MH Bulb Advice/Question

perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
I am curious other than the name on the box what is the biggest difference if any to the different name brand MH bulbs. I want to change out my bulb from the 14K it has in it now, to something a bit more blue. I know the pheonix 15k bulbs are good alternative. But, whats the difference in the other names of bulbs that are 15K, other than price? Specifically, IceCap, Iswaski, Radium, Ushio, Giesemann, XM, Coral Vue and Aquaconnect? Any info is appreciated...
TIA...
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2588952
It's one of the best sites by far for figuring out the actual stats on your ballast + bulb combo :)
Thanks I did look at it but my question is based more on looks appearance etc rather than performance. Unless thats where the difference is...
As an example I hear a lot of people raving about the Pheonix 15K bulbs...how and why are they different than other 15K MH bulbs?
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
From what I've heard from our club's more heavy duty reefers, they all shy away from Phoenix (also Hamilton). According to them they are cheaply manufactured and uneven in quality. I'm a huge fan of XM bulbs.
Generally preferred are Iwaki, XM ...
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2589070
From what I've heard from our club's more heavy duty reefers, they all shy away from Phoenix (also Hamilton). According to them they are cheaply manufactured and uneven in quality. I'm a huge fan of XM bulbs.
Generally preferred are Iwaki, XM ...
Ok so then why do you like XM bulbs over any others that you may have tried? If you dont mind me asking.
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
Originally Posted by PerfectDark
http:///forum/post/2589072
Ok so then why do you like XM bulbs over any others that you may have tried? If you dont mind me asking.
I've looked at tanks that have had Hamilton, XM, Iwaki, Aquaconnect, Coralife and Ra (something) bulbs with similar ballasts that I have and I liked the 15k XM the best. I like that bluish tint and didn't want to go to 20k even bluer.
 
J

jrthomas40

Guest
i have the xm 15k 250w x 2 on my tank now and while it gives off a beautiful color the color in my coral are much more dull than those in my frag tank with current powerpaq 14k....im my research i have always run accross to stay away from the xm 15k ( this was after i already had them) because they had a very poor PAR rating and the 20k was the best xm bulb....and every thing i have read said phoenix bulbs were better
 
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