Help me with Halide bulb selection!

[eyebedam]

you very well could. Its a very crisp white with a nice purple/blue tone but not overpowering.

 

[Avalanche Wolf]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12179683#post12179683 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mikeyjer
Jason,

Are you able to run just the phoenix 14k alone without supplement?

If you are ever in the area again , stop by and I will show you the 10ks with and without. I think the 12k would be a great bulb without supls

But bulb color are like new wheels on a vehicle, everyone has a differant sytle and desire.

After about 7 hours of running the bulbs I really enjoyed the color on them. Ebay did have the 250/12ks in stock also

 

[platax88]

I got my SPS 20k today ... and right off the bat i think i will like them better than the XM 20K and i did not loose much PAR.

They seem to be less blue and all the colors really pop. I hope that after burn-in the blue will subside a bit and bring out more crispness.

So far i like these bulbs. I will keep you updated

 

[Mikeyjer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12182565#post12182565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by platax88
I got my SPS 20k today ... and right off the bat i think i will like them better than the XM 20K and i did not loose much PAR.

They seem to be less blue and all the colors really pop. I hope that after burn-in the blue will subside a bit and bring out more crispness.

So far i like these bulbs. I will keep you updated

Please do keep me updated!!!! I am in need to change out my bulbs... I think I'm going broke after buying these bulbs....lol....Just got a new PDA phone that cost me a fortune since my other phone is dead.....At least I would enjoy the colors of the tank and no more phone issues and staying broke....lol

 

[cee]

Sorry for the late response, don't get over here much anymore. The CV ballasts have a trimpot inside which, when turned CCW, increases the output of the ballast. You can actually change the look of the SPS 20k bulb quite dramatically with this trimpot, going from a deep blue to a crisp Phoenix 14k white with a hint of blue look (and corresponding increase in PAR). I don't know much about the ARO ballast, but Sanjay's site may have some info on it. I do know I like the SPS bulbs so much I ordered 2 more!

 

[platax88]

That's pretty awesome!

I am running the SPS 20k on cheapo magnetic ballasts... and according to the testing the SPS actually run a few points higher in PAR, to the ice cap, which i thought was awesome for a blue bulb.

I always thought that having magnetic ballasts would cause me to loose so much power but it seems that, like XM bulbs, the SPS bulbs are designed with mag ballasts in mind too

cee -- I ran mine (20K) for the first time yesterday and i absolutely love them! After burn-in would you say that it gets bluer or less?

 

[Mikeyjer]

Platax88,

What you think of the SPS bulb so far???

 

[platax88]

I like them! I have noticed dramatic change in my lifestock too. Zoos and sps have colored up, and sps are showing growth. I still think they are a bit too blue for my taste. when its time to change bulbs i think i am going to bite the bullet and get t5 or vho for supplemental light and go with one of the white MH bulbs. If you wish you can stop by to check them out, but i live all the way out in Kingston Springs.

 

[Mikeyjer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12265117#post12265117 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by platax88
I like them! I have noticed dramatic change in my lifestock too. Zoos and sps have colored up, and sps are showing growth. I still think they are a bit too blue for my taste. when its time to change bulbs i think i am going to bite the bullet and get t5 or vho for supplemental light and go with one of the white MH bulbs. If you wish you can stop by to check them out, but i live all the way out in Kingston Springs.

Comparing them to XM 20k, which one is more blue? I run VHO actinics in one of my tank so I don't mind the blue one bit. BUT the 14k MH I run along with it really brighten things up. Is it more dull lighting comparing to XM?

 

[Mikeyjer]

Platax88?? Wonder if you saw my reply....

 

[platax88]

Sorry mike i mised your post. I would say they are a bit brighter than the XM but not by much.... still pretty blue. I think the greatest thing about them is the color of the corals. My sps have reacted really well and have colored up quite a bit in 2 weeks.

 

[Mikeyjer]

k, I'll give these bulbs a try.....Going to order them sometime soon, thanks a lot for your input!!! I'll let you know how it looks in my tank after I get them in....

 

[platax88]

cool, if you need to stop by and check them out in person, just let me know

 

[Mikeyjer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12289467#post12289467 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by platax88
cool, if you need to stop by and check them out in person, just let me know

PM me your number, where are you located at anyway? I'll see when I can come by to take a look....I work a lot....