400 watt bulb choices (Comparison pics)

[CAReefer]

Been trying to find a SE 400 watt bulb that gives the best of all worlds, economy, color, growth, longevity. All bulbs are running on PFO HQI mag ballast and are in LA III reflectors. Pictures were cropped, resized and given about 10% auto adjust in Photoshop. All were adjusted equally. We all know how hard it is to get accurate color representation and I did my best.

First is
Hamilton 14k-Hamilton 14k- XM15k With 320 watts VHO Actinic. All bulbs are 4 +months old.



Same set-up no Actinics



Hamilton 14k - Radium 20k - XM 15k with actinics on.



Same with no actinics



Coralvue Reeflux 10k - Radium 20k - XM 15k with actinics



Same with no actinics


First impressions of the Reeflux is Eeeewwww. The Radium and Reeflux had just been fired for the first time and have virtually no burn in on them. The Reeflux seems to be getting whiter after just a few hours.

[Aged Salt]

Hi Marshak, gosh, the reeflux is a bit yellow I can't tell much difference between the Hamilton 14K & the XM15K & I like the white look, with non wash-out effect to the corals. I'm using 400-SE Magachrome 13.5K on the ends[HQI ballast] with a AQ14K in the center which looks about the same as your top top two pix's. Bob

[CAReefer]

Actually, the reeflux isn't yellow at all. It is somewhere between peach, and pink. I'm hoping the pinkness goes away. It has a great spike at the 440-460 range, even higher than the Radium. Lots of flourescence from the corals, but the pink....

Visually, there isn't much difference between the Radium and the XM's, although the Radiums are brighter. The Hamiltons are whiter and brighter, but coloration isn't what it should be.

[Norberg]

My tank isnt a Zeo tank but it has 4x400w SE ReefLux. I run them with Coralvue electronic ballasts.
I dont have that yelow coulor and i am very pleased with the light!

http://img282.imageshack.us/img282/3...eskuren0xt.jpg

[Diesel3443]

Norberg, nice tank do you run actinics with them? Ive been on the fence with trying the as well

[Norberg]

Thanks Sean. Yes i do, i have 2x80w T5 with Osram 67 bulbes! But i dont think they are on in that picture. I realy like them and the corals get nice coulors from the light!

[G.Alexander]

Here is the picture of Norbergs tank from the above link:



G.Alexander

[OUinLA]

Marshall, I like the first pic the best, if that means anything.

Where did all your corals go?

[Orion76]

Where did all your corals go?

I was thinking the same thing, didn't your tank used to be full of acros?

[gqjeff]

Marshall, I tried the reeflux 10k before also.. My impression was VERY pink too.. I was running CV eballast then.. I am now running m59 with xm20k and they have a GREAT color with really good par off this ballasts.. I am currently running one of those bulbs that fragfarmer is selling and it almost identical to the xm20k off the m59.. I do have another reeflux 10k coming today to try on these ballast to see if it is less pink.. I did look though and it does not have very good par off the m59.. Actually off the m59 the xm 20k is one of the best bulbs sanjay has tested and it also gives you that great color and flourecents. I will also let you know my feelings on the reeflux 10k off my m59 as well...

Peace, Jeff

[Norberg]

I am very suprised about the coulor your ReefLux have got Jeff! Non of the 250w or 400w ReefLux i have seen have had that coulor. The ones i have seen have looked like the ones in my tank. (The purpel look in my tank is from the coralinealges.)

Tommy

[gqjeff]

Tommy, I am running 20k xm currently just getting another reeflux today to try out again with a different ballast? I think that you are reefering to my pics correct?

[Norberg]

Yes the 2 last ones with the yellow ReefLux to the left.
I have only seen those pictures above of your tank.

[Chad W]

My vote goes for the 15k xm's, and well the radiums but not much economy in those if you have to replace them twice as much and be 1/3rd more in price (just off the top of my head). That being said, guess what I'm running...a Radium .
Later,
Chad

[gqjeff]

Chad the xm 15ks came in with a horrible rating from sanjay.. The reeflux I fired up about an hr ago. The blues are amazing as always under the bulb but reds and pinks kind of get washed out with the pinkish tint.. I will let it burn in for a couple weeks and see what I think as far as growth and color goes. This bulb on the m59 actually has a lower par then the xm20k.. I will then try the blv 14k and see what I think of it.. Nothing compares to good old xm20k so far for me.. I am going to get another 660 IC though and run more vho a actinic and t5 blue plus.. Maybe that will help with the reeflux also..

Jeff