REEF-DADDY
New member
I will have my 10ks in on Friday. I am running M58 ballasts. I'll take a picture with one XM in the middle to compare. I going to keep an eye on growth I may be buying electronic ballasts
Anyone tried the Coralvue Reeflux 10k bulbs?
- Thread starter shelburn61
- Start date
- Status
TheCoralNabber
New member
I'm using a PFO
Chip Douglas
New member
Does anyone using these bulbs have any complaints about the amount of PAR? I've seen people say "too bad the PAR sucks", etc. about these bulbs, but is anyone actually having problems with coral health, color, growth, etc. while using these bulbs?
I realize that the XM bulbs have over double the PAR of the Reeflux bulbs, but it doesn't seem worth it to me when you look at the color the 10k XM bulbs put off...IMO they overpower the tank and wash out a lot of color. Growth may be good, but coral color certainly isn't.
How important is PAR? I know that it's photosynthetically available radiation/photosynthetically active radiation, which helps the corals feed and grow, but has anyone come up with a lower limit of what a SPS coral needs to survive? I see people quote PAR values all the time and say "this PAR sucks compared to that bulbs PAR" but do they really know what amount of PAR is needed?
I'd like to find out what peoples opinions are on this. Lately it seems like anyone purchasing halide bulbs is doing PAR comparisons where before they would buy based simply on Kelvin temp and wattage. What should we be looking for in PAR values, and what amount of PAR can we consider sufficient for overall coral health (growth, color, etc.)?
The lighting guy I talked to said he sells Coralvue Reeflux 250w 10ks all the time, and he said a lot of times people are using magnetic ballasts like the PFO/Sunglight Supply ballasts and are really happy with them. Other people say they should be run on electronic ballasts or the PAR will be less. Can a bulb with less then half the PAR of an XM 10k give us equally good coral health?
I realize that the XM bulbs have over double the PAR of the Reeflux bulbs, but it doesn't seem worth it to me when you look at the color the 10k XM bulbs put off...IMO they overpower the tank and wash out a lot of color. Growth may be good, but coral color certainly isn't.
How important is PAR? I know that it's photosynthetically available radiation/photosynthetically active radiation, which helps the corals feed and grow, but has anyone come up with a lower limit of what a SPS coral needs to survive? I see people quote PAR values all the time and say "this PAR sucks compared to that bulbs PAR" but do they really know what amount of PAR is needed?
I'd like to find out what peoples opinions are on this. Lately it seems like anyone purchasing halide bulbs is doing PAR comparisons where before they would buy based simply on Kelvin temp and wattage. What should we be looking for in PAR values, and what amount of PAR can we consider sufficient for overall coral health (growth, color, etc.)?
The lighting guy I talked to said he sells Coralvue Reeflux 250w 10ks all the time, and he said a lot of times people are using magnetic ballasts like the PFO/Sunglight Supply ballasts and are really happy with them. Other people say they should be run on electronic ballasts or the PAR will be less. Can a bulb with less then half the PAR of an XM 10k give us equally good coral health?
REEF-DADDY
New member
I sure hope so! 
Make sure your water is crystal clear and take a hard look at coral placement. I went from 8 hours of XMs on my old tank(crappy clarity) to 4 hours on the new tank(cyrstal clear). At 5 I see bleaching. I am hoping with the reeflux I can work back up to 6 hours.
Make sure your water is crystal clear and take a hard look at coral placement. I went from 8 hours of XMs on my old tank(crappy clarity) to 4 hours on the new tank(cyrstal clear). At 5 I see bleaching. I am hoping with the reeflux I can work back up to 6 hours.
ReeferMonkey
Premium Member
I think the PAR obsession is a can't-see-the-forest-for-the-trees scenario. It's not like having an astronomical PAR is the end-all, be-all of SPS keeping. If you've got great PAR and crappy water....
I'm getting some growth out of my SPS under these bulbs, and the colors are outstanding. No complaints here!
I'm getting some growth out of my SPS under these bulbs, and the colors are outstanding. No complaints here!
SunnyX
New member
There are many other factors to consider other than PAR.
PAR is only good to consider once you are sure that you water is free of yellowing agents and clear.
My old Pheonix 14k's had great growth and color and they are about the same PAR as the Reeflux.
XM10K has twice the PAR, I doubt you will get twice the growth.
The growth will be better, but by how much?
Before considering which bulb to get you need to consider:
-Reflector
-Water clarity
-coral
-coral placement
PAR is only good to consider once you are sure that you water is free of yellowing agents and clear.
My old Pheonix 14k's had great growth and color and they are about the same PAR as the Reeflux.
XM10K has twice the PAR, I doubt you will get twice the growth.
The growth will be better, but by how much?
Before considering which bulb to get you need to consider:
-Reflector
-Water clarity
-coral
-coral placement
Great post SunnyX. PAR is NOT everything, in fact a dirty center brace will reduce any PAR gap between bulbs as well as dirty water.
Not sure why you report XM's have twice the PAR though.. On Sanjay's site my 400W 10K Reeflux on an HQI ballast is measured at 170PAR whereas the XM is measured at 202.
I am running 10K Reeflux bulbs on the ends with a 12K reeflux in the center. All are 400W running on HQI ballasts. These are by far the best lighting scheme I have tried to date.. That includes XM, Radiums, and 400WDE's.
Here's a pic of my 280, though I am hesitant to post it because cameras have a hard time balancing the levels with 10K's on the ends and a 12K in the center. My growth and color has been better than good.
Not sure why you report XM's have twice the PAR though.. On Sanjay's site my 400W 10K Reeflux on an HQI ballast is measured at 170PAR whereas the XM is measured at 202.
I am running 10K Reeflux bulbs on the ends with a 12K reeflux in the center. All are 400W running on HQI ballasts. These are by far the best lighting scheme I have tried to date.. That includes XM, Radiums, and 400WDE's.
Here's a pic of my 280, though I am hesitant to post it because cameras have a hard time balancing the levels with 10K's on the ends and a 12K in the center. My growth and color has been better than good.
SunnyX
New member
jlehigh, I was speaking about the 250W versions.
I was using these numbers from a previous post-
XM 10K 250W- 137 PAR M58
XM 10K 400W- 172 PAR M59
Coralvue ReefLux 10K 250W- 70 PAR M58
- 86 PAR on Ice cap ballast electronic
Phoenix 14K 250W- 73 PAR on Ice cap ballast electronic
Phoenix 14K 250W- 88 PAR On HQI ballast
I was using these numbers from a previous post-
XM 10K 250W- 137 PAR M58
XM 10K 400W- 172 PAR M59
Coralvue ReefLux 10K 250W- 70 PAR M58
- 86 PAR on Ice cap ballast electronic
Phoenix 14K 250W- 73 PAR on Ice cap ballast electronic
Phoenix 14K 250W- 88 PAR On HQI ballast
REEF-DADDY
New member
Just installed the 10ks on my tank. They been running for 30 minutes. I was going to take a picture with the XM's still in there for contrast but there is really no difference. Hopefully they burn in more blue. I have mag ballasts do these bulbs run more blue on elec ballasts?
I just put in 10K DE's on an Aqua Medic M80 ballast and they are burning pretty yellow. I hope they burn in more white. I guess there is a pretty big difference between the SE and DE. They are definetly very bright bulbs though. They look as thoug they would put out some pretty good PAR.
marilynrn711
Premium Member
How do these bulbs compare to Venture 10K?
TheCoralNabber
New member
My green slimer colored back out from brown to completely green in two weeks use. I love these bulbs! All of my corals are gaining alot more color. My plaina is starting to get additional color to it that was not seen under XM 10Ks. So far so good. Still not too blue with VHOs, but not too white or yellow either.
I'm running a 400w Reeflux 10k on a Blueline elec ballast and I love it, it looks like a radium to my eyes., on the other hand I'm also running a 250W de reeflux 3 days now, and it looks pinkish/yellow, anyone getting this with the 250's de.?
I hope they burn in whiter/bluer, cause they ain't very pretty right now.
I hope they burn in whiter/bluer, cause they ain't very pretty right now.
TheCoralNabber
New member
I've got magnetic, and it is perfect in my eyes...
i just installed 250de's this two days ago and yes i found them to be a little yellow also.i've been running phoenix bulbs so i never installed any actincs,but as soon as i installed these i went through the attic and found an old workhorse 5 ballast and an old box of 6 brand new uri bulbs(old enough to still have uri printed on them),but their only 96w and it didn't even put a dent in the color so i dug for an old 175w ballast with a barely used 14k bulb -it looks a little better now but i'm really hopeing they burn in a lot whiter than now.
- Status
