MH bulbs where to buy

TriMax · Apr 20, 2012

I have priced at several places. Does anyone have a favorite bulb manufacture, "K-number", and place to buy? The colors on frags really seem to really pop with blue lights. So, maybe 20K is good for display. Which "K" is best for growth?

Thanks

Eddie

EvilMel · Apr 20, 2012

10K is best for growth but it's yellow as heck, in my opinion.

I scoured the interwebs for my bulbs in January. Best deal I found was on Amazon from Hellolights. I checked Hellolights website and the bulbs were more than if I just got them on Amazon. I looked at Marine Depot, Premium Aquatics, DFS, as well as a bunch of smaller no-name places too.

I love 20K if you don't have actinic supplements. BUT if you have any actinics I'd go 14K.

I am really thinking of getting Dave to help me build a blue LED actinic fixture for my 120 and then going to 10-12K for my main bulbs. I will probably not like it though...after years of doing 20Ks. I use either XMs or Radiums. I can't ever remember which. I always have to ask Randy. One of them lasts only about 6 mo and the other doesn't. I use the type that last longer (Radiums, I think).

EvilMel · Apr 20, 2012

Check this out. Marine Depot did some comparison of the single ended MH bulbs.
Metal Halide Bulb Information

There used to be this awesome article about it but I can't find it right now. It's the same kind of thing as this MD comparison though.

EvilMel · Apr 20, 2012

I checked...it's XM20Ks that I bought last time. They're super blue.

Engloid · Apr 20, 2012

I had 20k XM's for a while. They started out very blue, but after a couple months looked pretty good. I'm now using some 10k's, cause I got them cheap. I'm thinking about putting a 14k in with them...one 14k in middle and two 10k's on each side.

kuyatwo · Apr 20, 2012

For radium 20k bulbs checkout SOS light bulbs. They had best prices on them and if you like them on Facebook you can get 10% off coupon

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EvilMel · Apr 20, 2012

Eh...that site had the same cost as I got the bulbs for on amazon. Plus, no offense...it looks super shady.

kuyatwo · Apr 20, 2012

The reason radiums only last 6 months for 400 watts they are actually 375 or 385 watt bulbs and you are overdriving them at 400 watts and some people actually run them on hqi ballasts which really over drives them. Alot of bad info out there on how to run radium bulbs

250 watt radiums need to be run on hqi but 400 need to be run not on hqi ballasts.

SOS lighting has been around for awhile it is mainly a building lighting but sells ati an radium bulbs. Here in Dallas on a two places sell ati bulbs that you can walk in and get them SOS lighting and one lfs

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kuyatwo · Apr 20, 2012

EvilMel said:
Eh...that site had the same cost as I got the bulbs for on amazon. Plus, no offense...it looks super shady.

Cheapest I saw for radium 400 watts was 80 bucks SOS light bulbs is 69 bucks for same bulb

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TriMax · Apr 20, 2012

So, I guess buy a 10k bulb for growing frags. And, buy a 20K bulb for display at the frag swap. And buy a 14k,15k for a tank at home?

What do you think about Ushio Hamilton, and XM bulbs?

cee · Apr 20, 2012

I don't care for XMs or Hamilton. I think Chris (fishdoc) in MT uses Ushios. They're on sale at Premium Aquatics right now (at least the 175 W version). Just stick with Radiums LOL! BTW, research the lowest price you can find and if PA carries them they'll match that price. I've never known them not to.

cee · Apr 20, 2012

kuyatwo probably knows what they're talking about because they got it right on the ballasts for Radiums.

Rob.D · Apr 20, 2012

I been running for the past 6 months a Ushio 14k on the left side of my fixture and 14k Phoenix on the right side. IMO the Phoenix performs better in tank appearance, coral color, and growth.

EvilMel · Apr 23, 2012

kuyatwo said:
The reason radiums only last 6 months for 400 watts they are actually 375 or 385 watt bulbs and you are overdriving them at 400 watts and some people actually run them on hqi ballasts which really over drives them. Alot of bad info out there on how to run radium bulbs
250 watt radiums need to be run on hqi but 400 need to be run not on hqi ballasts.
SOS lighting has been around for awhile it is mainly a building lighting but sells ati an radium bulbs. Here in Dallas on a two places sell ati bulbs that you can walk in and get them SOS lighting and one lfs

Thanks for this info!