Giesemann Megachrome 250W... best bulb on market?

[JFK_Jr]

Here's the deal...

If money is no object... what's the best 250W MH SE bulb?

I'm considering the Giesemann Megachrome... anyone have a better option for me?

[VaderWS6]

Well, if you're going to hook it up to an HQI ballast, I have to say the XM 10k. You're not going to find a better PAR/growth/color combination. Iwasaki is right up there, but a little on the yellow side. If you want blue, Radium 20k is the only way to go (but it will only last about 6 months). I've seen a lot of bulbs in person, and my XM 10k is by far the most intense and has the best growth besides the Iwasaki 6500k. G-man megachrome SUCKS. The color sucks and they're not worth the money.

[2crazyreefers]

I am currently running the G-man 14.5 and have also run their 13 K and I agree I like the 10 K XM better, however since I got rid of my hood with VHO and have no suppliment lighting a wont run the 10 K xm alone so next switch I am going back to Pheonix, another bulb I tried in the past which I liked better then hammys.

[VaderWS6]

Originally posted by 2crazyreefers
I am currently running the G-man 14.5 and have also run their 13 K and I agree I like the 10 K XM better, however since I got rid of my hood with VHO and have no suppliment lighting a wont run the 10 K xm alone so next switch I am going back to Pheonix, another bulb I tried in the past which I liked better then hammys.

My XM 10k's look good alone on my HQI ballast, but I still supplement with 440watts of VHO actinic.

[cgh38]

I have the 250W Xm's 10K's x2 with 96w x2 PC actinics and love the growth on all the corals but as I seen other tanks with 12k 14k and 20k bulbs the color of the corals really seem to pop, plus I would like a little more blue to my tank, so I just ordered 2 Aquaconnect 250w 14k bulbs, a little bit pricy but it's one of the highest in Par compared to other 250w 14k bulbs. I will be running them with Ice cap ballasts.

[shelburn61]

The xm10k is hard to beat, especially if you want maximum PAR. The reeflux10k if you want good PAR and slightly bluer/better color. I'm going to try the South Pacific Sunlight 10k next (The spectral plot looks similar to the reeflux).

The AC 14k is a bright blue bulb but it washes the colors out on everything on electronic. Maybe better on HQI?

[JFK_Jr]

Originally posted by VaderWS6
G-man megachrome SUCKS. The color sucks and they're not worth the money.

Really???

That's weird... 3 of the latest Reefkeeping Magazine "Tanks of the Month" are running Geismann bulbs.

[sditch]

I run the Gmans 14k 250HQI on my 120 and they ar one h*ck of a bulb. I have not personally seen a tank that looks as good as mine

The Color is great and they burn brighter then the Ushio 14k. I have not tried the XM but had other 10K 's and other 4-5 bulbs but the Gman's was the choice I made.

It took about 3 months for the bulbs and coral to seatle in but boy the colors are now outstanding on the SPS

[vtrider]

what are your opinions on phoenix?

[recife111]

South Pacific Sunlight 10k

South Pacific Sunlight are Crap bulbs. maybe made in china.



The giesemann bulbs look like they are the same bulbs as blv,
I had them side by side and they look identical.

[wcpeixoto]

Originally posted by VaderWS6
Well, if you're going to hook it up to an HQI ballast, I have to say the XM 10k. You're not going to find a better PAR/growth/color combination.

Gies Megachrome 14.5 K has more PPFD than XM10K.



I use and like it, very nice bulb. There are a bunch of good bulbs out there, and it is hard to say which is better based on the tanks we see, because there are many other factors that matters for coral coloration, specially SPS. IMO that lighting is even not the most important, but water quality.

[BigBadBlenny]

aqua connect 14k plus are nice

[kdblove_99]

Radium 20K

[sditch]

Phoenix are nice bulbs, I like them, just not for my tank I prefear a more balance white HQI with 4 54 T5's Gman Pure Atinic's pushing the blue's.......