bulbs. I think the 20,000K bulbs are too blue, but that is my opinion. Others love the 20,000K bulbs.

 

[scchase]

I don't currently use those but have had good luck in the past. Will probably switch back when I can't find the Ushios I like anymore

 

[P-Dub]

Are you running MH?

I used to. Still have them. Occasionally, toy with the idea of starting them back up...

 

[brick-brothers]

I used to. Still have them. Occasionally, toy with the idea of starting them back up...

If you have sps. Are you getting the same growth/ rate as the MH compared to what you have now?

 

[brick-brothers]

I run MH but not 400. I have the Hamilton 14,000K bulbs and love them. I have a 250W in the center of my tank and 2 - 175's on each side. I prefer the color of the 14,000K bulbs. I think the 20,000K bulbs are too blue, but that is my opinion. Others love the 20,000K bulbs.

That's my problem, I like the blue look. Lol

 

[Derek4real]

i had considered running a multi tank system with identical setups all plumbed together and have the only variable being the lighting. This was like 15 yrs ago when LEDs were just starting to come around in the hobby. I wanted to compare MHs, LEDs, and T5s. See what grew the best, see what had the best color, etc.

 

[P-Dub]

If you have sps. Are you getting the same growth/ rate as the MH compared to what you have now?

I am. Growth, I think, is more a matter of correct parameters. Coloration is another aspect. I have had great coloration under LED's, but, just the simplicity of MH lighting is appealing. I can honestly say that the coloration for either MH or LED's have been on par with one another, from what I can remember. really it's a tossup. Again, this is more of a "simplify" approach I'm toying with. You can see my tank below under the current LED menagerie.

 

[stanlalee]

For those who have ran Hamilton 20k is it more of a Phoenix/Radium blue or an Ushio 20k purplish actinic hue. I only run 150w and I much prefer the Ushio 20k hue but they are harder and harder to come by. Hamilton's I can get and Phoenix are still available a dime a dozen.

 

[3mm3]

For those who have ran Hamilton 20k is it more of a Phoenix/Radium blue or an Ushio 20k purplish actinic hue. I only run 150w and I much prefer the Ushio 20k hue but they are harder and harder to come by. Hamilton's I can get and Phoenix are still available a dime a dozen.

I run the Hamilton 20k on my biocube. Its closer to the Phoenix 14k than it is to the ushio

 

[C. Eymann]

MH bulb choice really lean s on the ballast you are using.
The correct bulb + ballast combo is everything from my experience.

I have used hammy bulbs in the past, their 20k is much bluer than a 20k radium, which is why I preferred radiums in the past, they burn more like a 14k than a 20k.

Another bulb I was really fond of is the reeflux 12ks, but they maybe a little too white for some peoples tastes

 

[KevinC]

I am currently using the 20k radium 250w with T5. SPS Growth is noticeably better after the swtich from pure LED.

Now I use 4 t5 blue plus+radium+reefbrite XHO. (xho really help getting me a bluer look which I enjoy)

I don't think the 20k looks "blue" enough to the eye, but when you take pics it does show a blue tint

 

[C. Eymann]

I am currently using the 20k radium 250w with T5. SPS Growth is noticeably better after the swtich from pure LED.

Now I use 4 t5 blue plus+radium+reefbrite XHO. (xho really help getting me a bluer look which I enjoy)

I don't think the 20k looks "blue" enough to the eye, but when you take pics it does show a blue tint

What ballast are you using for the 250w ? with 400w radiums any electronic ballast will generally be fine, but with 250w radiums you want to use pulse start magnetic M80 ballasts to get the best performance.
E ballasts will fire them and run them, but you wont get that radium "magic" that everyone raves about.

 

[brick-brothers]

I am currently using the 20k radium 250w with T5. SPS Growth is noticeably better after the swtich from pure LED.

Now I use 4 t5 blue plus+radium+reefbrite XHO. (xho really help getting me a bluer look which I enjoy)

I don't think the 20k looks "blue" enough to the eye, but when you take pics it does show a blue tint

I have (3) 400w which I planned to used 20k Rad. But only (2) 80w T5's. Was thinking about adding 2 more 80w T5 but thinking it would be overkill

 

[X-37B]

I just switched from 8 T5's to 2 250 watt de phoenix 14k's running on m80 ballasts in lumen bright mini's.
Been almost 1 month.
Coral growth is noticable and colors getting better every day.
White with a hint of blue.
They are much whiter in person. This cell pic makes it look bluer than it is.

 

[Overboard]

I have used the Hamilton 400 watt 20K and liked the color. I recently switched to the 400 watt 20K Ushio. The par is materially higher than the Hamilton by 50-80. I actually like the color of the Hamilton better. I also like the 14K version of the Hamilton but again the Ushio par is still higher for me.

I am afraid the sun is slowly setting on our choices of MH bulbs.

 

[KevinC]

What ballast are you using for the 250w ? with 400w radiums any electronic ballast will generally be fine, but with 250w radiums you want to use pulse start magnetic M80 ballasts to get the best performance.
E ballasts will fire them and run them, but you wont get that radium "magic" that everyone raves about.

not sure of the terms but i got the Hamilton "M80 assemble ballast"

I have (3) 400w which I planned to used 20k Rad. But only (2) 80w T5's. Was thinking about adding 2 more 80w T5 but thinking it would be overkill

acro like lights i don't see why not haha, but I think you should add 2 XHO if thats the case, i honestly cant get use to the 4 t5 blue plus so i added the XHO and now its just right

 

[brick-brothers]

not sure of the terms but i got the Hamilton "M80 assemble ballast"


acro like lights i don't see why not haha, but I think you should add 2 XHO if thats the case, i honestly cant get use to the 4 t5 blue plus so i added the XHO and now its just right

I'm going to take a look into XHO.