Bought a 10K AB SE 250W Bulb. Any experiences?

[dirtyreefer]

I just ordered this bulb from the states, but am wondering if any of you have tried this bulb before? I would like a nice crisp white output, and have heard some people say that this is the bulb to go with. I have also heard good things with XM 10K, but I got a really good deal on the AB.

I have seen the post on RC which "Joe" does a comparison of the 250W bulbs, but he doesn't have the AB 10K bulb listed.

Anybody own these bulbs?

[Samw]

Its the first picture on Joe's website. He lists it using the real temperature of 13000K instead of the marketing temperature of 10000K.


http://www.cnidarianreef.com/graph_par.cfm?LID=AB13K

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/images/misc/DSCN3388AB13K_Only.jpg

[dirtyreefer]

Thanks Sam, I saw that before but never knew that it was a 10000K bulb. Since I am a newbie when it comes to MH lighting, what do you mean by marketing temperature? Does that mean that AB labels the bulb as a 10K, but when measured it's really a 13K?

[Samw]

Does that mean that AB labels the bulb as a 10K, but when measured it's really a 13K?

You're welcome. Yes, that's what it means. 10000K is what you see on the label of the box and in product catalogs. This is the name of the bulb. 13000K is the actual temperature as it is measured.

From the manufacturer's website:

http://www.aqua-medic.de/cgi-bin/php/display_product.php3?p_id=150&cat_id=15&lang=en

"The aqualine 10000 lamp has a colour temperature of 13000º Kelvin and a high percentage of the light output is at the blue end of the spectrum. "

DE Bulbs are the same idea:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/feature2.htm

"The AB lamp, as seen from the spectral plot, has higher peaks in the blue/violet region, and hence has a much higher CCT. Personal conversations with Brad Shaw formerly of Aqua Medic had indicated that the AB lamp is in fact a 13000K lamp, and as seen from the test result this lamp did come close to the claimed color temperature (this result can also be seen in the data from the other ballasts). "

[dirtyreefer]

Thanks for the info Sam, really appreciate it.

I hope the bulb doesn't end up being "too blue" for my taste! I want a nice crisp white, and I've heard good things about XM 10Ks but haven't heard much about the ABs.

[Bob I]

I run a couple of the AB 175W bulbs, and you have no worry about them being too blue. :biggrin:

[Samw]

I'm going to hook up my new SE Mogul based AB 10K system within the next few weeks (Converting from DE AB 10K). I'll take some pics then. I found my DE system a bit yellowish actually compared to my previous Power Compact system.

Actually what I am doing is replacing my all of my existing lights (AB 10K DE pendant, 96W 50/50, 95 W Actinics). My new setup will be 1 250W AB 10K mogul and 1 55W GE9325K power compact.