Iwasaki 6500K MH bulb

firecopemt

firecopemt

Member
Does anyone here use this bulb? If so, what do you think about it...both color, and the growth in your corals. I will be supplementing it with 220 watts of VHO actinic, and 220 watts of 50/50 VHO.
The ballast is a PFO-EYE ballast that I got from a reef club member, and every site I go to that has info about PFO-EYE ballasts say that the only bulb you can use in it is the Iwasaki 6500K.
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
Since I don't run MH's I can't comment from personal experience...but most of what I've heard about them has been positive. I do plan to up-grade to a dual PFO 250 watt 65k Iwaski system.
 
firecopemt

firecopemt

Member
I forgot to mention that it is a Dual 400 Watt PFO-EYE ballast. Also, would you think that five 4 inch fans in the canopy would be overkill ? not enough?
NM...........thanks for the speedy reply!
 
jim672

jim672

Member
firecopemt,
Iwaski is a very respected name in lighting but I'd avoid using 6500 K bulbs. Particularly since you plan to use only those bulbs, I think you might find them, and your tank, too yellow.
I use a 10,000 K bulb which has a very pure white light. Going to a 12,000 K or 20,000 K will give you a more blue look.
Also, I've never seen a fixture that restricts which K rating bulb to use. The MH ballasts do restrict the wattage....ie. you must have and use 400 watt bulb with 400 watt ballasts, etc, etc.
Jim
 
mlm

mlm

Active Member
I used the 2 400 watt 6500k's and 2 110 watt actinics with extremely great growth however after 4 months I did not like how the corals all looked brown so I switched to Ushio 10k bulbs and the color is better and I have not seen any difference in growth rates. Its only been one month though so I can't really say how much growth will be affected but I am happier with the new color and the growth rate so far.
 
firecopemt

firecopemt

Member
Jim......
I will be supplementing it with 220 watts of VHO actinic, and 220 watts of 50/50 VHO.

Also, I've never seen a fixture that restricts which K rating bulb to use.
Look at any site that sells the PFO-EYE ballast....It is specifically made to run the Iwasaki 6500K bulbs.
Thanks for the replies people......Anyone else care to comment?
I know there are more out there that have input.
 
jacksonpt

jacksonpt

Active Member
I run that bulb over my 44g pent. Been on there for well over a year now. Color is nice (I think, but it depends on what you like). Looks like natural sunlight with the yellow tint. However, it does tend to mute the colors in my corals/fish. Since I setup my sump/overflow, my water quality has been much more stable, and my carpet anemone, mushrooms, and xenia are growing like crazy - all have doubled or trippled in size over the last 8 weeks. However, my GSP is receding - but I think that has more to do with the lack of some nutrient/mineral in the water than light or water quality.
 
naturelover

naturelover

Member
I have been using 2 * 400 watt iwasaki 6500k bulbs for longtime and I am satisfied with it, Good coral growth and not so much yellowish color at all. Just put the low light ones ( shrooms and so on ) under caves and you will be fine.
 
adrian

adrian

Active Member
I run two 400 watt sakis over my 75, I have tried a number of other bulbs and the sakis are my favorite. Bright, last a long time, and cheap compared to the others. The only thing you have to get around it the color, and I rather like the look of them coupled with VHOs, I run two 110 watt bulbs, and the tank has a very natural look. Great bulb ;) HTH
 
firecopemt

firecopemt

Member
What length of VHO are you running/size tank? Also, what wattage are your MH? I think you just helped put my mind at ease. Thanks!
Now all I have to do is finish getting the new canopy built for my 13 gallon and start on the new canopy for the 75 gallon!
 
firecopemt

firecopemt

Member
I wonder if there is any color difference between the 250 watt iwasaki bulbs and the 400 watt bulbs....Im running the same amount of VHO though with same length.
What is your lighting schedule set up like?
 
adrian

adrian

Active Member
I second that notion, I have both the 250s and 400s running, and the only difference is the intensity. I think youll be pleased, unless you like a really blue tank like what can be acheived with 20Ks. GL
 
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