Just added 2x250w Phoenix 14k w/ EVC ballasts to my 75g

[Horace]

As the title says I added 2x250w Phoenix 14k w/ EVC ballasts and Reef Optix III reflectors to my 75g SPS tank. I must say I AM THRILLED! The color is great and the tank is brighter than I had expected. IMO it is about the same brightness as my tank was with 6x54w T5 using 2xB+, 2xSA, 2xAB bulbs. The color amazingly enough is pretty similar as well. I also decided to run 2 of my T5 SA along with the phoenix for dusk/dawn as well as some added fluorescence and they definitely do add some pop to the greens/purples. Overall, I am very happy about the change and I aboslutely LOVE the shimmer

Should I expect the color to shift much from what it is now? The bulbs have only about 15hrs of burn time right now.

 

[TacoKing]

Why the move from the T5's? Maybe I missed that thread. I thought you were kinda happy with the output the T5's were giving you.

 

[Horace]

I was happy with the output, but I have always loved the look of MH lighting more than anything. I was also having some issues with my green corals turning yellow. I am about 95% sure the T5s were the cause. I was able to sell 4 of the 6 T5s and recouped about half of what I spent on the halides so I think it was money well spent.

 

[143gadgets]

Awesome! Please post pics.

 

[Horace]

Will do....I wont be home unitil about 9:30pm tonight though. Im working a ton of overtime at the moment.

 

[Ti]

Another satisfied MH customer!

 

[Aquaduck]

When you post your pics, please post with and without actinics. I see so many people putting up pictures and they have actinics on. Very hard to get an idea of the color that way.

 

[want2reef]

Gota luv those Phoenix bulbs.

You got me thinking of maybe trying a couple of actinics bulbs for a little extra "POP".

 

[Don Berry]

Is the EVC ballast electronic or HQI? If it's electronic they seem to stay similiar to what they look like when you first run them. If it's HQI they tend to become whiter in color then they are the first couple weeks.

 

[Horace]

EVC are electronic....If they stay the same color I will be very happy. They look VERY nice IMO. Granted, I havent seen a ton of MH bulbs in person but in comparison to the ones I have seen its definitely one of my favorites.

 

[Aquaduck]

Alright...... now cough up the pictures! HA!

 

[Horace]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7636837#post7636837 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by want2reef
Gota luv those Phoenix bulbs.

You got me thinking of maybe trying a couple of actinics bulbs for a little extra "POP".

What made me want to do it is after looking at the spectrum analysis of the Radium. The phoenix and Radium are nearly identical, however the Radium has a bit taller spike in the Actinic range (420nm) than the phoenix.

 

[Ti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7637504#post7637504 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aquaduck
Alright...... now cough up the pictures! HA!

 

[Horace]

HEHE, actually it looks like it will have to wait until this weekend till I can get pics. I am working from 6:30am - 9:00pm for the rest of this week ( I am in a training class after my normal working hours). So needless to say, I dont run the halides long enough for them to even be on when I get home at ~9:30pm . I will get them this weekend for sure though...Both w/ and w/out actinic supplements...Hopefully my camera will cooperate!

 

[Horace]

I was able to get a shot w/ the actinics on... i will have to get another w/ them off.....

Keep in mind that the white balance probably isnt perfect either but its pretty close.

 

[Horace]

After looking at the picture again and then the tank, it is definitely more pink/purple than it appears in real life. Its more of a crisp blue than a pink/purple like this shows.