Anybody ever switch from Phoenix?

[SHOmuchFUN]

I am running 2x250w Phoenix bulbs with a magnetic HQI ballast. I also have 2x54w T-5 Blue Plus actinics.

I enjoy the color of the light in the tank, but find my corals to be pretty washed out/dull. I'm thinking of switching bulbs something higher in the spectrum, like a Ushio 20k. Does anybody have any experience doing this? What were your results?

 

[das75]

Running the Phoenix 14K for the last couple of weeks (along with 2x54w Giesemann Actinic+ & Aqua-medic Reef Blue) and finding the tank on the blue side. Seriously considering, though had a couple premature burn-outs (2 bulbs at 1 month), switching back to 14K Hamiltons. Personally find I like the white light better.

As was staying away from the Hamilton's have also tried the 14K Ushios, found yellow so switch to 20K XM but could only handle them for a month. Can't see how people can run the 20K bulbs.

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

I'll assume you're running electronic ballasts then das, because I hardly felt that the phoenix bulbs were too blue.

I honestly thought the 14k hamiltons to be pretty blue.

 

[DT's_Reef]

The Phoenix 250w I've seen (recently) run on a magnetic ballast gave the tank a very white look and was not blue at all.

I'm not a blue tank fan either, although I use 250w Radium SE on my system with nice results (Galaxy electronic ballast that drives it at about 270w).

I tried the new Phoenix 250w SE 14k bulb and found it to look VERY similar to the Radium SE.....quite a bit of blue, except it was a colder, more washed out blue if that makes sense. Overall, I prefer the look of Radium. I didn't leave the bulb on my corals long enough to see what difference it would make. They're doing so well right now I hesitate.....

...although I'm tempted to try the AquaConnect 14k SE which is supposed to be very white, and perhaps a warmer white than colder (bluer) white.

So many choices, so many bulbs.

 

[Husky_1]

I had the phoenix 14k hooked to a icecap ballanst and thought the looks was a bit to sterile. I really love the look of the radium SE, but I am stuck with DE for now.

I recently put on the iwasaki 14k and like the color it gives, but since I recently rebuilt my tank, I cannot tell you if it makes the colors pop or not.

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

I would love to run radiums... But am also stuck with DE's.
It would be entirely too expensive for me to piece out a SE setup, rather than just stick with DE bulbs.

 

[GSMguy]

I switched from pheonix to ushio 20k and really like the new bulbs.

the ushio is much more spectrally diverse.

 

[moondoggy4]

You said that you have a mag ballast my Ushio burned out in 3 months because they don/t run good on mag. ballast. I spoke with the spokesman from Ushio and they now have bulbs to run on mag. ballast but not for 175 watt like I have.

 

[cindyreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15556438#post15556438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Husky_1
I had the phoenix 14k hooked to a icecap ballanst and thought the looks was a bit to sterile. I really love the look of the radium SE, but I am stuck with DE for now.

I recently put on the iwasaki 14k and like the color it gives, but since I recently rebuilt my tank, I cannot tell you if it makes the colors pop or not.

When you say streile do you mean white? I ask because Im trying to decide which DE 250w bulbs to put with my new icecap ballasts. Im afraid that the icecap ballast will burn the pheonix bluer towards a 20k. What do you think?