AquaConnect 14K versus Giesemann Megachrome Marine/Coral/Blue

[ahchung]

I will buy a 250W MH shortly, and for the bulb I can choose among Aquaconnect 14K, Giesemann Megachrome Marine, Coral or Blue bulbs.

Which one I should choose? Initially I will not run T5HO or VHO actinic bulbs. My tank size is 24"L x 18"W x 22"H and all the SPS's will be between 7" to 14" deep from the top of the tank. I want to keep good colours such as blue. Growth is not a major concern to me as long as the colour is nice enough.

PS: Please assume my water parameters etc are okay. Just bulb selection. Thanks.

 

[Fliger]

The Giesemann marine is yellowish, the Coral is almost pure white (one of my FAVORITE bulbs!) and the blue is blue but not very bright. The Aquaconnect 14K is the same bulb as the Phoenix 14K - with a different label. It is an awesome bulb. It really depends on your taste, but I'd recommend the Phoenix bulb if you like blue, and the Coral if you like white.

 

[brad23]

THe Aquaconnect SE bulb blows the DE phoenix out of water when it comes to par. As well as any other 14 - 20k bulb and half of the 10k bulbs.

 

[PrangeWay]

I love the Giesemann Coral. I used it when I had both DE and SE. It has a great par number, looks pure white on electronic ballasts, and of course is a high quality bulb so you don't get sudden spectrum shifts after 4 months or the like. I've only heard great things about the AC bulb, but it's nearly impossible to get in America, maybe HK has better luck with that.

PW

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7900462#post7900462 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brad23
THe Aquaconnect SE bulb blows the DE phoenix out of water when it comes to par. As well as any other 14 - 20k bulb and half of the 10k bulbs.

83 vs 79 Par doesnt seem like blowing it out of the water (both on e ballasts). That being said, the DE bulbs will last longer, and in most cases have better reflectors. The DE bulb in this case also produces more PAR, it just loses some to the shield.

 

[twon8]

i seem to remember the aq 14k having a par of 94, which is alot for a se 250 w blue bulb

 

[twon8]

96.7 on a reef fanatic ballas

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7901207#post7901207 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by twon8
96.7 on a reef fanatic ballas

Wierd, its 83 on the icecap.

Do you happen to know what wattage it actually runs at? I know that a select few eballasts run at around 290w like a magnetic does, whereas an icecap runs at 250.

 

[twon8]

i have heard that the reef fanatic is relabeled icecaps, but i doubt it. i have the 14k se on my 90, with one reefanatic ballast and one coralvue e ballast. the reefanatic side is noticeably brighter and whiter, and that side is using a white board as reflector. I have an icecap ballast i plan to switch with the coralvue, just haven't gotten around to it. a local reefer thought i had 10k on that side, just because it doesn't look as blue. the acros underneath it love it.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7901207#post7901207 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by twon8
96.7 on a reef fanatic ballas

Just checked, the phoenix is like 93 on the reef fanatic. Seems like its just a much better ballast than the icecap.

 

[RichConley]

wierd, just looked at some numbers, and Sanjays data is incongruent. The PPFD number on the spectral graphs page is different from that on the "search performance charts" page.

 

[ahchung]

Okay, I chose AC14K. Interestingly, the Giesemann Nova II 250W fixture I bought comes with a magnetic ballast. When I looked at the article written by Sanjays, he said Nova came with an electronic ballast.

I guess the magnetic ballast on a DE will produce more PPFD than that of electronic ballast.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7901720#post7901720 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ahchung
Okay, I chose AC14K. Interestingly, the Giesemann Nova II 250W fixture I bought comes with a magnetic ballast. When I looked at the article written by Sanjays, he said Nova came with an electronic ballast.

I guess the magnetic ballast on a DE will produce more PPFD than that of electronic ballast.

Geismann used electronics for about a year. INterestingly, unlike your typical electronic that only uses 250w, it drove bulbs at almost exactly the same numbers as a magnetic, more around 310 w.

 

[brad23]

The reef fantic ballast is the same as a EVC ballast although it suppose to be a little better.

Where did you find those numbers for the phoenix bulbs with 93 par? I didn't see that ballast listed on sanjays site?

 

[brad23]

I see where you got the 93 from, that is if you run it with no shield. With a shield the par is in the 70s on the reef fantic ballast.