lighing MH 400w

[TriMax]

I was looking in the Docs summer sale items, thinking I might ought to should maybe get some new bulbs. All I have collected are used.

Do you like XM or Hamilton bulbs?

Do you dislike XM or Hamilton bulbs?

Thanks

 

[GPhiAce]

I have no experience with either bulb, but I have seen some good tanks with 400w 20k lighting.

 

[reeflover101]

I love the 20,000 k bulbs but with 14,000 or 10,000 corals grow a lot better I also perfer german bulbs.

 

[digidana]

with the 14K or 10K bulbs you have to then use actinics to get the light to be 20K, don't you?

i use 400w 20k XMs, and everything is growing really well. i do also have actinics, but only use them for dusk/dawn. you can't even see them on with the XMs on.

i don't know anything about the hamiltons.

 

[ct_vol]

I will be getting a pair of 250w XM 10K's... More so because of their ridiculous PAR rating than anything else...

 

[mkenochm]

I used to have 400 watt 20k on my tank and my corals grew like crazy. I don't know anything about the two brands that you listed.

 

[cee]

I was looking in the Docs summer sale items, thinking I might ought to should maybe get some new bulbs. All I have collected are used.

Do you like XM or Hamilton bulbs?

Do you dislike XM or Hamilton bulbs?

Thanks

Most of the tanks you see in Cali, or at least the people I've seen and/or spoken to, run 400 W Radiums on an overdriven ballast.

I will be getting a pair of 250w XM 10K's... More so because of their ridiculous PAR rating than anything else...

If you like any hint of blue you won't be happy. I dumped mine after a month or two. Your sticks will grow like mad though if you can avoid bleaching them.

 

[ct_vol]

I'll have 4 x t5 actinics... The Radiums are just too blue for me with actinics... I figure they might be worth a shot...

 

[Steve Ruddy]

I like both. So far for us Hamilton has had more warranty issues than XM.

 

[macclellan]

I like my 14k 150w hamilton. Much higher PAR than 20k bulbs but still enough blue to make colors pop. hellolights had them on sale not too long ago...

 

[GPhiAce]

I like my 14k 150w hamilton. Much higher PAR than 20k bulbs but still enough blue to make colors pop. hellolights had them on sale not too long ago...

I didn't know those were hamiltons- I think. They look good and are getting good growth for you.