(01/22/2010) - I bought this bulb and it looks like a 10K...no blue. The 400 watt bulb is more like a 12K, definitely bluer than the 250w bulb. I would not buy the 250w Ushio bulb unless you can supplement with VHO superactinics heavily.

(02/22/2008) - Awesome color and growth..worth the price

(07/24/2004) - Very good bulbs with just the perfect balance of white and blue. Coral growth has accelerated and the colors are much more pleasing to eye.

(08/06/2008) - This bulb has a nice blue/white color on a PFO HQI ballast, but isn't as bright as my singled ended XM 10k's which are overdriven on the PFO HQI ballast. Its a bit difficult going from such a bright bulb to a dimmer one. I haven't found a better color/growth combination than the XM10k's with VHO actinic supplementation.

(04/22/2008) - for a nice bright white color with enough blue that actinic supplemental lighting isnt needed. the colors "pop" under these lights and they still provide a high par value. using a tar ballast seems to push the bulbs to a brighter white over using an electronic ballast.

(04/04/2008) - I've been using these bulbs (no supplementation) for over 2 years and think I've found the perfect balance. I've used USHIO 10K (too yellow), Hamilton 14K (not enough growth although they have similiar coloration) and XM 20K (too unnatural/blue-purplish). I think I've found a perfect balance for growth, coloration and lifespan. I'm going on over a year on my bulbs (8 hour photoperiod) and think I may be good for another 3-4 months. My other bulbs usually shifted in color dramatically after 9 months and some (Hamiltons) started misfire/not start after 12 months. I know you should replace them every year but I like to squeeze out as much as I can before shelling out for 3 new bulbs at a time. My tank's still bright and growth on my SPS's has not been limited.

(04/03/2008) - I purchase 2 of these for a clients' 110 gallon reef aquarium with ice cap pendant/ballast, via retro fit into a Perfecto Prestige 48x18 hood. The light is fantastic. Very bright, with a touch of blue. Barelly more than the 12k reeflux we were running before. Overall, I feel it was a good choice for a straigt HQI system w/no actinic help. The only thing missin is the flourecent "pop".

(11/19/2006) - I have run these bulbs for 2 years now and I am very happy. Nice coloration white with a decent blue tint. Good growth for a 14k.

(06/12/2006) - I ran this bulb without any actinic supplement and it was perfect in color. However, over time my corals became much less colorful. I am now running a 13000K megachrome which seems to not be nearly as colorful but my corals are coloring up.

(06/18/2005) - Nice color with lots of output! I changed over from 10K Ushio and have been very happy.

(04/06/2005) - These bulbs are the real deal. I have ordered replacements for the ones I put on my tank in September. These bulbs grow corals. They look like 400 watt Radium bulbs run on Son Agro ballasts but on a 250 DE pendant. Here is a 14,000K bulb that grows corals like it was a 10,000K bulb. I know that there is another bulb available that is tested as good as the Aquaconnect but I don't care. I want the Aquaconnect. It works.

(03/21/2005) - These are great bulbs! I have these on both of my tanks, and don't need to supplement them. My corals have really taken off since I switched to these. I will continue to use these in the future! My acanthastrea's and blasto's love them! Excellent product!

(10/06/2007) - Not the 14K I am used to seeing. Can't comment on how the corals have responded yet as far as coloring up or not, or if they're growing more rapidly or not, but, after 2 weeks of use, this bulb looks as yellow as a 10K, maybe more. If you want a blue tinted bulb, look elsewhere.

(10/07/2007) - Over the last 15 years I have tried a lot of different bulbs on a lot of different tanks. This bulb has the best color that I have seen so for. The color changed very little after one year. That is a sign of a good quality bulb. Spend the extra few bucks and you will not be sorry. (220 gal. SPS)

(01/28/2009) - Really a nice color. Good mix of blue and white. Not too blue. Really one of the nicest bulbs I have used and I have used several diffent halides.

(12/04/2006) - I'm currently on my second of these bulbs. I don't run any supplimental lighting and get great color and growth from my corals. Can't say enough about them.

(01/07/2005) - I am running two of these bulbs over my tank without any actinic supplementation. These produce the perfect color on their own and remain very bright on a standard magnetic core and coil ballast.

(01/01/2007) - This bulb is a little bluer than expected and does not need to be supplemented with actintics.