I am having a terrible time getting blue out of my MH bulbs, I have tried a 250W radium, reeflux 12k and 20K and a hamilton 14K. All the bulbs are very white, the radium and 14K are the bluest but just barely. I have tried all the bulbs on a icecap ballast, a generic magnetic and most recently on a coralvue dimmable eballast with no change between the ballasts. Most of the bulbs fire up for the first few seconds very blue like I want but within a minute or two turn white. Anybody have any suggestions or similar problems, the bulbs are all several months old now but have really never been blue.
my bulbs are all white
- Thread starter sgwill122
- Start date
Help Support Reef Aquarium & Tank Building Forum:
No fan. I would think it would take longer than a couple minutes for heat to become a problem but stranger things have happened I am sure.
Does anybody have a old 250W SE 20K bulb they think is pretty blue I could try to see if it is the bulb or my setup. Getting tired of buying new bulbs.
Does anybody have a old 250W SE 20K bulb they think is pretty blue I could try to see if it is the bulb or my setup. Getting tired of buying new bulbs.
ac7av
Bring on the FISH!
You didn’t forget to take off your blue blocker glasses did you?
TotalVapor
Banned
XM bulbs seem to be very blue and they just came out with a new 15K bulb that gets twice the PAR. I just read about it on Sanjay's site
I agree it is odd or to me quite perplexing. It would be funny if I did that although I am sure it is 110. Maybe my expectations are too high, I want my 20K's to look something close to what actinics provide but I am definitely not even close.
I am very hesitant to buy another bulb without seeing proof that it will produce blue.
lvsuckerfish
g funk
I have a 250 xm you can check out only thing I am in federal way I also have a radium running on my nano tank if you want to see that. 20k take a few days to break into the blue state. atleast both my raduims and xm bulbs did.
TotalVapor
Banned
There was a site and someone might know what I am talking about, it compared the different bulbs side by side.
Sorry I lost the link when the computer crashed last year.
Sorry I lost the link when the computer crashed last year.
lvsuckerfish
g funk
I know what site your talking about I will hunt the link down and post it.
mfinn
Surgeonfish
If a 250watt 20k Radium isn't blue enough for you, why don't you add some VHO actinics?
I always thought Radiums were about as blue as you could get.
I always thought Radiums were about as blue as you could get.
i did not know that thanks for the info
TJL
copod
Hey Steve what is your supplemental/actinic lighting. I can't recall standard or VHO + length, I may have a extra 36" VHO AquaBrite 3000 bulb to try. I think they are a better blue than URI 'Super Actinic' bulbs even more so in the std T12. I would think in combination with your 14K or 20K you'd get the 'BLUES'. I thought your lighting was pretty nice and gave a good pop to your Blue Acros but the Pavona frag I got from you is definately more fluorescent green under my lighting. You could always walk over and take a look to see.
Todd
Todd
roscoe
Well-known member
I'm running 400w radiums on IC ballast and I don't think they are as blue as people say.
Shane and John
father and son
My opinion...and I have spent a great deal of money on 250watt DE HQI bulbs is that the most blue is from XM.....I also like a Blue look..Now with this...I have only used one balast to compare these...I am not sure if it makes a difference...Just my 2 cents!!
roscoe
Well-known member
I agree with you shane XM 20k is the bluest bulb I've ever used. It is a dark blue color rather than bright blue color that I'm getting from the radiums.
