Replacing HQI Bulbs

[2cold2fish]

I want to replace my current bulbs, I have searched a bunch of sites and posts. I see bulbs ranging from $9.99 to $80.00 or more. It's kinda confusing and would love to replace bulbs for $9.99 but I am am leary. Any advice?

 

[jrthomas40]

for 10 bucks i would be leary too....stick to most name brands like phoenix, xm, ushio, and there are more but i cant think of them right now

 

[2cold2fish]

Thanks JR. Its sound advice, and advice I should and probably will follow, but I am hoping that someone has technically researched the differences in the bulbs for things like:
Color, Lux, Par, performance, life.

 

[jrthomas40]

the color part is all preference, dont much about the nitty gritty parts of the rest but i like my xm 15ks

 

[2cold2fish]

Were th 15k xm's expensive?
I currently have coralife 14k's. This set is about a year old. This may be not right, but I can see a decline in the lighting intensity?or maybe color? after about 8 months or so. Could it be my imagination?

 

[reefer545]

Originally Posted by 2cold2fish
Were th 15k xm's expensive?
I currently have coralife 14k's. This set is about a year old. This may be not right, but I can see a decline in the lighting intensity?or maybe color? after about 8 months or so. Could it be my imagination?
I dont think it is your imagination. My 14ks are definitely fading after about 10 mo. I have noticed it for a while, and I will be getting 20k to replace them with. I have a hard time paying more than 50 bux for a new bulb, but it is worth it.

 

[2cold2fish]

This is my struggle, why not by the $9.99 bulbs and replace them every 6 months or even every 3 months? thats still only 40 about bucks a year.

 

[jrthomas40]

i think mine were 52 each

 

[2cold2fish]

Can you tell me where you got them?

 

[jrthomas40]

not here

 

[jrthomas40]

what wattage are you looking for??