When to replace MH bulbs?

[wrassefan]

according to Joe's test results on IceCap eballast, the sun aquatics10k(494) gets slightly less par than the xm 10k's(530).

 

[IffersTankSlave]

Mr. Slippery, big fan of the Ushio 10K...nice, crisp white. The bulbs, at least in our experience, last longer too.

 

[Mr. Slippery]

Yea I really like the whiter bulbs. I think they look more natural. I run 96w actinic pc's as well and I think it's just enough blue. It's like makeup, you use just enough that you don't notice it's there, but when it's not........

 

[smcnally]

Yeah,, I think I'm going to get rid of my 96W PC 50/50s and swap them for fulll actinic.

 

[Mr. Slippery]

Steve, I have one of each, and they turn on at hour intervals. Really makes for a nice dusk to dawn effect.

 

[smcnally]

Mine are placed so one is at each end of the tank (they are the shorter quad bulbs). But, maybe I'll get the longer ones and do one in the front and one in the back lengthwise. I think I could get them in my canopy that way. I'll just have to make new reflectors and mounts.

 

[etszoo]

So far hard and soft seem to be thriving and have dramatic polyp extensions. Have read the same as stated above but thought I would give the 20k a try. So far so good.

 

[JohnK]

I tried the raduim 20 k's on a pulse start ballast a couple of years ago as an experiment. I liked them a lot at first but after a while went back to 10k's with PC actinics. I felt like the intensity (and growth rates) was a lot lower and I found that the lifespan was way too short for my budget. (2 bulbs out of 3 that I ran stopped firing at about the 6 month mark, forget about color shift when your light doesn't even come on). I can't comment on other / newer 20k bulbs.

It's all subjective / personal taste. My current favorite is a 400 10k, with 440w VHO actinic. Almost blue like 20k, but somehow a lot brighter.

 

[Paul K]

I'm running a pair of their 14K 175W bulbs, I like the look and so far my livestock seems to be doing quite well (better than with my way-too-old 10K Hamiltons)


QUOTE=Yaktop]haventy tried them myself but heard they were rated good and were cheaper then most. any opinions here?[/QUOTE]