20K vs 14K Metal Halide Bulb?? Advice Needed

gooberz

gooberz

The Specialist :)
Hello All,

I recently put my 45 cube together and has a 250 watt MH fixture which is currently running a 10K Ushio. I would like to not add any more bulbs so i want the MH to come close to giving me a nice color in tank. I plan on keeping 90% SPS. I have the 14K Phoenix bulb as my Primary but some people tell me to go with the 20K Radium. :bigeyes:

I am hesitant on the Radium because I want growth for my SPS and not sure how slower they grow with a 20K? :confused:

Thank you in advance!
Henry
 
Hello,

It is a Single ended 250 Watt Bulb. I was trying to eliminate having to add more fixtures and stuff but want to make sure the SPS will still grow with 20k bulbs?

Thanks
 
Also what Bulb would your recomend for SE fixture 250 watt.. Have an Electronic Ballast from Hello Lights.
 
250 watt Radium bulb is not meant to run on electronic ballast, it is meant to run on HQI ballast. Phoenix is also designed to be run on HQI ballast. Both these bulbs will run on electronic ballast, but be underdriven and more blue with less PAR.

12K Reeflux is a nice bulb on Electronic ballast.
 
Ouch i was unaware of that . I was on a vendor site and they said it would run with Electronic Ballast but if its overdriven than like you said its less PAR. Are there any 20k Bulbs you would suggest thare are SE 250 Watt?

Henry
 
XM 20K and EVC 20K have pretty good reviews on electronic ballasts.
 
Thanks Dave,

I am trying not to add more fixtures to add actinics. Currently running a 10k Ushio but not enough Actinics. I am going to keep mostly SPS and was concerned about growth with a 20k bulb. What are your thoughts on that?

Henry
 
Growth will be slower with 20K bulbs than 10K bulbs in general, due to less PAR. However, SPS will grow fine with 20K bulbs so I wouldn't worry about that. The XM 20K, Helios 20K, EVC 20K and Ushio 20K bulbs are all too blue for my tastes. I like the look of Radiums and Phoenix on HQI ballast because they are more of a blue-white and colors of corals are crisper. If this is just a single bulb over that 45g tank, I might spring for the Aquaconnect 250 watt bulb. The Ushio 250w 10K and 14K are too yellow for my tastes.
 
NIce, but could not find them at Premium Aquatics. Not sure if they sold out. I use to work for Marine Depot so i can get a nice discount there but they dont carry that bulb
 
20K Ushio are very blue. I have run them in the past.

You could try a Radium or Phoenix on your electronic ballast and see what you think. It will be a little blue, but you might like it just fine. Running the Radium on an electronic ballast does underdrive the bulb and spectral shifting will occur sooner from what I have read from a couple lighting experts.

The Reeflux 12K is white, white, white on electronic ballast, better than Ushio 10K though. A couple friends here in town have run them and really liked them in the 250 watt mode.

I am a bit of a relic in that I use all HQI ballasts and they really rock with Phoenix and Radium bulbs.
 
Trust me i would have gone with a HQI ballast but got this electronic one free and have another one in the closet. :)
 
I stress on lighting every year and I run ten MH bulbs at all times, so it is always fun:D

I have 6 250's and 4 400's:)
 
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