New bulbs

[Vette67]

I have been running 10,000K metal halide for 20+ years. I like the color, and I guess never thought of changing things up. I took advantage of a St. Patrick’s day sale, and purchased new bulbs. I was overdue. This time, I went with the 14,000K bulbs, and here’s the results. This is the picture of the 10,000K bulbs before the switch. Now, these are about 2 year old bulbs.

And here are the new 14,000K bulbs:

I’m mixed. I think I like the coloration of the corals better with the 10,000K. It just seemed more natural. The 14,000K are definitely blue-er. I’ve had fantastic growth with the 10,000K, so hopefully that trend continues. That purple acro in the center started as a 1.5” plug about 4 years ago... Thoughts?

 

[A. grandis]

If you liked the 10000K for so long you should keep it as it was. The 14000K isn't bad at all and will still grow corals at probably the same rate. Problem is if you are bugged because you really, really, really love the look of the 10000Ks. I love both.
Tip: it's always good to let it go for like a week or 2... if you still miss the 10K look, then get them in there.
Hope this is what you needed to hear...

 

[Vette67]

I’m coming around. The colors are just different. I was looking at it after it had been on for 10 minutes, so of course it was new and different. One of my frags in the sand looks more green / blue than purple under the new lights. Very nice looking. That’s the thing is that I’ve only ever had 10,000k, so I decided to try something different after 20 years. So of course it’ll take some getting used to... In a year or so we’ll see how it goes. I may stay with the 14,000k, or I might go back. Either way, at the price of new bulbs, these aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

But yes I agree. I definitely need to give them time. In the end, as long as the growth rate is just as fantastic, that’s all I really care about.

 

[A. grandis]

It will be, my friend. It will be.

 

[Vette67]

Reading through your other 12 page thread and resisting the temptation to throw my opinion in on that one. As a long time T12 VHO, MH user, I’m sure you know which side of that argument I’m on....

 

[A. grandis]

Please feel free to write your experiences and feelings there. Everyone is welcome to it. It's important to let new people know more about metal halides, T5s and also VHOs. Every type of artificial reef light is still in use by some of us. Post some close up pictures of your Acros as well and write their scientific names, like back in the day.
Cheers!

 

[Vette67]

I hold no particular affinity to the VHO. I have the ballast and can still get the bulbs, so I do. I would have no problem changing that to either T5 or an LED strip. My MH bulbs are not negotiable. They will always be above my tank, until they are either banned or no longer manufactured.

I can’t say I know my acros. People like to give them stupid names, but mine go by names like purple acro, green slimer, purple Stylopora, green hydnopora, orange capricornus.... that’s as technical as I get. When I buy them at frag swaps, the guys try to tell me the names, and even write it on the bags, which I immediately throw out and forget... those names aren’t real.

 

[A. grandis]

I hold no particular affinity to the VHO. I have the ballast and can still get the bulbs, so I do. I would have no problem changing that to either T5 or an LED strip. My MH bulbs are not negotiable. They will always be above my tank, until they are either banned or no longer manufactured.

I can’t say I know my acros. People like to give them stupid names, but mine go by names like purple acro, green slimer, purple Stylopora, green hydnopora, orange capricornus.... that’s as technical as I get. When I buy them at frag swaps, the guys try to tell me the names, and even write it on the bags, which I immediately throw out and forget... those names aren’t real.

Nice! Post there! I love VHOs too! Go there. LOL!

 

[Bpb]

I take it you’re using Hamilton’s? Not much else available at 14k anymore. I hopped on yesterday to their site and saw they were out of 10k 250 watt bulbs.

This may sound nuts but I’m super curious to try one of their 6500k bulbs. If I had space for a frag tank I absolutely would. Can’t bring myself to commit to that extreme of a change in the home display.

On the 10k vs 14k. Give the 14k about 6-8 months and they’ll have had enough spectral shift to bring them down to 10k

 

[Vette67]

I take it you’re using Hamilton’s? Not much else available at 14k anymore. I hopped on yesterday to their site and saw they were out of 10k 250 watt bulbs.

This may sound nuts but I’m super curious to try one of their 6500k bulbs. If I had space for a frag tank I absolutely would. Can’t bring myself to commit to that extreme of a change in the home display.

On the 10k vs 14k. Give the 14k about 6-8 months and they’ll have had enough spectral shift to bring them down to 10k

You are correct. I only use Hamilton bulbs. I once got cheap and bought, I think, XM bulbs when they still existed, and lived to regret it. My Hamilton bulbs get splashed, and they have always tolerated it. One of the XM bulbs got splashed, cracked, and the outer glass fell off into my tank. I figured that out when the corals under that bulb started bleaching. That was probably 10+ years ago. Since then, I am exclusive Hamilton.

Just checking and you are right. I may have been forced to go with 14,000K anyway. The vendor I bought my bulbs from doesn’t have the 250w 10,000K buble on stock. I’m hoping this is a temporary supply blip and not an indication of future production problems.

 

[Bpb]

You are correct. I only use Hamilton bulbs. I once got cheap and bought, I think, XM bulbs when they still existed, and lived to regret it. My Hamilton bulbs get splashed, and they have always tolerated it. One of the XM bulbs got splashed, cracked, and the outer glass fell off into my tank. I figured that out when the corals under that bulb started bleaching. That was probably 10+ years ago. Since then, I am exclusive Hamilton.

Just checking and you are right. I may have been forced to go with 14,000K anyway. The vendor I bought my bulbs from doesn’t have the 250w 10,000K buble on stock. I’m hoping this is a temporary supply blip and not an indication of future production problems.

I love 10k bulbs as well and would love to try one out at some point but I worry the par would be too much.

 

[rc1626]

Instead of starting a new thread I figured I'd revive this one with a few questions. Just picked up a couple of hamilton 250watt 14k bulbs from Marine Depot closeout. Good price so I'm giving them a try. I typically run Radiums on m80's. These I will run on select a watt electronic ballasts. Should they be run on the standard 250w setting? How are they color wise when comparing to Radiums? And last, how often do you folks change them out? Radiums I usually change out a the year mark. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

 

[Bpb]

Instead of starting a new thread I figured I'd revive this one with a few questions. Just picked up a couple of hamilton 250watt 14k bulbs from Marine Depot closeout. Good price so I'm giving them a try. I typically run Radiums on m80's. These I will run on select a watt electronic ballasts. Should they be run on the standard 250w setting? How are they color wise when comparing to Radiums? And last, how often do you folks change them out? Radiums I usually change out a the year mark. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Hamilton 14,000k mogul bulbs are spec'd to run on a magnetic M59 ballast, but will run about identical on an electronic ballast set to the standard 250 watt selection. Color temperature and par will be about the same. I hate how hot the M59 ballasts get. Some purists may love them but they were hot enough to melt wax when I used them. It's wasted energy. Electronic ballasts are really the way to go. A Hamilton 14,000K on 250 watt electronic will have a CLOSE visual appearance to a Radium on an M80 ballast. Maybe a hair whiter over time. But very close. I was achieving par levels well over 1000 in the top few inches of water, and 400-500 on the sandbed 24" deep with the pendants hung 12" off the water. They really put out alot of light and would maybe benefit from some less focused reflectors to get in a more manageable par range. Color temp is very nice with them. @Vette67. I know it's an old thread, but I still think the 10,000k color is absolutely the cat's meow. Did you stick with 14,000k or switch back?

 

[rc1626]

Thank you Bpb. You were using lumen bright reflectors correct? I have a set of modified hamilton Cayman Sun reflectors. Modified with adjustable sockets to center the bulb. These seem to spread the light a little more than the lumen brights. Those things are par monsters. I have a set but don't have the room above the tank to mount them high enough. How long do the hamilton bulbs last? Do you think I'll get a year out of them or will they need to be changed sooner?
Thanks again.

 

[A. grandis]

Hamilton 14,000k mogul bulbs are spec'd to run on a magnetic M59 ballast, but will run about identical on an electronic ballast set to the standard 250 watt selection. Color temperature and par will be about the same. I hate how hot the M59 ballasts get. Some purists may love them but they were hot enough to melt wax when I used them. It's wasted energy. Electronic ballasts are really the way to go. A Hamilton 14,000K on 250 watt electronic will have a CLOSE visual appearance to a Radium on an M80 ballast. Maybe a hair whiter over time. But very close. I was achieving par levels well over 1000 in the top few inches of water, and 400-500 on the sandbed 24" deep with the pendants hung 12" off the water. They really put out alot of light and would maybe benefit from some less focused reflectors to get in a more manageable par range. Color temp is very nice with them. @Vette67. I know it's an old thread, but I still think the 10,000k color is absolutely the cat's meow. Did you stick with 14,000k or switch back?

You've got confused, Bpb... the 250W should run on M58.
The 400W is to run on M59 ballast.

 

[Bpb]

You've got confused, Bpb... the 250W should run on M58.
The 400W is to run on M59 ballast.

DOH! You’re right. M58 for 250 watt. My mistake.

 

[Bpb]

Thank you Bpb. You were using lumen bright reflectors correct? I have a set of modified hamilton Cayman Sun reflectors. Modified with adjustable sockets to center the bulb. These seem to spread the light a little more than the lumen brights. Those things are par monsters. I have a set but don't have the room above the tank to mount them high enough. How long do the hamilton bulbs last? Do you think I'll get a year out of them or will they need to be changed sooner?
Thanks again.

I went about a year on each bulb but you could go longer. I used a par meter. I was in such a par excess I didn’t change them due to too little light. I changed them more to freshen up the spectrum. Correct I was using lumen brights. They’re good but wrong application on my part. Better for deeper tanks or higher mounting.

 

[rc1626]

Thanks. Excited to give them a try.