Got my new Ushio Bulbs

[Cuda]

Got my new Ushio Aqualite 20 k double ended bulbs.
It seems my corals don't have as much color as with my Hamilton 14 K double ended bulbs. I see it clearly in green ricodias. Do the corals have to adjust to color up?

 

[ddr_phish]

Most bulbs have a "Burn in" time before the colors really start to pop. I emailed HelloLights a while back about not being satisfied with the color of my 20k Radiums and they told me to let it burn in for 2 weeks and if I still didn't like it they would take care of me. But now the coloration is good

 

[mpoletti]

I was never impressed with the ushios and went back to helios 20k after a few weeks when I was running DE setups. They were dull and purple compared to many other bulbs I ran. Hopefully you have better luck and enjoy them more.

 

[Cuda]

No you hit it on the head.
:after_boom:

I was never impressed with the ushios and went back to helios 20k after a few weeks when I was running DE setups. They were dull and purple compared to many other bulbs I ran. Hopefully you have better luck and enjoy them more.

 

[BHAMR6]

Would the single ended Ushio look just like the double ended. I had thought about giving them a try but after what you have said im glad i didnt

 

[Cuda]

They were a good deal for the money. I don't have another 20 k to compare them to. I'm going to see if anything colors up it does appear some of my corals like it while others have become smaller.

Would the single ended Ushio look just like the double ended. I had thought about giving them a try but after what you have said im glad i didnt

 

[Steve Ruddy]

Would the single ended Ushio look just like the double ended. I had thought about giving them a try but after what you have said im glad i didnt

Yes if you operate it with the ballast it was designed for. Ushio makes 2 types of 250W 20K+ bulbs. One is for M58 ballast the other for M80.

 

[Steve Ruddy]

Cuda,

I've have been thinking about your comments and other opinions about the 20K+. I use 150W Ushio 20K+ double ended in some fixtures for aquaculture. It just gives me certain colors I don't get using other bulbs. In my personal display and ones I set up for others I always use combination fixtures. However I would not run Ushio 20k+ with all actinic. In most cases this would result in a dark looking blue deepwater tank. Of coarse using high wattage and small tanks would minimize this effect. Personally I don't like all my corals to have a blue cast to them. I prefer representing a shallower reef area. From personal communication I know you're running 4 - 96W PC bulbs with your 2 - 250W Ushios. FWIW if that were my tank I would run 2 actinic and 2 actinic/white PC's. This would maintain a lot of the blue which make some corals pop while the whiter spectrum will add brightness and more color to the other corals.

Just like all Kelvin ratings over 65K the 20K bulbs vary quite a lot in color and intensity. However with the set up you have you should be able to dial in the color your looking for using your PC bulbs. I would never give up on a new MH bulb after a few weeks. I hope this helps. I will work on putting together a MH buying guide.