does my 250w MH bulb need to be changed? If so, what are people using lately?

[FunGuy]

Hey Folks,

I haven't changed bulbs that many times, but my tank is acting up some. What are the signs you look for in your tank to determine if your bulb really needs to be changed?

Are most 250w users using radiums? How long do they last?

Thanks,

- Herman

 

[tuberider]

Single end or double end?

 

[sfsuphysics]

I'd say Radiums probably could go 6 months without a sweat, after that... eh. However if you have a magnetic ballast they'll most likely keep the same intensity, they will however shift colors, all at the expense of pulling more juice. Unsure what you mean by "acting up some" I guess you mean algae?

In the future, if you have magnetic ballasts, the best way to test your bulbs to see if they need to be replaced is hook up a kill-a-watt meter when you first get the bulb, find out how much energy it's using, then periodically after a few months test how many watts it's pulling, you'll see it start to yank more and more power telling you the bulbs are ready to go. Unfortunately my 250w ballasts are electronic, so they're useless with this, my 175w ones however are magnetic.

 

[seminolecpa]

A lot depends on the type of ballast you are using. HQI ballasts from my understanding tend to overdrive the bulbs and thus decrease the life capacity of a bulb, however, they also tend to greatly increase the par you get from bulbs.

 

[FunGuy]

Yeah, it's algae I can't fight off and keeps coming back so quickly... manual removal, water changes... and it returns. It's probably the bulb. I'll probably have to get another bulb immediately. This cleaning is killing me

250W SE

 

[CookieJar]

the lighting demo at the last BAR meeting would've answered your questions as 5 bulbs or so were fired up so you could see what they look like. my favorites are 14K Hamilton & 12K Reeflux. I currently use the hamilton and like it- it's got a little blue which I like, but you'll find varying opinions on bulbs, just like skimmers- everyone's got their favorites. ;D

 

[sfsuphysics]

I love the color of the Reeflux 12k, but I can't get beyond how horrid the PAR is on the bulb, I know I might be looking too much into things, but there's gotta be a point when so little light is actually leaving the bulb that it becomes detrimental to coral growth.

 

[tuberider]

Perhaps you want a lower PAR bulb to discourage algae growth, that is if you don't mind your corals growing a little slower.

 

[Gomer]

I'm digging the growth and coloration I get from the lower light vs right in the bright light area...SPS need not apply

 

[Tumbleweed]

I am currently trying to decide which bulb to get. I just purchased my new ice cap 250 eballasts and will be ordering the lumenarc mini's next week. I was looking at either the reflux 12k or the Radium 20k. For the time being I will have no supplemental lights with the tank. I was leaning towards the reflux only because I am worried that the radium might be a little too blue.

 

[tuberider]

Don't let the #ers fool ya, CCT means only what the manufacturer wants them to. Personally I'd go with the Radiums if given the choice between the two, the radium has better PAR FWIW, and is a nicer looking bulb IMO. I really have no idea why people go for the 12k Reeflux, it seems to me to be in the same category as the XM 15k, a dim low PAR bulb that gives OK color. BTW, I also like the XM 20k, especially if you have the ability to change the bulb every 6-8 months. They don't have much in the way of life, but when they are broken in and not worn out they look great (they have a sweet spot), and really color up the corals.

 

[FunGuy]

More people seem to be using radiums and loving them so I'll probably try them. Thanks

 

[seminolecpa]

So I am trying out a 12K reeflux right now with a 20K radium in the other socket and I can't tell any real difference between it and the radiums as far a color goes to be honest. The radiums have way better par and from what I know are better bulbs. That said they are also about 20% or more expensive.