Recommendations on Metal halide bulbs

[djf91]

Hey everyone,

So, I’m currently running Radium 20ks over my tank, and while they are nice, they might be a little too purple/ blue for my liking. Can anybody recommend a bulb similar to the XM 10k. I know this bulb has been discontinued, but was wondering if anybody knew of something similar.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I use the 14k phoenix bulbs

 

[legionofdoon]

I use the 14k phoenix bulbs

That's what I used as well. I personally liked the ushio 10k with florescent actinics the best. I had dual 175s SE with around 100 watts of actinic over a 75 and that tank would grow anything. It's just they get so darn hot. The 14k was DE.

 

[djf91]

I do like the phoenix a lot but the fixtures I have now are mogul base.

 

[RedoubtReef]

Reef Brite 250 Watt Mogul Metal Halide Lamp

Shop the Reef Brite 250W Metal Halide Lamp for powerful and vibrant lighting, perfect for thriving corals.

www.aquariumspecialty.com

Reef Brite Twin-Arc™ – Reef Brite

www.reefbrite.com

Aqualite™ Metal Halide | Ushio America, Inc.

These metal halide lamps feature the best combo of color balance, color rendering & photosynthetic light output for healthy marine aquarium & reef systems.

www.ushio.com

 

[djf91]

Reef Brite 250 Watt Mogul Metal Halide Lamp

Shop the Reef Brite 250W Metal Halide Lamp for powerful and vibrant lighting, perfect for thriving corals.

www.aquariumspecialty.com

Reef Brite Twin-Arc™ – Reef Brite

www.reefbrite.com

Do you feel this is similar to the XM bulbs?

 

[RedoubtReef]

Do you feel this is similar to the XM bulbs?

Never used them. I previously ran the DE Phoenix 14K. Not sure if anyone has a comparison chart but I'm sure you could find charts on line that show wavelength/spectrum specs.

 

[Semisonyx]

How much whiter do you want? Hamilton 20k bulbs are a hair more white and exactly what I was looking for when I felt the Radiums were too blue. After that, maybe Hammy 14k and then Ushio 14k progressing to more white.

 

[oreo54]

Hey everyone,

So, I’m currently running Radium 20ks over my tank, and while they are nice, they might be a little too purple/ blue for my liking. Can anybody recommend a bulb similar to the XM 10k. I know this bulb has been discontinued, but was wondering if anybody knew of something similar.

First your old bulb was a true 10000k lamp.
https://reefs.com/magazine/metal-ha...e-xm-evc-and-giesmann-coral-400w-mogul-lamps/

Now just find one similar..
Most lamps listed as 10000k are "usually" close to that.
Those listed 20000-14000k are... err ....not 20000-14000k

Ushio Aqualite 14k bulbs would be the first bulb I'd check out.
Comes in both 250 and 400w mogul base.

Spectrum is almost identical with a "purple" enrichment shifting it from 10000 to 14000k

Of course what it visually looks to people or effects of different ballasts isn't accounted for.

AFAICT the Ushio is a rare actually 14000k bulb.

https://www.lightingsupply.com/ushio-5001608.aspx?gclid=CjwKCAiA68ebBhB-EiwALVC-NpGyadYi5Ei9NO48nOOUv-C2ZhHJJmvYvqq40rEgflgPNC7fCOjm9BoCqJMQAvD_BwE

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1630166-REG/ushio_5002092_uhi_s250aq_14_cwa_aqualite.html?ap=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=CjwKCAiA68ebBhB-EiwALVC-NqajNYvZErOZ6FyVwzfFnGGWkZD8TeIP68ef1JNsCBCHRMWh7jnR0BoCh4YQAvD_BwE

Maybe someone who used these will chime in.

https://www.ushio.com/files/specifications/aqualite-metal-halide-for-aquariums.pdf

Aqualite 10,000K lamps approximate equatorial daylight at 5 meters of ocean depth. Aqualite
14,000K lamps have a bluer tone to enhance blue corals but maintain higher color rendering for white rock and sand. Aqualite 20,000K+ lamps are
blue in appearance, simulating deeper water environments. Blue lamps are typically not given a color temperature just as we would not assign a
color temperature for magenta or green lamps. For simplifying lamp choice selection, Ushio uses 20,000K+ as a marketing term for our blue lamp.

 

[minus9]

I love my 250w Hamilton 14k's, they pair nicely with the Quanta Pro meso blue bars.

 

[minus9]

This is with the 20k filter, so it’s a little less blue in the picture, but not by much.

 

[StatelineReefer]

Ushios, all day every day. 10k accented with actinic and super blue t5's or 14k with fiji purple t5s and blue LED accents

 

[oreo54]

This is with the 20k filter, so it’s a little less blue in the picture, but not by much.

Spectrum is pretty close as well..
More blue instead of violet for the Ushio 14000k

 

[Mike A]

Aqualine Buske 10k bulbs are very similar to the XM 10k metal halide bulbs, not sure they’re available any longer though.

 

[oreo54]

Aqualine Buske 10k bulbs are very similar to the XM 10k metal halide bulbs, not sure they’re available any longer though.

Seems some are..

Aqualine 400W 10,000K Metal Halide Bulb, Mogul Base at the best price

The aqualine 10000 lamp has a colour temperature of 10,000 Kelvin and a high percentage of the light output is at the blue end of the spectrum...

www.aquacave.com

Has an "odd" spectrum.. (IN THE PAST)..

Spectral Analysis Of Recent Metal Halide Lamps And Ballast Combinations

Included in this article are results from our testing of several of the new lamps and ballasts.

reefs.com

6500-9500k depending on ballast.

Found a newer one..

Aqua Medic aqualine 10000 400 W 13K /E40 (80944) // ABVERKAUF - Mrutzek Meeresaquaristik GmbH

Aqua Medic aqualine 10000 400 W 13K /E40 (80944) // ABVERKAUF: Das Lichterlebnis mit 13.000 Kelvin und hohem Blauanteil. Mit dem Metallhalogendampfbrenner aqualine 10000 wurden erstmals die Lichtverhältnisse im Korallenriff simuliert. Das Ergebnis ist ein natürlich wirkendes Aquarium. Korallen...

www.shop-meeresaquaristik.de

Oddly listed on box as 13000K

 

[legionofdoon]

Do you feel this is similar to the XM bulbs?

I didn't like the XM bulbs way too purple for my eyes.

 

[legionofdoon]

I do like the phoenix a lot but the fixtures I have now are mogul base.

If you are going mogul then use Ushio 10k and supplement with the actinics of your choice. They are probably the best lights for growth. If I could feasible go back to halides that's what I would do. I live in south Florida and Usihio 10k is about the closest to natural sunlight above 30 feet. That being said I never burned anything and could grow SPS down to a massive frogspawn with no issues. If you want the pop just set your lights up to have the halides to come during the hours you are less likely to be home. However they look amazing at full strength transitioning down to the actinics

 

[legionofdoon]

This is with the 20k filter, so it’s a little less blue in the picture, but not by much.

That's what the Ushios looked like during peak on my tank.

 

[djf91]

I appreciate everybody’s input.

I think the Ushio, followed by the Hamilton 14k are definitely worth a try.

Now the question of whether I can run them on the PFO ballasts I have.

 

[Jwill1316]

I love my 250w Hamilton 14k's, they pair nicely with the Quanta Pro meso blue bars.

Im wondering Have you ever had issues with that specific bulb lighting constantly. I purchased that bulb along with
the bali sun fixture and a 250 watt dimmable Hamilton technology electronic ballast. I have been through 2 bulbs now where I'm having an issue with the bulb firing constantly. For the first few weeks the bulb will fire fine then it will not fire at the desired time that I have it set at sometimes it takes 10 min to fire others and hour. The first bulb I received did the same thing and fired well for about a week then the bulb just wont fire at all. I'm either lead to believe that this style bulb isn't any good or the ballast isn't any good. I have tried reseating the bulb checking all connections within the fixture. I'm at a point where i think I'm going to purchase an icecap ballast or go led.
I love metal halide bulbs and really don't want to switch but this is annoying. The only other thing I can think of
doing is switching to a different brand bulb to see if I get the same results. I'm ether going to go with a Reefbrite bulb or a Radion bulb. any help would be appreciated