Metal Halide Bulb Recomendation

[SeabrookZoo]

You guys who are running MH what bulbs (brand, wattage, color temp) do you use. My tank is 96x30x30. I had originally planned on running Giesemann MegaChrome Crystal 17500K. I had based my decision to run these lights on several reviews and pictures stating they were a crystal white light with slight blue tint. I recently saw these in person over a tank and found them to be a bit to blue for my taste (don’t know what ballast was running them). I am looking to keep a mixed reef but a little heavier on the SPS side.

 

[jwshiver]

I switched from MH to Radion G5 Blue at the beginning of March. I ran MH for 2 1/2 to 3 years. I originally used the Giesemann 17.5K bulb and had decent results. I switched to Radium and had higher PAR, better growth and color. I don't remember the exact PAR number but the Radium's are significantly higher in PAR than the Giesemann. If I ever go back to MH I'll stay with the Radium's.

 

[Bpb]

I liked my Hamilton 14,000k bulbs.

 

[Lostreefin]

I'm running 3-250w 20k Hamilton bulbs with 2-actinic and 2-blue+. I liked it at first, but I think it may be too blue, it looks really nice to my eye, but every photo is crazy blue. I may go to 10k's with all blue+ on the T-5's, it would be good to know how much par increases with that change.

 

[leepink23]

For an Se bulb I like the radium bulb, for De I like the Phoenix 14k. Both run on M80 ballast.

 

[WVNed]

Hamilton 14k

 

[X-37B]

Going to be running phoenix 14k on hqi ballasts.
I still have and ran the giesemann 17.5K on my 18" cubed nano. It is a 150 watt and it was very white. It was whiter than a 14k.

 

[blasterman]

Radiums .....if you can find them.

 

[X-37B]

Radiums .....if you can find them.

32 in stock at BRS right now. 250 watt single end.

 

[Qasimja]

i run 14k phoenix de bulbs

 

[MJ in Boise]

Radium if you are gonna run 400. Not a fan of the radium 250.

 

[SeabrookZoo]

I switched from MH to Radion G5 Blue at the beginning of March. I ran MH for 2 1/2 to 3 years. I originally used the Giesemann 17.5K bulb and had decent results. I switched to Radium and had higher PAR, better growth and color. I don't remember the exact PAR number but the Radium's are significantly higher in PAR than the Giesemann. If I ever go back to MH I'll stay with the Radium's.

Where the Giesemann heavy blue or crisp white when you ran them?

 

[SeabrookZoo]

For an Se bulb I like the radium bulb, for De I like the Phoenix 14k. Both run on M80 ballast.

M80 ballast like the old PFO models or like the newer Hamilton models?

 

[SeabrookZoo]

I have never seen the Radiums in person, how blue do they look? I’m not a huge fan of the super blue color. I guess I’m looking more for the color of like a 50/50 mix.

 

[SeabrookZoo]

I forgot to put in my original post that I have the large lumen bright reflectors, mogul base and Luxcore 250/400 HQI selectable ballast.

 

[SeabrookZoo]

I have seen a few places that are selling the Phoenix 14K in a SE bulb. How do those compare to the DE?

 

[MJ in Boise]

The 250 radiums are very blue imo 20k for sure. The 400 looks like a 14k or so to me.

 

[Battlecorals Verified Sponsor]

I always felt that the Radium250 on m80’s are more of a nice crisp white than blue. More blue than a 10k Ushio for sure, but not really “blue” at all by today’s standards. Will definitely look more blue on electronic ballasts including the “hqi” setting

Having said that, the Radium 250 on good m80 ballast is a hard combo to beat.

 

[leepink23]

M80 ballast like the old PFO models or like the newer Hamilton models?

Newer Hamilton is what I have.

 

[SeabrookZoo]

I always felt that the Radium250 on m80’s are more of a nice crisp white than blue. More blue than a 10k Ushio for sure, but not really “blue” at all by today’s standards. Will definitely look more blue on electronic ballasts including the “hqi” setting

Having said that, the Radium 250 on good m80 ballast is a hard combo to beat.

Who makes a good m80 ballast now?