Ushio 7k 600 Watt Metal Halide Test

[oreo54]

bulbs actually last 2-3 years as they claim. They are rated for m81 (150w hqi) ballasts, so should be plug and play.

Are you sure?

https://www.ushio.com/files/specifications/hilux-gro-grow-lights.pdf

different base, different ballast..

CMH vs. MH​

First of all, Ceramic Metal Halide and Metal Halide bulbs are not the same thing.


Even if they share a lot of the same technology they have fundamental differences in the way they’re constructed and how they operate. You can’t just use your new CMH bulb in your old MH ballast. Trying to do so would be very dangerous.


For comparison purposes, the only disadvantage I can think of CMH over MH is the initial cost. With that said we’ve made it clear that CMH has a much better overall spectrum than MH, especially with that red boost at both 3100k and 4000k spectrums. CMH also run cooler, and produce a lot more PAR light when compared watt per watt.


The most noticeable point is degradation time. Standard MH bulbs have a lifetime of around 10,000 Hours. Which is less than 50% of the 24,000 Hours that CMH are rated for.

Usually CMH do not run on most electronic ballasts due to the extremely high frequency these ballasts output. Regardless, there are some high end electronic ballasts that can run CMH grow lights without any problems due to their microprocessors.

 

[Jposch]

Are you sure?

https://www.ushio.com/files/specifications/hilux-gro-grow-lights.pdf

different base, different ballast..

I'm running corallife hqi magnetic ballasts.
https://www.lightingsupply.com/philips-cdm150-td-942.aspx not sure what m81/E is ve. M81. Just. Gonna. Run. It.

 

[X-37B]

Update.
A local reefer gave me a 250 watt electronic ballast with a lumen bright reflector.
Tried hanging the reflector but did not like the look as it is bare with no black shell.
It came with a 20k bulb but I purchased a couple 250 watt 14k Hamiltom mogal bulbs.
Rehung the hamilton 20x20 fixture and put the 14k in.

Here is a pic of the 250 watt mogal.
I will run it for a few months and see what it does.
Fixture is 11" off the surface so 15" to the light.
I really like the 20x20 fixture.
Light just came on so my frogspawn is not fully extended but the color is looking good so far.

 

[Jposch]

With the 150w CDM bulbs...they are discontinued. One place tried to send me 4200k quartz halides that were low grade, clearly knockoffs. Sent those back, I called another place. They only sell OEM brands. After 2 weeks of messing around with refund and return shipping, I finally received. Y bulbs last night, and the m81 (magnetic HQI) ballast fired them right up!! This things throw down so much light! PAR is double in all of the places I measured before and after. In the FTS, you can hardly tell the old 14000k is even on.

 

[X-37B]

Here is an update running the 250 14k mogal. I also use a IceCap clipon macro for pics.
20x20 fixture is 11" off the water so 15" to the lamp.
Color is nice for a halide with no extra blue. Still want to get 2 or3 blue sky.
Just snapped these.

 

[X-37B]

A couple more.

 

[X-37B]

I still have the 600's and will use them on my upgrade most likely. Its taking longer as I was injured at work a year ago today. Once they find out whats wrong with my back/hip I will be retired and I will work on the upgrade.
I really want 84x48x22 dims.
Anyway here is the frag tank now with a 6500k 150 de and 2 16HD's.
Im liking the look.
Also set up a nano cube thats all acro running 2 16HD's.

 

[X-37B]

Ok. I completely forgot that they sent me the wrong bulb until the correct one came in today.
So pic 1 is above pic and is an
Odyssey 15K

Pic2 Odyssey 6500K

6500K has only been on 20 minutes and is not burned in yet.
It is noticably brighter.

 

[ReeferSamster]

I posted this in another thread and thought I would post it here as it will be an ongoing test.
Hamilton 20"x20" reflector.
Quantum electronic ballast.
Ushio 7K 600 Watt MH conversion bulb.
It will be run on my 36x24x12 frag system.
Replacing my 150 watt 14K de
Phoenix system.
Yes its overkill with alot of light spill over but its all I have to test it on currently.
If it pans out I will consider running two over my large upgrade.
They also make this bulb in a 400 watt if anyone is interested.
I already have 8 quantum 600 ballasts and the lamp.
These ballasts can be run at 50-75-100%.
I will be starting at 50%.
Run time to be 6 hrs to start.
The bulb has around 2000 hrs on it and I have a few new ones too.
Bulb is 28" off the surface and the fixture is at 25".
I have a dozen or so frags from my 120 and currently have no algae except what I clean off the glass every 4 days or so.
Tank has been up 14 months and I dose esv daily by hand and ez-trace elements.
The lamps at 50% or 300 watts and is very white with no yellowing at all.
Very little heat at 50%.
Here is a pic of the tank and of the spectral distribution of the lamp.
Lets hear all the good and bad. I can take it, lol.

Is that your 7K or the phoenix in there. It looks so white! The lowest ever ran was 10K XM bulbs and your 7K looks as white as those. Either that or I'm getting old.

Wow! 600 watts?
I thought my 2 250watt DE bulbs were too bright sometimes and I had to wear shades.

 

[X-37B]

The 600' were a test and I stopped because the growth was off the chart and not realy needed in a 12" deep frag tank.

The above pic is #1 15K and #2 6500k using a 150 watt de bulb.

 

[Jeeperz]

I've mostly used sunmaster or digilux conversions for growing and overwintering but ran across plantmax in 7000k. Probably not a noticeable difference from a 6500k

Plantmax PX-MS600/7200 - Conversion MH Grow Light - 600W | 1000Bulbs.com

Shop for Plantmax PX-MS600/7200 600 watt metal halide conversion grow lamps today! LOW prices and FAST shipping on all grow lamps at 1000Bulbs.com!

www.1000bulbs.com

 

[X-37B]

I've mostly used sunmaster or digilux conversions for growing and overwintering but ran across plantmax in 7000k. Probably not a noticeable difference from a 6500k

Plantmax PX-MS600/7200 - Conversion MH Grow Light - 600W | 1000Bulbs.com

Shop for Plantmax PX-MS600/7200 600 watt metal halide conversion grow lamps today! LOW prices and FAST shipping on all grow lamps at 1000Bulbs.com!

www.1000bulbs.com

I would think similar. I just have a bunch of Ushio 7K 600's from my grow days and they are nice lights from my perspective.
.oat amy grow light in that range that ha e a good blue peak should do fine.

 

[Jeeperz]

I would think similar. I just have a bunch of Ushio 7K 600's from my grow days and they are nice lights from my perspective.
.oat amy grow light in that range that ha e a good blue peak should do fine.

I was just looking at the price difference. $60+ vs $20. Eye was my go too for hps because I could get them for the same price as sunmaster. I'll give ushio a try as the conversion bulbs don't last in my Galaxy ballasts. Not a fan of digital ballasts

 

[X-37B]

I was just looking at the price difference. $60+ vs $20. Eye was my go too for hps because I could get them for the same price as sunmaster. I'll give ushio a try as the conversion bulbs don't last in my Galaxy ballasts. Not a fan of digital ballasts

I run quantum digital and never had an issue with the Ushio. I have never had one go out and just replaced based on hours used.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I run quantum digital and never had an issue with the Ushio. I have never had one go out and just replaced based on hours used.

90's reefer, I have fixtures and a digital for gardening that can be turned down to 400 watts, I found this thread trying to find out if I could use the setup on a reef tank. I would use a 14k marine bulb. Do you think that would be ok? And what about uv, my fixture does have a glass cover and I could cool with my in line fans

 

[X-37B]

90's reefer, I have fixtures and a digital for gardening that can be turned down to 400 watts, I found this thread trying to find out if I could use the setup on a reef tank. I would use a 14k marine bulb. Do you think that would be ok? And what about uv, my fixture does have a glass cover and I could cool with my in line fans

Post a pick of them. 600 watt bulbs can be run at 50% 300 watts of 75% 450 watts on my quantum digitals. I tried both and just settled on 600.
I have ran the mh at 50% 300 watts for seedlings but use an led for that now.
If I was to use the 7k I would run Orphek blue bars to adjust color for the 7k.