14000K HQI 250W Phoenix bulb

[ti-christ]

Hello,

I have 180g tank (see my tank video at www.sunnyreef.com) which has been growing like crazy using 3x 10000K HQI bulb supply with my brand new current USA fixture.

Two months ago, I changed my 9 month old bulbs for Phoenix 14000K HQI 250W. During the first week of use of the new bulb, I put a layer of eggcrate and a layer of window screen to dimmish the light because the new bulb has a different spec and they told me that this kind of bulb is stronger!?!

Two or three weeks after changing the bulb, I have starting to loose my SPS (Acropora and montipora). The soft coral and the LPS where not affecting. Today, I still continue to lost new SPS (in the same manner) even if 2 months have past after changing the bulb.

A short time after changing the bulb, I have a sudden increase of KH to 11.5dKH probably because my SPS stopped to grow because of the new bulb, it may has past a week before I realize that. When I discover that I disconnect my calcium reactor and the KH has drop to 8 dKH after 2-3 days. Some people told me that I have burn tip KH (because my SPS tips start to die first).

But at least a month has passed since that and I still have new acropora which was in top shape starting to have their tip dead.

Is it possible that the cause that Pheonix bulb are not good for SPS? Does anybody have experience this using this bulb? Is there a lot of people using this type of bulb with SPS?

Note: I also have 10 ppm of nitrate in my tank and I am working on that to reduce the level of nitrate. I know that nitrate is not good but is 10 ppm so bad for SPS?

Since now, my milipora and my pociliopora since to be unaffected!

Please help!

 

[fred fishstone]

I've had no problem with SPS under 250w Phoenix.

 

[agsansoo]

I personally will not buy 250w Phoenix 14K ever again. Had little to zero growth and dying sps's. I know other people proclaim their greatness, I'm just not one of them. After changing my 11 month old Phoenix 14K for Reeflux 12k's, instantly my tank started to grow and come alive.

 

[ti-christ]

How do they die? Could you describe?

Also, does anybody have bad experience using these bulbs?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14680078#post14680078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by agsansoo
I personally will not buy 250w Phoenix 14K ever again. Had little to zero growth and dying sps's. I know other people proclaim their greatness, I'm just not one of them. After changing my 11 month old Phoenix 14K for Reeflux 12k's, instantly my tank started to grow and come alive.

 

[erendon]

I have a 180 too. I just changed to phoenix a week ago and have great growth. What were and are your water paramiters.

 

[sfsuphysics]

I have a 4x3 180, use Phoenix bulbs (electronic ballast) and have had absolutely superb color/growth (even colors coming back from other issues).

One thought is perhaps due to the spectrum shift from swapping bulbs your corals got used to the yellower/green part of the spectrum, and swapping over to a bulb that's more heavily weighted towards the blues your corals couldn't grow as fast, which combined with you continuing to supply calcium and alkalinity at the same rate, caused a spike in those numbers which caused your tank to not do as well as it should.

 

[ti-christ]

Be carefull and test your KH everyday! For the first two weeks, I had no problem but after my KH started to raise to over 11.5dKH (probably because my SPS has stopped to grow) since that time I lost more than 50% of all my SPS mainly acropora and montipora!

Right now my parameters are:
Nitrate: 10 ppm
KH = 8.5 dKH
calcium = 400 ppm
Magnesium = 1125 ppm.
temp: 26C
Salinity 1.024

Before my Montipora capricornis was growing like crazy. Last week, I bought a montipora frag and today, it was almost bleached. I had place the frag in 1/3 of bottom tank in the middle and I have put a window screen mat to dimming the light!

I was so proud about my tank about a month ago and right now, it likes a desert!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14683811#post14683811 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erendon
I have a 180 too. I just changed to phoenix a week ago and have great growth. What were and are your water paramiters.

 

[t4zalews]

I use 150W 14K pheonix and have had great growth...some suggestions.
Salinity 1.025
Magnesium up to 1300
Calcium at least 420, 450 is better

My two cents...good luck!

 

[CleveYank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14680078#post14680078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by agsansoo
I personally will not buy 250w Phoenix 14K ever again. Had little to zero growth and dying sps's. I know other people proclaim their greatness, I'm just not one of them. After changing my 11 month old Phoenix 14K for Reeflux 12k's, instantly my tank started to grow and come alive.

NEWSFLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man's reeftank dies from using Phoenix bulbs. News at 11.

Seriously.
I find that an odd and almost inconceiveable coincidence that most likely was due to an unobserved out of whack water parameter(s) truth be told.


And trust me. It's easy to be caught sleeping and only to find it was something else.

Sorry you had losses. It's rather frustrating to have the handpicked SPS die for any reason. But, from what I've seen and heard for the money overall they are actually a great bulb.

 

[agsansoo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14684482#post14684482 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CleveYank
NEWSFLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man's reeftank dies from using Phoenix bulbs. News at 11.

Seriously.
I find that an odd and almost inconceiveable coincidence that most likely was due to an unobserved out of whack water parameter(s) truth be told.

Truth be told ... Like I'm lying ? Any ways ! Water parameter were the same after I switch bulbs.

IMHO, these bulbs just didn't grow my corals. I have talked to other reefers about these bulbs and the only difference was my e-ballast. They were running magnetic ballasts and getting better results. Maybe someone running e-ballasts with great results can post their pictures and lighting specifications.

 

[agsansoo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14683706#post14683706 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ti-christ
How do they die? Could you describe?

Also, does anybody have bad experience using these bulbs?

It's like they weren't getting enough light. The top of the corals were OK, the bottom of the same branch was dead or white. OK some photos.

<B>Before</B>

<B>After</B>

Sure it could be anything ... But my tank started turn around the day I stopped using Phoenix 14K's.

 

[TheBoogieMan]

I use them the 14k would give you less light so you should not have put the egg crate on there thats for sure but like i said i have run them for 3 years and i have crazy growth but i replace them ever 6 months i dont think they last as long as other brands but i get great growth and color with them

 

[AG84]

I use a 250w 14k over my nano 24g and have great growth.


Its hard to think that the bulb had this affect on your corals. sorry to har.

 

[ti-christ]

Here is a picture of how are my acroporas are starting to die.

 

[agsansoo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14687284#post14687284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AG84
I use a 250w 14k over my nano 24g and have great growth.


Its hard to think that the bulb had this affect on your corals. sorry to har.

How old is your tank ? How old is your bulb ? How often do you change it out ?

 

[agsansoo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14687514#post14687514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ti-christ
Here is a picture of how are my acroporas are starting to die.

Wow those corals are very unhappy. Really can see the burnt tips from a alkalinity spike. Just keep your numbers stable and hope for the best. What is your light cycle ? How long do you run your MH ? Have you changed your salt brand lately ?

 

[erendon]

I would go for a CA 0f 420 - 450. Mag is low, I try to go for 1300 - 1350.
I did have to play with my CA reactor to adjust CA and KH but it was minor.

 

[chuckreef]

I had the same appearance (and losses) once from an alkalinity spike. It was totally my fault (everyting that happens to my tank is - isnt it?). The alkalinity in my tank drifted low while I was away on vacation, and I raised it too quickly when I got back home. I suspect your alakalinity went a lot higher than 11.5 and the damage was done then. Get it back to around 9 and keep it there, those corals that will survive, will survive, but you may lose some.

I don't think the lamps are directly causing this damage.

If this was happening to me, and if I did suspect my new bulbs, I would immedaiatley put my old bulbs back in until I got the water quality parameters back in check, and then I'd make the lighting switch again - perhaps more slowly.

 

[AG84]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14687697#post14687697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by agsansoo
How old is your tank ? How old is your bulb ? How often do you change it out ?

My tank is just a little under 5 months old. my bulb is about 6 months old and i usually change my bulbs at 10 months.

Here is a picture for you.

 

[Skeptic_07]

Hey guys, you may want to compare your ballasts as well as whether or not the fixture is shielded to better understand why people like or dislike this particular lamp. If you look at Sanjay's guide the highest PPFD 109 is from having it unshielded on the PFO ballast while the lowest PPFD 73 is shielded and using an icecap ballast.