14K Bulb Choices
- Thread starter nauti1us
- Start date
JUICE!
Premium Member
JUICE!
Premium Member
Dang! I wrote this big long thing and submitted it before the link.....I was going to quote it and give you a hard time for being a retard, but it isn't there....guess the joke's on me
I'll give the short version:
aqualine 13K or 15K, Hamilton 14K, reeflux 12K, pheonix 14K
I'm using all of them right now...yes, all of them
I wouldn't recommend the hamilton 14K in the 250W version for a tank that deep. They just aren't that bright....but they pop stony corals like WOAH!
The reeflux 12Ks are about the same color but much brighter. The pheonix appears to be a bit more blue, and somewhere in between the Hamilton and reeflux in intensity, though my pheonix is DE, so that may be the difference.
The aqualines are some of the brightest bulbs I know of. The 10Ks are real yellow, but the 13K is a crisp white and 15K a little hint of blue but still pretty white. They pop SPS real well also, but tend to make blues go purple.
I've used a ton of other bulbs, but these are the ones I think are worth talking about.
good reflectors are just as important as bulbs and ballasts....keep that in mind. you can close to double the uotput of your bulbs if you get the right reflector
I'll give the short version:
aqualine 13K or 15K, Hamilton 14K, reeflux 12K, pheonix 14K
I'm using all of them right now...yes, all of them
I wouldn't recommend the hamilton 14K in the 250W version for a tank that deep. They just aren't that bright....but they pop stony corals like WOAH!
The reeflux 12Ks are about the same color but much brighter. The pheonix appears to be a bit more blue, and somewhere in between the Hamilton and reeflux in intensity, though my pheonix is DE, so that may be the difference.
The aqualines are some of the brightest bulbs I know of. The 10Ks are real yellow, but the 13K is a crisp white and 15K a little hint of blue but still pretty white. They pop SPS real well also, but tend to make blues go purple.
I've used a ton of other bulbs, but these are the ones I think are worth talking about.
good reflectors are just as important as bulbs and ballasts....keep that in mind. you can close to double the uotput of your bulbs if you get the right reflector
gwrench
Registered Member
Matt what are the dimensions of your tank? Either I missed that or you didn't post it.
The Aqualine has a much higher PAR than the Hamilton so if your tank depth is greater than 24" Donovan may be on to something here. Using a Icecap Electronic ballast the PAR for Aqualine 13K is 422, the Hamilton 14K is 352 at about the same wattage and identical amp draw.
So if your tank is deeper this could prove very beneficial for you.
G
The Aqualine has a much higher PAR than the Hamilton so if your tank depth is greater than 24" Donovan may be on to something here. Using a Icecap Electronic ballast the PAR for Aqualine 13K is 422, the Hamilton 14K is 352 at about the same wattage and identical amp draw.
So if your tank is deeper this could prove very beneficial for you.
G
JUICE!
Premium Member
yes SIR!!! I didn't know the numbers, but I've had them side by side.
Now Matt, you may even like the aqualine 15K....it is still pretty white. I seem to recall that you aren't a fan of the blue look, but I'm getting pretty awesome color and growth under the reeflux. I was getting pretty good color under the 13K even without actinic, so if you are planning to keep your VHO actinic, or burn T5s, it will probably make for a real nice mix.
Is my tank not a 220g? I measure 28 inches from the surface of the water to the top of the bottom glass....30 from top to bottom....24" wide, 72" long
skinnyjoe1976
New member
i think he was talking about front to back. 210 are 72x24x29 and 220 are 72x24x30. has to be the brand.
gwrench
Registered Member
Yeah D without a reflector, just based in the bulb output and we all know that the reflector choice will improve the light projected into the tank. I have yet to see anything that actually increases the PAR of the bulb, kind of hard to due that without physically changing the power driving the bulb or the bulb itself.
I don't recall seeing the Reeflux bulb but they may not have been introduced at the time of the tests.
G
I don't recall seeing the Reeflux bulb but they may not have been introduced at the time of the tests.
G
skinnyjoe1976
New member
just checked the chart and the cv12 are the coralvue's. something that i saw that was odd is the cv20k has a hight par rating than the cv12k on a icecap?
JUICE!
Premium Member
weird! that stuff happens, though
I notice that when my hamiltons warm up they start out very blue, them warm up whiter. My reeflux start out VERY yellow, then go white, then blue. that just seems odd to me for some reason.
I'm pretty sure the 180 is 24" tall and the 220, 30".....right?
I notice that when my hamiltons warm up they start out very blue, them warm up whiter. My reeflux start out VERY yellow, then go white, then blue. that just seems odd to me for some reason.
I'm pretty sure the 180 is 24" tall and the 220, 30".....right?
dilligaf_biker69
New member
heres some pics and a small sad story.....lol..gotta be able to laugh it off...anyhow cant seem to get realistic pics..trying to set the white balance and all but I think you can see the brightness too
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1382319
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1382319
TheGrog
Member
you made that reflector?!?!?!?! :eek1:<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12443094#post12443094 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mflamb
Matt, I'm using the Aquaconnect 14K on IceCap ballasts with DIY reflectors. Very pleased with the way it looks, coral growth and coral color.
Please tell me how!!
Better yet, how much for you to make one for me?
skinnyjoe1976
New member
hey ray check out his build thread on page 13 at his little red house. he's a diy god
JUICE!
Premium Member
you can print off the layout of the lumenarc reflectors and cut up solar tube to make them......I'm assuming that's what he did.
and george.....my reflectors actually increase PAR because they are parabolic. They focus the light from the backside of the bulb into the spread of the underside.
Kinda like the starting a fire with the bottom of a coke can trick. Of course it makes a hotspot at the focal point and doesn't give you the nice, even spread of the lumenarc reflectors.
and george.....my reflectors actually increase PAR because they are parabolic. They focus the light from the backside of the bulb into the spread of the underside.
Kinda like the starting a fire with the bottom of a coke can trick. Of course it makes a hotspot at the focal point and doesn't give you the nice, even spread of the lumenarc reflectors.
gwrench
Registered Member
I thought I understood parabolic reflectors to focus light into a smaller focal point causing the light given off of the bulb to be used more efficiently. I would imagine it would give a higher PAR number based on the fact that it is more focused. What I meant was that the PAR rating from the bulb cannot be increased by just the use of a reflector, it would be possible to incrase it via the use of a lens take for instance a stage light that uses a reflector and a lens to intensify the light. Not that I diagree totally D... just have to bust your chops...LOL
TheGrog
Member
I see how they were done now!
A few years ago, I would do that myself in a heartbeat. The problem now is that my hands are my life (Surgeon) and cutting up aluminum sheet has the potential for disasterous results for my career.
I would be willing to pay for someone to make them for me is anyone is interested!!
A few years ago, I would do that myself in a heartbeat. The problem now is that my hands are my life (Surgeon) and cutting up aluminum sheet has the potential for disasterous results for my career.
I would be willing to pay for someone to make them for me is anyone is interested!!
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