175 watt se mh

[MofoCorals]

I havent used mh lighting until now and wanted to buy new bulbs for the ficture that I got. I want a good bulbs with nice color and decent growth. It doesnt have to be a stand alone bulb as I am using 2 blue plus t5 for supplimentation. Any pics or helps would be great. Thanks.

 

[MofoCorals]

Anyone???

 

[frank180reef]

I would go with 10k, since u have the two T5s

Ushio have worked for me

Frank

 

[Turbosnail]

+1 10k or maybe a 12k if you are looking for more blue.

 

[MikeG]

I would suggest Iwaski bulbs for a SE 175 set up. They have amazing intensity for a 175 and have a nice color.

 

[Cheetos]

I always liked the XM 10Ks when I had 175s. They weren't as yellow as some of the 10Ks.

 

[frank180reef]

you might try to pic some up used to see how they play with ur ballast

 

[MofoCorals]

great idea frank. Ive read that iwaski are the best bulbs for growth but that they are way too yellow. I was looking for something with a nice blue. That would make the colors pop. Does anyone have any experience with 14-15k bulbs? Do you guys think that two blue plus ati bulbs would be enought to bring a 10k bulb into looking 14kish? Any one have any pics or used bulbs I could try out? Thanks guys keep the good advise coming.

 

[JayM]

Look at Hamilton, or Ushio. Both are sponsors, both make AMAZING bulbs. I would do a Hamilton 14k, http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/HAMILTON-METAL-HALIDE-175W-TRUE-14K--BULB-485

Your colors will pop, especially with adding ATI blue plus

 

[MikeG]

great idea frank. Ive read that iwaski are the best bulbs for growth but that they are way too yellow. I was looking for something with a nice blue. That would make the colors pop. Does anyone have any experience with 14-15k bulbs? Do you guys think that two blue plus ati bulbs would be enought to bring a 10k bulb into looking 14kish? Any one have any pics or used bulbs I could try out? Thanks guys keep the good advise coming.

The 175W Iwaski 15K are kind of an outlier for their line nice crisp white with a hint of blue and similar par levels to a lot of 250W bulbs. I like the Ushio 14k as well and that is what I run on my bigger tank.

 

[nickyblase]

I have the Iwasaki Eye's, and while they are a little more white than most of the other bulbs in the 14-15k range I've used, the par and growth I'm getting out of these bad boys are very impressive. My SPS are very happy since I made the swap DOWN - from 250 watt Hamilton's to these.

Mine are running on two different ballasts - one is on an Icecap, and the other is on an ARO. I get better bulb color (IMO) on the ARO than the Icecap.

 

[MofoCorals]

Everything I've read about iwasaki is good but it's just too yellow of a bulb. That two people rooting for ushio. Anyone have any tts with these bulbs? Any others I should consider?

 

[JohnK]

Make sure you are differentiating between the iwaski 6.5K and the 15K. The 15K is supposed to be a blue PAR monster. The 6.5K is a pee yellow PAR mega-monster.

Search for pics of aquaman68 's tank. IIRC he runs the iwaski 15k's

 

[MikeG]

Make sure you are differentiating between the iwaski 6.5K and the 15K. The 15K is supposed to be a blue PAR monster. The 6.5K is a pee yellow PAR mega-monster.

Search for pics of aquaman68 's tank. IIRC he runs the iwaski 15k's

Yes he does as one of his bulbs.

 

[MofoCorals]

Make sure you are differentiating between the iwaski 6.5K and the 15K. The 15K is supposed to be a blue PAR monster. The 6.5K is a pee yellow PAR mega-monster.

Search for pics of aquaman68 's tank. IIRC he runs the iwaski 15k's

Do you have the link to his tank? I looked for it and came up with totm pics and his tank look a litle on the white side.

What about the phoenix 14k? They seem to get good reviews everywhere I look. Anyone use these?

 

[MikeG]

I used the phoenix bulbs for about a month. They are very blue. I would suggest making a list of what bulbs you are interested in and see if anyone near you runs them and go take a look.

 

[MofoCorals]

I'm interested in:
Phoenix 14k
Iwasaki 15k with supplement lighting
Ushio 14k with supplement
Mabye Hamilton 14k

How are the colors of the corals with the Phoenix? Would it be a good ideas to supplement with is Fiji puple and a blue plus or two blue plus?