Has anyone used both 10k and 12k 250w se reeflux bulbs? I have used the 250w se 10k bulb on a icecap ballast and I like it but, I would like a little more blue. The par values for the 12k's are not very good but, I would like to find out from someone that has used them both to compare the growth and color they experienced with them.
Has anyone used both 10k and 12k reeflux bulbs?
- Thread starter jy544
- Start date
I used both the reefflux 10k & 12k. I first started out with the 10k's. They looked good but not quite what I was looking for, wanted more blue. Then I decided for the 12k's and have never looked back. They start out quite blue but burn in a nice color. Grow rate has never really changed between any of the bulbs I have used. The color of the color I get on 12k's are amazing.
I use the 250w SE. I love the bulbs. If I had to chose, I would use the 12k's. It took some time to to get to the bulbs because I was not use the that much blue in the tank. However, once the bulbs burnt in, they produce a great color. I do not run any other lighting in the tank except for the Reefflux 12k's. HTH. If I could ever learn how to post pics I could so you some of the difference between the color of the tank and the corals.
markandkristen
Active member
i am a 12k fan myself.. i have tried a few bulbs if i say so myself. even aquaconnects.. i think for the price they cant be beat..
when you first get the 12ks they may look a little blue but they whiten up to a whitish blue..
its like you get the natural colors plus a hugh of blue....
for once i can say i am satisfied.
LOL
when you first get the 12ks they may look a little blue but they whiten up to a whitish blue..
its like you get the natural colors plus a hugh of blue....
for once i can say i am satisfied.
LOL
How is your growth with the 12k's? I am getting really good growth with the 10k's now but, I have always used xm 20k bulbs. I like the look of a bluer tank better than the 10k's. My growth with the 20k's were pretty slow though. According to the charts Reeflux 12's have less par then the xm 20ks.
markandkristen
Active member
its hard to judge a bulb just on par in my experience..
i think tank of the month a few months back can comment on the growth of the bulbs.. he says he got the same with 12ks ...
my growth seems to be pretty good.
i think tank of the month a few months back can comment on the growth of the bulbs.. he says he got the same with 12ks ...
my growth seems to be pretty good.
I agree with markandkristen. In the past, I always used 10k's Ushio with T-12 actinic lighting but it was not the look I was going for. Then I switched it for the 10k's Reefflux and it was much better. Then I tried the out the Reefflux 12k's and it was exactly what I was looking for. I got rid of the T-12 lighting because I felt it was just wasting power. My growth under the 12k's is just as good as, if not better, than the 10k's Ushio were and the colors are now insane. I believe that PAR has a lot of merit in keeping coral but the reefs are way more complex than just that.
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