Best 250w MH bulbs

[db366]

I am looking for something that is a tad bluer than a phoenix 14k but not quite a 20k. I see the megachrome 15k how is it? What do you guys recommend? My fixture is Double ended.

 

[cbj25]

Have you thought about throwing a stunner strip up or actinic t5s?

 

[lilrobb]

I might have asked that before, but didn't you just buy LEDs?

 

[db366]

I switched away from LED's for now.

 

[lilrobb]

Why?
What didn't work out?

 

[db366]

I want to get another one with a custom configuration of LED's kind of like yours but I am going to also try to incorporate different whites in the mix. The owner of Deep Blue has some he brought in and the color of everything in his tank just popped. I also wanted to see the difference in growth from the LED to MH.

 

[lilrobb]

Cool,

Just collecting pros and cons, thanks for the input...

 

[basscyn]

I run Phoenix 14k 250de and was also looking for more blue.
I have a 4x250 fixture and tried a couple of 20k's with my 14k's.

Couldn't tell any difference. The Phoenix may be as blue as it gets.

I switched back to all Phoenix 14k's

 

[cr500_af]

BASSCYN;727669 wrote: I run Phoenix 14k 250de and was also looking for more blue.
I have a 4x250 fixture and tried a couple of 20k's with my 14k's.

Couldn't tell any difference. The Phoenix may be as blue as it gets.

I switched back to all Phoenix 14k's

+1. I don't think the Ushio 20Ks I used are any bluer than the Phoenix.

 

[superclown]

Twist and completely besides the point. I was told that 400w radiums are more blue than 250w radiums not sure why but that's what I've been told. I also think it has a lot to do with if your running the correct ballast or not.

 

[cr500_af]

SuperClown;727749 wrote: Twist and completely besides the point. I was told that 400w radiums are more blue than 250w radiums not sure why but that's what I've been told. I also think it has a lot to do with if your running the correct ballast or not.

It does have to do with the ballast. You can, in fact, run 400w Radiums on a 250w ballast. They are REALLY blue... I've seen them done that way and it was really like blue-only LEDs. I doubt the PAR is adequate though.

 

[jimknutson]

I run a phenix on my new 30 cube and it is way more blue than the 14 k sunpaq I was running

 

[superclown]

That's interesting I figured the bulb wouldnt fire. I'm at a point where I'm not sure what I should do as well still debating getting a new 150w bull for snpod over my 30 cube or retrofit my canopy with the 250w I had the 250w 20k radium runnig for a day to try out and see midnight would like it. But because I got a coralvue electronic ballast it didn't drive the bulb like I was hoping so now either way. I got to figure out a different bulb

 

[basscyn]

cr500_af;727751 wrote: It does have to do with the ballast. You can, in fact, run 400w Radiums on a 250w ballast. They are REALLY blue... I've seen them done that way and it was really like blue-only LEDs. I doubt the PAR is adequate though.

400W bulbs in a 250w ballast.
Hmm...
Something new to research :thumbs:

 

[jead85]

I would not suggest the Ushio, it is rather purple IMO, also the reeflux, I have used both and not a huge fan. It seems that nothing compares to the radium!