anyone using 250W blueline or 20KK bulbs?

[johara]

Recently talked to someone at Champion who says the 250W (as opposed to the 400W) 20KK Osram Radium is overly blue even after burnin and not as nice a bulb as the 400. He recommended the blueline 10K instead. I was planning one 400W Radium with two 250W on either side for a 155G bowfront. Can anyone comment on these bulbs in the 250W version?

[drtango]

I've had the same question. There's a very interesting article in "Marine and Reef Annual 2002", a yearly mag that I picked up at Barnes and Noble, by Dr. Sanjay comparing halide bulbs. Turns out the blueline and osram have virtually identical spectral peaks, one says 10k and the other 20k. He also reviewed the "new" Iwasaki and proved that it is indeed less yellow. The AB 250k bulb actually looked to be the best of the bunch with a PAR approaching Iwasaki. He also tested the 150w 10k HQI and showed the PAR (with the mini-pendant) was equivalent to a bare 400w Iwasaki. Great article, worth reading. Have not yet seen it online.

JT

[JasonD]

I've run the 250W German 10K bulb and it is much more white then the 400watt German 10K bulb right next to it. In fact the 400 watt looks a little yellow. Someone on this board said that the 400 watt German bulb looks like a Iwasaki except less yellow. I would agree with that assesment. Bettor but not great.

Jason