Last Question on MH bulbs

broomer5

broomer5

Active Member
Okay - I'm very close to placing an order for my MH equipment.
Of those that have used these bulbs - what can you tell me about the following; I've narrowed it down to these 2 bulbs.
250W 10000K AQUALINE BUSCHKE $99.90 each
250W 10000K USHIO MH LAMP $99.90 each
Planning to run these on a PFO dual magnetic 250w ballast
75 gallon tank - LPS some softies, but want to start the move towards sps corals.
Softies can be moved to another established tank if necessary, or placed low/sheltered.
DIY canopy - bulb placement yet to be determined - but will allow for 8 to 12 inch from the water surface - adjustable somehow.
If I move up to a larger tank someday ( I know I will ) I don't want to limit my options by going with 175 watt today, and having to buy lighting components ( again ).
My question - of the two bulbs above - which do you prefer/why.
Is there a distinct difference in appearance - or are they very close.
I'm looking for MH w/crisp white light - supplemented by exisiting 260 watt CSL actinic pc's.
 
broomer5

broomer5

Active Member
thanks for your thoughts guys !
golfish - I believe the Ushio I'm considering is the mogul socket end, not double ended. Does this bulb still require the HQI ballast. My understanding is that the PFO standard ballast will drive this lamp.
My interest is to have a mixed reef - not primarily sps/clams, so I think I may go with the 250watt lamps. I do appreciate your comments ;)
Thanks Ed
Last note: Is lighting a reef tank a never ending quest ?
 
richard rendos

richard rendos

Active Member
Just wanted to let you know that the bulbs can be found much cheaper.
http://www.reeffanatic.com
Also the guy will test the bulbs on a PFO ballast for you to make sure they will fire on the non-HQI ballast. I recently bought two AB 10000K 250 watters, and one bulb lit and another one didn't. When I called to send the one back, he told me he would test the bulbs there in the shop and send me one that fires up.
$79.00 for the AB's, $95.00 for the Ushio's.
 
uncle fester

uncle fester

Member
Currently running 1 each 250 watt AB and Ushio dbl ended bulbs. I prefer the Ushio. Side by side there does not appear to be a visual difference to me, however I do SEEM to get better coral expansion from LPS under the Ushio, and sps growth under the Ushio has been noticeably swifter. Fes
 
broomer5

broomer5

Active Member
Will do Krusk
I've chosen to go with VHO supplements as opposed to using my existing PC's.
I've been putting together the canopy with VHO over the last few nights, and hope to have it done this weekend.
I'll have plenty of options on the URI VHO lamps and combinations of running these (4) 110watt VHO lamps for supplementing the future MH's.
I'm going to install the MH reflectors and mogel sockets now, and have it ready to go, then when my wallet allows - will be adding the MH ballast and (2) bulbs.
Going to see how "blue" or "crisp white" the tank looks with just VHO - then make a decision on the MH's.
Still scratching my head trying to figure out what direction to go on these - but hope to have a better handle on it when I get it fired up.
 
ironreef

ironreef

Member
I prefer ab over USHIO. a few ppl who haave used 10k longer than me feel the same. But I find you ask enough ppl they will all agree= @ 50-50 one or the other. Just depends if you coral goes through a growth spurt of not. And if it happend to do it with the new light I belive thats how ppl judge. HQI ballast do drive the bulbs better they say but my corals grow just as fast with my pfo as other tanks I've seen with hqi double ends and mogul. But imo if you have the $$ I would get the hqi but if you don't you'll still like the standard. Especially if you don't have dedicated sps. My purple monti is on the bottom of my 24" tall tank and has nice purple tips. I have some orange plate nice and orange on the bottom. I would have dedicated sps but don't have room. I need to share space with my wifes favorites also like her rose anemonies ect.... just to keep peace. But my purple tip acro needs to be on the top or it just turns green. I use 250w
 
josh

josh

Active Member
Hi broomer,
As you see by my sig I run a Ab bulb. There really isn't any visual difference in them, however th AB bulb does put out considerably more mE's - PAR and for this reason I feel they are a better bulb. I only have a few sps corals now. My brown monti is coloring up nicley, getting purple tips, under the lights I run.
I guess my recommendation would be to check out the aquaspace combo lights / hoods. These seem to be the top of the line and are getting some rave reviews. However, they aren't cheap....but what is in this hobby.
Golfish, I am still holding out hope for some 20K 250HQI bulbs the century!
 
lurch694u

lurch694u

Member
Why do you need actinic lighting for if you have metal hallide?? What is the purpose of actinic???
Sorry for the stupid question...
:confused:
 
jester

jester

Member
it really depends what the kelvin rating is on the metal halides that you buy.
The higher the k, (like 20,000 k) the more blure the light. the lower you go (like 6,500 k) the more yellow the light. At 10,000, the light is almost pure white. 12,000k is suposed to be a good halide that is the correct ballence between blue light and whit light. This is just what I've read, I haven;t seen a 12k light yet.
The 10k lights are usually the bulbs of choice with an antic suppliment to give a better apearence
 
marinemarty

marinemarty

Member
Hi Jester, Is there a ratio for MH to actinics?? for example how much blue light for a 250 watt MH bulb?
Thanxs
Martin
 
broomer5

broomer5

Active Member
Thanks for all the advise folks.
I've got the canopy mostly done, just need to trim it out and make a few adjustments here and there.
(4) 110 watt VHO URI
I've got 2 Actinics and 2 Aquasun's in it now, and have 2 50/50 URI's on standby.
Just fired up the VHO today and lit up the gargage nicely.
Neighbors seem puzzled - but I like to keep them on their toes.
Budget allows me the PFO 250watt MH ballast - and I've yet to decide what lamps to run. Hopefully be able to order these last components end of this month.
It's still a toss up between the AB & Ushio 10,000k lamps.
From the sound of it - it looks like either one would be fine.
Gotta remember - I'm going from 260 watts of PC over my tank to this new set-up. I've allowed room to lower the lamps after acclimating if necessary.
Thanks again for your sharing your experiences ;)
 
jester

jester

Member
Like goldsaid, it's really a matter of personal preference. I have 3 175w 10k's, and 160 watts of antic. I like it.
 
jester

jester

Member
hey broomer, show me a pic or too. After all i curious to see the unorthadox setup you had in mind.
 
broomer5

broomer5

Active Member
Hey Jester,
I'll post a few pics when I get the "thing" finished LOL :p
Gotta make sure it will work first - ya know.
This weekend it will be done - hoepfully.
Later
 
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