The 250W aqua connects ended up costing me $110 each. A good amount more than the radiums, but if they last even close to the 2 years Drew says they last, it will be worth it. If not, it won't be the first or last time in this hobby that I've spent more than I had to! Half the fun is the experimenting.
To Nanook's comment, Sanjay has tested the Ushio and the Aqua connect 400W bulbs (Ushio doesn't make a 250W 14k). His results show that they are not the same bulb. Here is the spectral plot of the two Ushio 14k's against the Aqua connect using the same Blueline ballast from the Manhattan reefs lighting guide:
That peak at 450 is what makes those colors glow.
Did you use the same site listed above.
The Ushio 14k is a true 14k lamp. If your water is clear then the bulb is very crisp white, however if your water has the ever so slightest yellow tint to it then they will look yellow. If you run any supplementation with them they will look very crisp ice white with a very small tint of blue.
Am I the only one that likes the traditionaly xm 10k+actnic supplements?
250W 10K XM Really like this bulb
250W 10K XM Really like this bulb
Am I the only one that likes the traditionaly xm 10k+actnic supplements?
Welles used 3 x 10k 400w XM on his tank of the month that was supplemented with VHO super actinic and a 70/30 mix of blue to white Cree LED (DIY).
Unfortunately it doesn't look like he's been active here on RC for a while, but here is the link to his TOTM in 2009:
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/past-issues/2009/september-2009/article/25-tank-of-the-month
Welles used 3 x 10k 400w XM on his tank of the month that was supplemented with VHO super actinic and a 70/30 mix of blue to white Cree LED (DIY).
Unfortunately it doesn't look like he's been active here on RC for a while, but here is the link to his TOTM in 2009:
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/past-issues/2009/september-2009/article/25-tank-of-the-month
250W 10K XM Really like this bulb
Can you provide more details, ballast and supplementation?
Denadai, how old is this pic? Is it your tank?