Cheap MH bulbs

[Tony_D]

So I was playing around on Amazon and found some cheap hqi mh bulbs ($10 each) and decided to order a couple to check them out.

The primary fixture for this sample testing is a 150w current fixture that I have had for a few years now.

This is over my Solana.

Today I got a 14k and a 20k, I installed the 20k bulb and my wife is already loving the color.

Got out the par meter and took some readings with nice results, 592 just under the water surface, 264 midway down and 110 - 124 at the sand bed.

sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk2!

 

[mike007]

Good luck with them . You pay for what you get. IFyou are growing corals these will not be best best choice.

 

[Tony_D]

I've spent a fortune on various lights over the years and can with out question say the "you get what you pay for" saying doesn't hold water. I've had cheap fixtures with good lamps and performance was very good. I've used nice fixtures with good lamps and bulbs.
I'm no expert but I am actually sharing my personal experience not just spreading what my friends cousin's uncle who used to have a fish tank told me...

Real world results.
I'll monitor it every couple weeks and I'll place a few sps and lps corals in there just so I have something specific to compare growth against the t5 (tek) fixture over the frag tank.


sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk2!

 

[Reef Pets]

If you like the looks of a 20k then I would highly suggest just getting what's proven to have great quality and success. 40.00 per year and you can have radiums. I've used about ever bulb in the market including the cheap no name bulbs and in my opinion radiums blow them all away.

 

[dougers31]

If you like the looks of a 20k then I would highly suggest just getting what's proven to have great quality and success. 40.00 per year and you can have radiums. I've used about ever bulb in the market including the cheap no name bulbs and in my opinion radiums blow them all away.

Where the heck are you getting radiums for $40 each? Inquiring minds want to know

 

[mike007]

Us reefers that have thousands of dollars worth of corals are not going to use cheap bulbs are lighting fixtures . Lighting is one of the most important elements in reefkeeping. Personally i have switched to leds and i am loving them as well as my corals.

 

[jtgordon20]

Dont forget flow! Flow plays a very important role also. So if you have good flow then why not give these bulbs a shot? Its his experiment. Could prove something good for others.
Keep us updated

 

[Tony_D]

Us reefers that have thousands of dollars worth of corals are not going to use cheap bulbs are lighting fixtures . Lighting is one of the most important elements in reefkeeping. Personally i have switched to leds and i am loving them as well as my corals.

Love how people in this hobby try to be condescending to others in the hobby... The source of lighting is not important, what is important is the correct par level for the coral kept in a particular tank, it's well documented that coral and thrive under many lighting choices ranging from VHO, metal halides, t5s and now the popular LED.

I've been in the hobby for a long time and have had personal experience with each of these types of lighting and have had fairly good success with each. I maintain a frag tank with "thousands of dollars worth of coral" and it has had a couple different light sources over it and does very well.

 

[Tony_D]

Here's a few examples.

sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk2!

 

[lofty78]

I think if you have and know how to use a PAR meter, you are qualified to use what ever you want....If the PAR matches what is proven successful in maintaining and growing corals, and you like the look of them, then more power to you for getting them that cheap. The same logic applies to those who choose to use Mrs. Wages to mix Kalkwasser, rather than expensive additives which by most instances are an inferior product (Mrs. Wages is food grade, pure Calcium Hydroxide) As long as you do the proper research testing, why would you spend more money when you don't have to?