10K with the look of 14k/20k

[MiddletonMark]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7557597#post7557597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tangwang
The DE Aquaconnects look like Phoenix, but the SE Aquaconnects look nothing like them , IMO.....

I feel the same.

The Phoenix DE looks generally like the AC SE ... but IMO, just close. Perhaps the AC DE looks the same, then in that case I'd argue that the AC SE is a bit different from either DE.
While I've seen a lot of Phoenix DE tanks, and I've run AC 14k SE's ... I've not run the AC DE or put any DE bulbs on my tank, FWIW.

That said, the AC14k has great numbers, I did very much like - but yet corals in some colors are muted compared to 10k, like often happens with 20k [all IMO].

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7557783#post7557783 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Horace
How many VHO though? 4x?

Pretty sure he runs 3, instead of the usual two.
[www.cnidarianreef.com has all the specs]

Also, his 250w MH testing has photos of the same tank, running all these different bulbs [SE I believe] ... with/without VHO actinic. Between him and Sanjay's data, there's a lot of great info.

I've found it quite useful for bulb-shopping.

 

[rutz81]

Another option if you like the growth of a 10K, but, want a more of a 15K color is to add some 7100K T5's or even PC. I added these to my setup and it looks just like the color I think you're looking for.

 

[Shawnts106]

I really don't understand all the gripe about XM 10k's being to yellow

Its not really that they are yellow, its just that the corals dont go BAM! under then like they do under 20K bulbs...



I love the XM10K's and Actinic look, it looks natural..


I was thinking of useing T5's for supplimentation... but have some questions!

Are the T5 actinics brighter than 110watt VHO URI Actinics?

I have heard so much about this T5 craze people are going through..



Why not do the whole 210gallon in T5's...

Would there be enough PAR for corals???



T5's are much cheaper than MH.. which is a plus on my budget!

 

[MiddletonMark]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7561829#post7561829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shawnts106
Its not really that they are yellow, its just that the corals dont go BAM! under then like they do under 20K bulbs...

Which corals?

My yellow w/ purple polyp Monti looks washed out under Radium IMO, along with some other colors IMO.

 

[jjackson]

Shawn I am tagging with you on this one... I am on the verge of a bulb change... I am trying to figure out which 250W SE lamps to go with... I am thinking about changing my MH's to Hamilton 14k and then switching my current 4 -4' Actinic VHO to 2 actinic and 2 daylight.... trying to keep some of the warmer spectrum around... I have a friend that is using aquasun VHO's with Actinic and 14k DE phoenix and I have to say that the colors of corals in his tank especially his pink birdsnest are really nice... I think a lot has to do with the red that the aquasun VHO's have... seems to get a broader spectrum. If I don't go that route I am going to keep all 10k XM most likely still switch to the 2 actinic and 2 daylight and add some T-5 blue plus to get the blue spectrum I think I am currently missing now... not a lot of the 460-480nm in my current set up.

also mark does it always look washed or just under that particular lamp... since some coral fluoresce at different frequencies you might also benefit from some daylight spectrum... ??? maybe I don't know

 

[Sparkss]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7561829#post7561829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shawnts106

Why not do the whole 210gallon in T5's...

Would there be enough PAR for corals???

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=812416

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7561829#post7561829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shawnts106
Its not really that they are yellow, its just that the corals don't go BAM! under then like they do under 20K bulbs...



I love the XM10K's and Actinic look, it looks natural..


I was thinking of using T5's for supplementation... but have some questions!

Are the T5 actinic brighter than 110watt VHO URI Actinic?

I have heard so much about this T5 craze people are going through..



Why not do the whole 210gallon in T5's...

Would there be enough PAR for corals???



T5's are much cheaper than MH.. which is a plus on my budget!

Shawn,

URI T5's are now available from Champion Lighting and from what I have seen the T5's will definitely make your corals pop especially if used with the XM 250's, 10k's. I am also thinking that the growth rates would be much greater than just with MH's alone. You can also contact URI and ask them the same thing about the T5's if they are more powerful. From what I understand just from individual reports that they're much brighter.

I personally don't like the idea of using all T5's, but there are some nice looking tanks using them. I use to run all VHO's when everyone told me I couldn't and I had great looking color and moderate growth rates on SPS & LPS. As for the colors looking washed out under XM 10k's, I have yet to see it. I will try to get some pics so you can see the colors for yourself. I use no skimmer either. I recently bought a Pink Milli from a LFS that was bleached out and in just under a month the color has come back significantly. I can't wait to see how deep pink it gets in a couple of months.

Sorry for being long winded. Hope I am helping some.
Bill

 

[29reef]

what about the ushio 14k?

 

[Shawnts106]

Which corals?

Well, I suppose it depends on the colors of the corals...

I think a lot has to do with the red that the aquasun VHO's have... seems to get a broader spectrum.

I couldnt agree more... Red seems to be the new THING with sps corals... Japan is helping us out with that! haha

since some coral fluoresce at different frequencies you might also benefit from some daylight spectrum... ??? maybe I don't know

Absolutely... In a more "yellow" light certain corals show up nicer and brighter than they would under a "blue" light...

Sparkss, thanks for that link, very nice.. But Im leaning now more to useing MH rather than all T5's... for 1 I like the shimmer, and 2 I know its tried and true.

URI T5's are now available from Champion Lighting and from what I have seen the T5's will definitely make your corals pop especially if used with the XM 250's, 10k's.

Yes, I am aware of that... I use Champion for alot of things at my work.. and Im glad they do carry URI brand bulbs... which is good

I personally don't like the idea of using all T5's, but there are some nice looking tanks using them.

Yes, agree

I use to run all VHO's when everyone told me I couldn't and I had great looking color and moderate growth rates on SPS & LPS.

lol, yes people are funny, I was once told I couldnt keep sps under VHO's... lol, but that proved wrong after my first 2 acro frags...
Check out my pictures... look at that growth in 2 months!

I recently bought a Pink Milli from a LFS that was bleached out and in just under a month the color has come back significantly. I can't wait to see how deep pink it gets in a couple of months.

I do use a skimmer.. I use an ASMG2 on my 75, which I think is overkill! My euphyllias are ****ED at me!

As for your Millipora coloring up, thats due to the higher nutrient level in your tank... I would think it should turn deep pink to red!...

Hope I am helping some

Very much, thanks

what about the ushio 14k?

SE? PAR? Let me know more.

 

[Raciampa]

Shawnts,

I wanted growth and color out of the same bulb and got it from Aqualine's 10k 250 DE. The awsome thing about these bulbs are they have the par of 10k but the color of 13k. If you wanted to you could still supplement with actinic, but it is not needed. I don't supplement and have great color. Good Luck!