Metal halide light from fishneedit.com

this fixture is fantastic, been using it for months and its great with no problems. awesome shimmer effect also.

However i have a few questions:

1. Regretting i went with the 10000K bulb. Wish i got a 14k, i think the 20k is a bit too dark for me but 14k looks nice. What is the real difference between growth/colors from 14 -> 20 K.

2. Is any brands metal halide bulb compatible with my fixture, as long as its 150W.

3. Can you recommend some online stores/brands to buy from?

4. How can some brands bulbs be so much different than another brands?

Thanks very much for the help and advice!!!

 

55 views and no help??

 

1. 10k is going to get you the best growth however the colors will look better under 14k. IMO, growth will still occur with a 14k bulb so why not pick what looks best to you? Why don't you try a t5HO or PC Actinic supplement? Or better yet, LED?

2. Any bulb will be compatible as long as you get a single ended bulb replacement for a single end and double for a double etc. and the wattage remains consistent.

3. Aquacave has some good prices but all of the 3reef sponsors are great. Look in the sponsors section.

4. Well, some brands will be better than others but mainly in the way the bulb is constructed. Some will last longer than others. Difficult question to answer.

 

I would suggest that you contact FishNeedit.com and ask them if there are any issues with buying other bulbs that the ones that they sell. I woulds have to say that there most likley isnt any issues but you never know.

As far as where to buy, almost every online fish supply company has them, all you can do is shop and look for the lowest price on what you want.

As far as colors go I agree with JAY, 14k is about the best all around color to use, 20K gives out cool colors but as far as I am conerned they are false colors and you wil not get much growth with one. I have heard alot of good things about Reeflux 14k bulbs, know a few people personally that use them.

 

short answer, yes. If you buy a cheap bulb, it won't last long, will shift colors on you quicker and wont' have much PAR. Color temperature is also highly variable between brands. One brand's 14k may look yellow/white compared to anothers. A 20k bulb from one brand may look more like a 14k bulb from another, etc.