Sunburst 12KK bulbs....improved?

[Anonymous]

All,

I bought one of these back when they were first introduced a couple of years back. I noticed a sharp decline in coral growth and health after installing it. I switched from a 20KK Radium bulb.

Have these bulbs improved at all? Many other reefers were having the same problem as I did when these bulbs first came out. It was too bad they had problems, since the color was fantastic.

 

[EmilyB]

I'm currently on my third set. There is a good comparative article in the Marine 2002 annual, worth reading. I'll be swapping out two of my three MH bulbs for 10kk Aqualines, given the extreme difference in PAR. I will just hope they are not the crap yellow/green I found with the 10kk Ushios (250w).

 

[Anonymous]

As Emily said, the PAR is horrid and the lifespan AFAIK has not improved much if it all. I would avoid them like the plague. If you want the really blue look stick with the radiums or the 14K Belgians.

 

[HARRISON]

Hey Ernie, Mick is being negative again....

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the Sunburst bulbs are exactly the same as they were then. Bummer.

 

[lionfish1]

my Ushios 250watt MH'S are crisp white, must have been your ballast, I run mine with a PFO ballast.

 

[MarkO1]

I currently have 2 175, 12K's in my 75G. They are about 2 months old now and already, the one on the right is yellowing. Real bummer!!! Never again man!
_________________
Lamborghini Gallardo

 

[Ben1]

I still prefer the 65k Iwasakis. Their new bulbs are pretty white and with VHO actinics you can get a great color. I run 2 x 400 watt 65k and 3 x 110 watt VHO actinics on my 75 and geat a nice bright white slight blue color. If you want par you want Iwasakis.

 

[cuda]

I have been running three 250watt 12k's for a little over year now with good results, but I can tell they loosing there intensity. After finally seeing some test results I like to try a bulb with a higher par rating. Would one of the 10k bulbs still work without actinic lighting for my stonies?

 

[Terra Ferma]

Can anyone with the "Marine 2002" annual tell me the output stats on the SB?

 

[D.W.L.]

Heh,heh, I must have the only good bulb they made, by everyone elses comments on the various boards.

 

[mariner]

I, too, have been running dual 250 watt 12k's for about 10 months and have had no problems. I even had to move one of my corals further down because it was starting to bleach from too much light. I will probably go with 10k next time around just for something different but I would definitely buy the 12k's again. They give you the deep blue sea look.

 

[pez]

The spectral output is nearly identical to the Radium 20KK lamp, with a large peak at 454nm. The PAR was 66.8 for a 400 watt lamp.

Please note, this is a sample of one on a specific ballast. YMMV. \

By contrast, an Iwasaki 400 watt lamp had PAR of 173 - over 2.5 times the light output for almost half the cost.

-Tom

[ January 01, 2002: Message edited by: pez ]</p>

 

[D.W.L.]

Hey guys, I dont dis-agree that it sucks as far as par. I guess one could say running a 400 watt bulb, that has less whomp than a 250 in another spectrum is not very efficent. Also, as other higher K bulbs, they cost to much and have a shorter life span.

BUT, my 400, along with a pair of 175w 10K,s makes my tank so nice looking. And the corals love the colour also. Decent growth & nice sps colours. Oh well. I to will change when its finished, but thats mostly replacment cost related here in Canada.

I would like the 400w 55 Venture to work as my main bulb, because its very bright & its cheap. Only $80 to replace.

 

[Terra Ferma]

Thanks pez. I always had a suspicion that the SB's lacked horribly in output. I don't dispute that they are not nice looking bulbs, I just don't want to pay the bill for 400 watts and get the output of a SB.