Lighting

[Jay4Robin]

okay I really want to make a good move and need advice. I have 90% sps and want to have great colors on everything. In the past I used XM 20ks and did love the colors. I upgraded to a geismann unit a few months ago with TF5 combo and 2 halide 250watt . The double ended bulbs are megachrome 13k. I really do not like them at all. I have heard alot of great feed back about the 14k Phoenix. Has anyone tryed the 14.5 megachrome bulbs?
The price difference is alot. But I do want the best. Thanks

 

[carpus]

according to the responses on my other thread, most ppl like the 14K phoenix when run on a electric ballast. not magnetic

 

[prodman]

Carpus-I would not say most people. I do like pheonix but use hqi.
Jay4Robin- What dont you like about the megachrome? The pheonix is a good bulb but will be alot more blue than what you have now. Its hard to say what the best bulb is. I currently use a mix of bulbs to get what I am looking for. I say go for what you like the look of. Because after all the tank is for your viewing pleasure right?

 

[Jay4Robin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7498754#post7498754 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by prodman
Carpus-I would not say most people. I do like pheonix but use hqi.
Jay4Robin- What dont you like about the megachrome? The pheonix is a good bulb but will be alot more blue than what you have now. Its hard to say what the best bulb is. I currently use a mix of bulbs to get what I am looking for. I say go for what you like the look of. Because after all the tank is for your viewing pleasure right?

I just want to see all of the colors on the corals. I have alot of multi colored sps and I really can not see the different colors unless I just have the T5s on at night before everything turns off. I have magnetic ballasts so the phoenix would n ot work well?
The megachrome is a little yellow its a 13k.

 

[Don Berry]

The Phoenix burns in more white on an HQI ballast, but you get more PAR. Some say they think the colors look a bit duller on an HQI ballast. I really have no complaints about the look I am currently getting with the Phoenix bulbs on HQI.

 

[prodman]

I also like the colors of pheonix on hqi. I get excelent colors on my corals imo. I currently use 2 blv20k (soon to be pheonix again) 1 blv14k and 2 vho super atinics.

 

[Jay4Robin]

Well I ordered 2 of them from premium aquatics. Thank you very much. In 2 months I will order 2 more for my back lights.