400w MH's better growth in the 14-20K range

[ptreef]

Which of these will offer the better growth rates:
Running 2 XM 20k now

XM 20K
Radium 20K
Reeflux 20k
Reeflux 12k
Hamilton 14K


I think these are about the only bulbs i will tolerate color wise....
Don't bother to suggest XM 10k, i know great growth....But not going yellow! ;-)
I already have a pretty grown out tank with large colonies.

Had ushio 14k and was a tad to white and touch of yellow for me....

I can tweak the above with my 4 80w t-5's

 

[ridetheducati]

Which of these will offer the better growth rates:
Running 2 XM 20k now

1. Reeflux 12k
2. Hamilton 14K

 

[ptreef]

Do you have experience or is this just a blanket statement because the LOWER k number....

The reeflux 12k spectral looks very similar to the XM 20k

 

[mikeatjac]

A 400 watt Radium to me is the gold standard.

 

[sbeason]

Another good point is what ballast are you using???? I used an electronic 400w coralvue ballast to drive my 400w radiums. When I went with 250w radiums I went with a magnetic ballast.

 

[ridetheducati]

Do you have experience or is this just a blanket statement because the LOWER k number....

The reeflux 12k spectral looks very similar to the XM 20k

I have experience and PAR numbers can be checked on the Sanjay site.

Bulbs ran on PFO HQI and regular PFO ballasts.

 

[cnewsome]

It will be hard to beat the radium on a magnetic ballast.

 

[ptreef]

It will be hard to beat the radium on a magnetic ballast.

That's for 250w radiums. Talking 400w.
Either way I am running lumatek select a watt ballast