Bulb Choice

[bcobra]

Been out of the hobby for a few years getting back in now. I have a 120 gal with 2 250 halides and 2 VHOs on now. Both ballasts are PFOs. The 250s are Reefoptics 14ks I picked up off ebay they look pretty good but can not find any info on them. The VHOs are URI actinics. I have a few frags in now that are showing some growth and good color but I would like to try some other bulbs. When I had my reef going before I ran 65ks had a lot of things color up from being brown and had good growth.If you have been around for a while back when John had his site up you would have seen pic of my tank. Here is what I need advice on I am looking at 3 bulbs all 250s. Coralvue 14k; Reeflux 12k and XM 15k. Out of the three which will give me the best color and growth? And which has the most par ?

 

[tangwang]

I'd say out of those three choices, go with the Reeflux 12k... Real nice coloration and good growth with this bulb. Both the XM 15k and CV 14k seem way too dim, IMO... Testing the JBJ 14k right now and it seems to have real potential as well. Here, I might as well post the pic of my test subject for you. Below is my at home 125g display, and you will see that from left to right it is lit by Aquaconnect 14k, jbj 14k, and reeflux 12k... The Aquaconnect has a few months on it, and the jbj and reeflux are both less than a month old, so they may look a little different after another week or two....

 

[tangwang]

Forgot to add that all three bulbs are fired on icecap 250w ballasts....

 

[david8956]

tangwang - I run Aquaconnect 14k's and you know the story about how difficult they are to get. This is leading me to look at other bulbs for my next bulb change.

Have you seen any data (par?) on either the JBJ 14k or Reeflux 12k's you are testing? Did you by chance test the Reeflux 10k? Both of the other bulbs in the photo above look very blue compared to the Aquaconnect, be curious to see a par reading.

 

[tangwang]

Not sure about the PAR, but the Reeflux does seem to be brighter than the JBJ to the naked eye, and definitley brighter than an XM 15 or 20k, and definitely brighter than the radiums.... Unfortunately, sanjay doesn't have the info on the reeflux 12k or jbj bulbs yet... I got the JBJ from john to test out, on his reccomendation.. And so far they look to be pretty good. After a couple more weeks or so burn in, I'll decide between the reeflux 12k and the jbj... As I suspect both will whiten up just a little




Matt

 

[Northtampatang]

I love my Reeflux 12K's

I'm also running a Pheonix 14K which seeems to have good color as well.


Wes

 

[bcobra]

Thanks for the info on the bulbs tangwang and for sharing the picture of your test. Next question will the reeflux work with my old PFO ballast?

 

[bcobra]

Wes thanks for the reply. I did like the way your tank looked when I picked up that stag. Just could not remember what bulbs you were running I know you told me. Also the stag is doing fine not sure what its doing though so for as color. The tips are starting to darken and the base is turning green.

Robin

 

[BlitzK]

I'm running Reeflux 12k's and love'em!