250 MH Bulb Reccomendations?
- Thread starter Lofty
- Start date
kbinkerd@verizon.net
New member
I have been told by an LFS owner with lots of years of reef experience that 20K bulbs will burn corals because the UV is too high.
Don't know for sure if he is right but thats what he told me.
I had set up a 220 gal and the two MH s I got fokr it came with 14 K bulbs, I tried the 20 K but that was too blue, I've found that 15 K works pretty well, not as blue as I would like but not that ugly yellow of the 14K either.
Just my 2 cents.
Don't know for sure if he is right but thats what he told me.
I had set up a 220 gal and the two MH s I got fokr it came with 14 K bulbs, I tried the 20 K but that was too blue, I've found that 15 K works pretty well, not as blue as I would like but not that ugly yellow of the 14K either.
Just my 2 cents.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
Would like to know where that owner came up with that info -- it isn't true. I (( along with countless other reefers )) have been using 20,000K bulbs for years and never hand an issue.
For me, and DE bulbs, I use the 20,000K XM DEs over my 75 and love them.
kbinkerd@verizon.net
New member
So no one else has herd this?
Maybe it is just initially if they aren't acclimated to it gradually?
Maybe it is just initially if they aren't acclimated to it gradually?
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
There are only 2 ways I could see this happening (( and would happen with any color temp MH bulb )); it was a bulb replacement/upgrade and, like you mentioned, the corals weren't acclimated. Or, they were using an DE bulb without the UV shield.
seapug
Premium Member
I've never had 250W 20K bulbs burn any corals but I've definitely seen it happen in my tank with DE 250W 14K Geisemann and 14K Iwasaki bulbs. They are almost blindingly bright white unless raised a foot or so above the water.
That said, if you're going from 72W of PC to 250W 20K MH, you need to be careful, but the same thing would apply (to an even greater extent) if you went with 14K Iwasakis.
As far as 250W 20K bulb recommendations go, Ushio 20K is my personal favorite that I've tried so far. 250W 14K Phoenix are comparable as well (much better than the 150W version), but I've also heard good things about 20K XMs that Toddrtrex uses.
Take some time to research and it might serve you well to buy a couple different kinds and see what you like best. It can be expensive but there's really no other way to figure out what you like. Photographs don't often depict a bulb's color rendition accurately.
That said, if you're going from 72W of PC to 250W 20K MH, you need to be careful, but the same thing would apply (to an even greater extent) if you went with 14K Iwasakis.
As far as 250W 20K bulb recommendations go, Ushio 20K is my personal favorite that I've tried so far. 250W 14K Phoenix are comparable as well (much better than the 150W version), but I've also heard good things about 20K XMs that Toddrtrex uses.
Take some time to research and it might serve you well to buy a couple different kinds and see what you like best. It can be expensive but there's really no other way to figure out what you like. Photographs don't often depict a bulb's color rendition accurately.
sslak
New member
This is bogus as related to 20k.
You will need to use UV glass with your DE bulbs no matter what color spectrum you prefer.
I really like my 14k Phoenix, but they are very white and the 250 is so bright it washes out my T5 Blue+ bulbs completely. I may try a 20k next time for a little more color since I'm pretty sure I have plenty of PAR
If you buy a couple different bulbs, you can always sell the ones you don't like. Bulbs are expensive and people will snap up a bulb with very low hours on it, just expect to get about half what you paid for them when you sell them used.
I've used both of these. Currently running the Ushio 20K on my Icecap ballast. While I love the color, the growth isn't as good as it was with the Phoenix 14K.
I'm due to change out my bulbs soon and will be switching back to the Phoenix as well.
JMartin104
New member
I added 2 X Phoenix 250DE MH/14k in Oct 2010 after reading very good reviews. The price was good and I like the lights.
SirToppemHat
Member
AB20K's are awesome on Icecaps. You won't be disappointed.
maxheadroom
Clownfish Farmer
I went from a Phoenix 14K to a Ushio 20K and the Phoenix 14 is a lot more blue than the Ushio 20K. On my next bulb change, I'm going to try XM 20k bulb since I've heard a lot of good reviews on them.
aandfsoccr04
Active member
What would you all recommend to buy for ballasts for the 250w?
-sorry for jacking your thread but it's kind of similar.. in the same ballpark atleast :wildone:
-sorry for jacking your thread but it's kind of similar.. in the same ballpark atleast :wildone:
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