Time to buy MH bulbs!

[jawwad2004]

Question guys:
I dont know much about ballasts/bulbs even though I am using a halide setup.
I have 2 250 watt EVC electronic ballasts. I am using 10000k EVC 250 watt bulbs and im not all that happy with them. They are gettin that yellowish color now, so I think its time to upgrade. My question is, can I use the reeflux bulbs on an EVC ballast? (might be a stupid question, but i gotta know, lol) I saw the reeflux being used on Tony at reefexotics tank, and it looks beautiful. If we do the group buy, put me down.

 

[nyfireman3097]

you can obnly use the wattage the ballast is meant for if you use the link i posted you can pick your ballast that you have and it will show the results of what bulbs you can use with it HTH
Nick

 

[jawwad2004]

What does shielded mean, and how would I know if my ballast is shielded or not? Also, under efficiency, which number represents a better efficiency, lower or higher?

 

[nyfireman3097]

shielded is if you have a UV shield the efficentcy im not sure i look at the ppfd which is the par if you look through his site im sure it explains everything I have never done so sorry

 

[Barnacle_Blenny]

thx for the links guys but I meant the link for the reflux 250w DE specteral plot. I know both links very well as I used them to find that a pheonix 14k is stronger then a Icecap 10k on my icecap ballast. I wanted to compare the reeflux to the pheonix but i can't find anything on the reeflux 250w de. Other then people stating "wow its realy white". The human eye can not distinguish slight par level shifts so this is useless info.

 

[prattreef]

I e-mailed Sanjay yesterday regarding the DE reeflux lamps. I haven't heard back yet, but I'm pretty sure he hasn't tested them yet. I'll let you know.

Randy

 

[Barnacle_Blenny]

thx prat....looks like were gonna get some real info on these lamps finally

 

[prattreef]

I spoke to Sanjay today and he has not tested the Reeflux 10k DE. He'd love to though if someone would send him one Tony from LI Reef Exotics are you out there? FWIW, he very much likes the SE version and so do I.

Randy

 

[Kedd]

Solby,
To answer you question.

I have used AB's,XM's, Ushio, EVC Tech,and few proto type DE's from IceCap.
These were all driven by IceCap electronic HQI 250w ballast.

I know there a lot of new ones out there, but from what I have seen from the above bulbs, the EVC Tech is by far the best light for my tank.

I supplement with actinic, so the 10,000 k white color is what I'm looking for.

All the others listed were either too yellow or too blue for my tank.

One more note the growth I have seen with the EVC is also better than the others.


I do want to check out the BLV's I've heard good things about them.

Kedd

 

[yessongs]

thx for the links guys but I meant the link for the reflux 250w DE specteral plot. I know both links very well as I used them to find that a pheonix 14k is stronger then a Icecap 10k on my icecap ballast. I wanted to compare the reeflux to the pheonix but i can't find anything on the reeflux 250w de. Other then people stating "wow its realy white". The human eye can not distinguish slight par level shifts so this is useless info.

Its a color temperature difference i noticed not "slight par level shifts"
Which i believe Sanjay said had a lot to do with reflectors the last time i seen him, it was a bit noisy though. Sanjay was using XMs
IMO, Its just whiter then XMs.

 

[Deanos]

I know there a lot of new ones out there, but from what I have seen from the above bulbs, the EVC Tech is by far the best light for my tank.

One more note the growth I have seen with the EVC is also better than the others.

Well ain't that great!?! A sparkling recommendation...just when I was going to try the EVCs on my tank; now the group buy gets cancelled. :irked:

Now I'll look to get these on my own then.

 

[Kedd]

Deanos,

Vince will have them in soon, mid Jan. at the latest he says.


I'm still getting 6 when he does.
LMK if you want to add some to my order.

Kedd

 

[ShaunW]

Thanks Kedd!

 

[ShaunW]

THANKS to all that have given advice here! I really appreciate it. Choosing the correct lighting is difficult, since it is alot of money that you don't want to make a mistake on. For the first time in years I am thinking of changing my bulbs, so getting as many inputs really helps. :grouphug:

 

[SlamaJama]

reflux good..

 

[NYPDFrogman]

Shaun, give tony at reef exotics a call, I was there today. he has the reef lux bulbs with the luminarc reflectors on his 450. it looks awesome! he was also able to eliminate 1 bulb he now runs 4 bulbs instead of 5.

 

[jhale]

EVC good...and cheap...

 

[cali_reef]

FYI.

You can not assume DE bulbs and SE bulbs from the same manufacturer with same rating will look the same, they won't or at least all the ones I have tried or seen spectrum charts for don't. The color also shifts a bit from batch to batch, especially with the cheaper Chinese made bulbs. Different ballast brand or type will also drive each bulb differently.

The color and growth claimed by individuals are also very subjective, lighting is not the only or even the most important factor in coral growth.

 

[prattreef]

Agreed Cali, that's why we need someone like Sanjay to test these lamps. To that end I am trying to get some of the DE Reeflux lamps sent to Sanjay so we can at least have some comparative data. IF they test out anywhere near the spectrum/PAR of the SE lamps they will provide a very appealing alternative for DE lamp users.

Randy

 

[Kedd]

Cali,

I agree, SE and DE form the same source will be different, no doubt.
I have never used the SE from EVC, so I don't have any input on them.

I also agree with the growth, and more goes into it than just lighting, in fact I should have really mentioned coloring of the corals, rather than growth.

I'm always up for trying new bulbs, and if Sanjay gives the DE Reeflux better marks than my current bulbs those will be the ones I try out next.

Kedd