too many choices!!!

[dadstank]

so, uh, who had what brand of light bulb, and why?

there are to many choices. i thought it would be easy. what is it that i should be looking for?

i need the following:

Metal hallide 250W 10000K

Coralife compact replacement 9w white and blue 10000K

actinc 03 florecent (36" and 48")

HERE IS THE BIG QUESTION:

what is the difference between a $60 bulb and a $110 bulb?

do you get what you pay for????

or do you get what you pay for?

 

[Len]

I've seen all sorts of MH light work well over reefs. The choice will come down to several factors including your personal preference and what type of corals you want to keep. For 10K, I'd go XM or Reeflux, both of which test great. Some people say they get better coral pigmentation with Reeflux. Ushio and AB's 10K worked well for me in year's past, but the newer productions test much better (higher PAR).

Prices won't necessarily indicate quality, so a $110 bulb doesn't mean it is $50 better, or better at all compared to a $60.

 

[dadstank]

interesting...

back to the research

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, a $60 bulb sometimes is just as good as a $110 bulb. The major difference is probably manufacturing, as "german made" (often used as way to tout it's superiority :roll typically cost more to make. Now if you talk about the difference between a $60 and a $40 bulb (those seen on ebay) then I would definately say you're getting what you're paying for.

 

[dadstank]

when looking at the 03 fluorescent bulbs, what does NO, T8, T12, & VHO stand for?

 

[Anonymous]

Those are different bulb types.

NO - Normal Output

T12 - I think is the same as VHO (Very High Output)
_________________
Teen Health Forum

 

[dadstank]

is there any reason to get anything above normal output?

i don't have any crazy corals, nor do i plan on it.

i want to only keep simple things, like leathers, button polyps, star polyps, shrooms, and fish...

although i would like to put in at least one piece of acro.

 

[Anonymous]

You will need a different ballast to run the VHO's. For the corals you suggest NO should be OK with your MH. Look at your current bulb, it should say what type it is.
_________________
Ferrari 250 GTO

 

[Anonymous]

when looking at the 03 fluorescent bulbs, what does NO, T8, T12, & VHO stand for?

NO - normal output
VHO - very high output

T12 - 1.5" dia bulb
T8 - 1" dia bulb

FYI - fluoresent bulb sizes are in 1/8 of an inch dia ie. T5 are 5/8" dia, T8 are 8/8" dia, T12 are 12/8" dia and so on.

You need different ballast for the different output fluoresesnt bulbs.

 

[travisurfer]

as far as compact flourescent bulbs, current sunpaq brand bulbs are the best

 

[dadstank]

thanks...

i assume that the fluorescent bulb ballast will tell me whether somewhere on it if it is for NO or VHO? it wouldn't surprise me if my dad put in VHO, he had the tendancy to, well lets just say over do it...