Brand of Bulb

[The Rugger]

I was wondering if folks had any experience good or bad with bulb brands. Prices vary significantly so there must be a difference right? I have found them from $10 to $70 each.

I need a pair of 150w 20K and am going to purchase... Thought I would try to make the best buy by soliciting input first...

Thanks,

[evilc66]

Well, you get what you pay for. The cheap ebay bulbs are never the color temp advertized, and typically don't last as long as better bulbs.

Popular bulbs for 150W DE are Phoenix and Radium. There are many other good bulbs, but these two are kind of no brainers for color and growth.

[The Rugger]

Any recomendations for online stores??? I didn't see any of the sponsers carrying Radium or Phoenix and My LFS are well over priced IMO.

[evilc66]

Not sure about our sponsors, but many of the larger online retailers stock them. Premium Aquatics, Aquacave, and Hellolights are good sources.

[ReeferRob]

I don't have MH but the ones I have seen, the Radiums are the best looking and definitely great growth.

[The Rugger]

From what I have gathered from a few different places is that the 20K Radium is the best looking, however faster growth and better coral color development will come from a 14K, Phoenix being the best color in 14K. Would anybody disagree with these findings?

[evilc66]

I think it's a toss up really. You can't go wrong with either bulb.

[pjr]

Is there such a thing as a 150w Radium?

to OP: are you using DE or SE fixtures?

XM makes a good 20k. But be careful, their 15k is lousy.

[evilc66]

http://www.aquacave.com/150w-20000k-hqi-double-br-ended-metal-halide-lamp-br-by-radium-2264.html

[pjr]

I stand corrected... I think they make the 150 in DE but not a 175 SE bulb. (but you'll probably prove me wrong there too LOL!).

Anyhow, the radiums are not PAR monsters by any stretch of the imagination.

[Werdlone]

http://www.soslightbulbs.com/hid.aspx

cheapest I could find...purchased my last set of bulbs from them and they are reputable...

I use and recommend phoenix 14k bulbs...best bang for your buck and they hold their color for at least a year and some I know use them for up to 18 months. True great color with radiums, but I love my phoenix bulbs with actinic vho supplements!!

[pjr]

Phoenix is very good too.

[evilc66]

No 175W SE, but they do make a 250W SE (no DE) which is supposed to be the best.

[pjr]

I used the 250SE radiums for a few years and they are good. It worked best on a magnetic HQI ballast, but that think pulled juice out of the wall like mad! It also really shortened bulb life.

[The Rugger]

I just put in my New Phoenix 14K Bulbs and Wow. Nice blue for a 14K, They out my old bulbs to shame. Not sure what they were as they came with the fixture. Thanks for the Input Folks!

[evilc66]

Give it about 100 hours for it to break in. The color will mellow a little. New bulbs tend to look a little washed out.