Lighting without actinics
- Thread starter Dave VG
- Start date
Dave VG
New member
Ok so the new 175 Watt XM 10K is up and running. Thanks Dave (Neoz). I can definitely see a difference in brightness. Guess we’ll see if my LPS color back up. It’s not that they are bleached just dulled. I will definitely be changing out the bulb to try and get that pop without actinics tho.
Newreeflady
New member
How old is the bulb? If it isn't too old you might just buy an actinic fixture for the cost of a new MH bulb- they are quite expensive. (hate to pester, just really like having separate actinics.)
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Dave VG
New member
Ya I know what you mean on the actinics Angela and no problem I don’t consider it pestering that’s what these forums are about. I like to hear others opinions as it maybe something over looked or not thought about. I have an old T-5 fixture with one working ballast I may cannibalize and jury rig it to temporarily to see how it looks now with the 175. I put it up to the glass with the 250 but it was sooooo bright it just washed it out. Oh and the bulb is only 7 months old so I have some time yet to figure things out. I have some used 14K’s in the works as well. Thanks for the input A
Newreeflady
New member
If you want something that is blue and won't wash out, get the t5 blue plus bulb. I have that one in the closet, it is nice for what it is, but it is a bit blue for my taste, personally. It would make a nice halide supplement blue, but as after-hours lighting it isn't my favorite.
For my t5s I run 2 x 24w: 1 aquablue special + 1 actinic 03. They are washed out by the 250w halide which is the 14k Ushio running on the HQI ballast, though. But, I'm actually quite pleased. It is nice and bright in the daytime. The Ushio runs very white, the tank looks like a real reef- super bright! Then, when the halides are off, the t5s are amazingly beautiful, it is the most lovely ambiance lighting I've ever had. I cannot, truly cannot, be more pleased about the bulb combo.
What ballast do you have? Is it HQI, or normal magnetic ballast, or is it an e-ballast?
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For my t5s I run 2 x 24w: 1 aquablue special + 1 actinic 03. They are washed out by the 250w halide which is the 14k Ushio running on the HQI ballast, though. But, I'm actually quite pleased. It is nice and bright in the daytime. The Ushio runs very white, the tank looks like a real reef- super bright! Then, when the halides are off, the t5s are amazingly beautiful, it is the most lovely ambiance lighting I've ever had. I cannot, truly cannot, be more pleased about the bulb combo.
What ballast do you have? Is it HQI, or normal magnetic ballast, or is it an e-ballast?
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Newreeflady
New member
I'd check out the Phoenix bulbs since you're not too concerned about getting the tip top par for the wattage. These are supposed to be very nice unsupplemented. Best thing to do is to hit Sanjay's chart, put in your ballast (M80) and check out the kelvin rating of the many bulbs that they list. This is how I found the Ushio- I was looking for something that ran at 10k to the eye, and on my PFO HQI ballast with the de 250w bulb, that was the 14K Ushio (incidentally, it also had very high par). If you want something that makes the colors really pop, you probably want something that the chart says runs at about 14K on your setup.
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