Radium metal halide bulbs will not be produced anymore!

[minus9]

I have some soviet era vacuum tubes from Eastern Europe for some of my McIntosh amps that folks would probably inflict bodily harm on me to get. These were cheap when Americans were throwing away their vinyl and buying solid state stereo gear... like boxes of them in the packaging for $20.

NOS Mullards always fetch a good price.

 

[jackson6745]

I got a pair of MarineColor bulbs. 3 months in, one cracked and I had to disassemble the socket to get all of the pieces out. Color and output was fine, as I posted about somewhere. The glass and build was really shoddy.

I had the same thing happen today on a 1 months old 250w 20k marine color as you had warned about . I always learn the hard way. On a positive note, I found an old 250w de bulb with no box that said “pec lamp mh 250w/td blue” on the bulb. Bulb appears well made and has a phoenix look to me? Anyone know what that label identifies the brand as?

 

[Reefering1]

Pheonix electric company

 

[jda]

Yup, Phoenix Electric. Those are usually bulbs before they started to brand them for aquarium use. They are the same.

 

[jackson6745]

Yes!!!! Thank you gentlemen

 

[jackson6745]

This is my last 250w DE bulb besides Marine Color bulbs. I can't find a single place to get a decent bulb from. What a shame. I can't stand leds

 

[SpSDrew]

This is my last 250w DE bulb besides Marine Color bulbs. I can't find a single place to get a decent bulb from. What a shame. I can't stand leds

The ushio store still has a decent amount left depending on what you want.

Aquarium

USHIO Aqualite™ Metal Halide lamps feature the best combination of color balance, color rendering and photosynthetic light output for healthy marine aquarium and reef systems. Our USHIO BLV factory in Germany, collaborated with leading marine biologists to develop the first 10,000K Metal Halide...

estore.ushio.com

 

[jackson6745]

The ushio store still has a decent amount left depending on what you want.

Aquarium

USHIO Aqualite™ Metal Halide lamps feature the best combination of color balance, color rendering and photosynthetic light output for healthy marine aquarium and reef systems. Our USHIO BLV factory in Germany, collaborated with leading marine biologists to develop the first 10,000K Metal Halide...

estore.ushio.com

Looks like all of their 250w DE bulbs are sold out. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Reefering1]

Looks like all of their 250w DE bulbs are sold out. Thanks for the suggestion.

That sucks. Running out of options. What ballasts do you have? May be time to switch to e39 bases and stock up on single ended bulbs while you still can...

 

[jmichaelh7]

I have a box of 8 new Ushio waiting after these Hamilton

Try Ushio !

 

[Reefering1]

I have a box of 8 new Ushio waiting after these Hamilton

Try Ushio !

There gone man, all of them. Their 250w de bulbs anyways

 

[jackson6745]

HH

That sucks. Running out of options. What ballasts do you have? May be time to switch to e39 bases and stock up on single ended bulbs while you still can...

it was just for this particular giesemann infinity fixture. I still have my SE stuff. It’s just upsetting that I’ll have a beautiful fixture with no bulbs to run, or worse, gut the halide for a radion . Too bad that the newer reef keepers will never experience halide.

 

[jmichaelh7]

There gone man, all of them. Their 250w de bulbs anyways

Is it really hard to find de bulbs ?

 

[Reefering1]

Is it really hard to find de bulbs ?

As far as I know, yes. Haven't seen any pheonix since Amazon ran out almost a year ago. I thought ushio was good, I got a case a few months ago. Now they are out of stock and it says discontinued in description. I think the Ebay bulbs are all that's left in 250w or hqi, 150w de bulbs are still available

 

[jackson6745]

Is it really hard to find de bulbs ?

I can’t find any reputable brand 250 De bulbs anywhere.

 

[Bpb]

Hamilton still not carrying any?

 

[Reefering1]

HH

it was just for this particular giesemann infinity fixture. I still have my SE stuff. It’s just upsetting that I’ll have a beautiful fixture with no bulbs to run, or worse, gut the halide for a radion . Too bad that the newer reef keepers will never experience halide.

Which/what size giesemann are we talking about here? I have a nice little hqi stockpile but a giesemann makes for a nice open top set up. Let me ease your worries ;-)

 

[jackson6745]

Which/what size giesemann are we talking about here? I have a nice little hqi stockpile but a giesemann makes for a nice open top set up. Let me ease your worries ;-)

Ooooooooo . That would be a 24” model with a single halide.

 

[A. grandis]

The last time I spoke with Hamilton, 2 weeks ago, they said they will be having their bulbs back in stock soon. It is indeed a very bad situation what's going on right now!!!!

 

[rc1626]

If anyone will have the answer to this I know it will be someone here. I just received an order for two radium, 400watt bulbs. One of them appears to be damaged. I’m attaching a picture of the damaged bulb for you to see. There seems to typically be a small flat piece of metal that is bonded/welded to the metal rod that comes off of the top of the arc tube. On this bulb, this flat piece of metal has fallen off and it’s just laying inside the glass. I’m not sure what the function of this piece of metal is for. The bulb did in fact fire up when I tested it. I let it run for about five minutes and everything seemed OK. Not sure if not having this flat piece of metal attached will have any long-term effect on the function of the bulb? Any info on what the function of this displaced piece of metal does and if it will in fact effect the function of the bulb long term would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!!!