14K Bulb Choices

[nauti1us]

I could some pointers regarding what bulbs folks are using for their tanks.

I'm trying to make a bulb selection for a 210G SPS dominated tank.

I'm downgrading from (3) 400 Watt mH lamps and switching back to (3) 250 Watt lamps.

I'll be converting over to electronic ballasts, probably icecap unless someone has experience with a brand as reliable if not cheaper as icecap.

The bulb choice is where I'm lost. I'm not as concerned about fast growth (10K) as I am color. So I'm thinking hard about 14K. A friend recommended Hamilton 14K lamps. Has anyone heard or have experience with any other 14K lamps, i.e. Blueline etc..?

I appreciate any feedback.

Matt

 

[rdmpe]

I have had very good SPS growth with Pheonix 14k's. But I haven't used anything else, so don't have anything to compare them to.

 

[gwrench]

Here is some interesting reading to confuse you even further...LOL
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marlgtganthony.htm
It seems to be getting more popular to underpower the lighting and feed the corals more to promote growth, also seems that using the spectrum around the corals needs is an obvious choice. We always seem to choose what suits our viewing pleasure the most and not what is best for our reefs.
Hope this helps
G

 

[nauti1us]

Thanks George, I'll check the link

I was looking at 14K lamps and I see there are a few recommended choices i.e. hamilton, blueline vs. sps

Just wondering bout the bluelines vs the hamiltons. Any thoughts on the ushio 10K's..?

 

[dugg]

all i have run is hamilton 14k and 20k, and XM 10k. I have been too happy with the hamilton's performance to bother trying anything else. I recently changed to the 20k from the 14k and i think i'm sticking with it.

 

[dilligaf_biker69]

getting pics up soon of my new 180 with Coralvue Ballasts and the Reeflux 12K. I have always been a 10K person liking the brightness with actinic supp. and when I first put the 12K's in I was dissapointed in a sense that they didn't "seem" as bright as a 10K.
But after a few days either my eyes have adjusted or the breakin period is over and I really like the look. Mind you I do not have any actinics either. One difference is I am using a 400w reeflux 12k in the center and 2 250 Reeflux 12k's on either end.

You are more than welcome to come over on a ride if you want to check out the colors. Have ya riden the Loop yet?

will get pics up soon

Roy

 

[nauti1us]

I ride the loop almost any chance I get when up in Ormond. It's definately one of the "must rides" 'round here.

 

[gwrench]

I originally set-up my 120 with ushio 10K and was extremley pleased with the rapid growth I was getting, that soon changed when real estate became an issue. I also had the opportunity to sview several other tanks with bulbs of a higher spectrum and really liked the color. I was running 520w of pc supplementation and have since switched to 440 of VHO actinic and the blue is a lot more than I used to have. I may go back to 10 or 12K. I have run both the Phoenix and Hamilton bulbs and prefer the Hamilton based on intensity and coloration. Hope this helps
G

 

[Pacific Reefs]

+1 on the Hamiltons!

I also like the Pheonix 14K but they are DE only I believe.

I also recommend the Reeflux 12k.

I have tried the USHIO and they seemed a little dim...the USHIO 10K is their best bulb imo.

 

[gwrench]

Hamilton bulbs on sale!!
http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/subsubcategorypage.asp?subcatindexid=lt-rmhb-25
Here is a cool bulb comparison page.... I think Joe B had something to do with this
http://chrismorris.ca/250wcolour/
Good Luck
G
G

 

[jy544]

I am running 250w Hamilton 14k's on Icecap ballasts. I really like the color and par of these bulbs. I switched from the Reeflux 10ks about 2 months ago and like the Hamilton’s much better. The Reeflux 10k make some corals look better but washed out the color on several corals. I also tried the Reeflux 12ks for a week or so...the bulb was way to dim and par was very bad.

 

[nauti1us]

This is great info guys. Thanks so much. I'm leaning towards the Ham 14k's at this point... I really want to see the colors of my sps start popping. The 400 watt 20K's I'm running now just blue everything out...

 

[jy544]

If you do stay with the 400w I would looking into the Reeflux 12k. That is a great bulb in the 400w range. The par and color are great.

 

[nauti1us]

Reeflux 12K's on magnetic ballasts..?

 

[jy544]

O...magnetic...I didn’t know that’s what you had. I think everyone has them on electronic ballast.

 

[nauti1us]

ok. good to know.

 

[Fuzzy]

Hi Matt,

+2 on the Hamiltons.
I used to have a 250 watt 14K on my 56 tall.
Lotsa growth and really nice color.

I've got about 10 days left on this run of shows, then back in town for the next.
We should see if we can get a ride together over Memorial Day.

Nick

 

[acro-ed]

I use 20k now because the wife likes it better.
I always had great luck with the Aqualine Bushke 10k 250w. These bulbs are actually a 13k bulb, and have a very white appearance. Not a yellow-white like a 10k. For me these were the best compromise between an ushio 10k (growth) and a 20k (color) with SPS. I just ordered another AB10k for my new office tank, its going to run on a 250hqi ballast, should look awesome.

 

[gwrench]

Hey Matt here is some good information based on Joe Berger's testing of 250W MH bulbs and Ballasts....great stuff
http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

 

[TheGrog]

I am running Hamilton 14k 250w on my Lumatek digital ballast. The ballast runs MUCH cooler than any other ballast I have used and the light output seems to be much higher. After I switched to the Lumatek, I noticed a slight drop in the power bill as well.

The ballasts are on sale at Marine Depot for like $130

As far as the Hamiltons go, I love them. The coral growth is fantastic and I love the coloration. I had a problem with two of them burning out after only a month, but I contacted the company and got a very prompt response. They replaced both bulbs at no charge to me!! You can't beat customer service like that!!

My $0.02 worth