New 12K Reeflux ?

[NewSchool04]

I'm replacing my 400W 10K Reeflux bulbs with 12K Reeflux and I'm wondering about acclimating the corals to the new bulbs.

Do you think I'll be allright with just raising the reflectors a couple of inches and keeping the same time period on the bulbs or should I decrease the time and raise the bulbs also. The 10K's have 9 months on them.

Thanks!

 

[mm949]

if ur uppin' the kelvin it wont matter....less PAR than 10k...

 

[Jeff]

I doubt that you will even need to raise the refectors Pat. There is a slight loss of PAR between the 10k's and the 12k's I believe so I dont know if you need to worry. I love the 12k's btw

 

[NewSchool04]

yeah, looking at your prop tank made my decision a lot easier Jeff.

I'm wondering if the 9 months of use on the 10K's would decrease the output on the bulb so by adding a higher K bulb, the new bulb would be more powerful.

 

[badazztealcobra]

You have dimmable ballasts..... If you're concerned just tone them down and then dial them back up slowly....

 

[canar]

Obviously there was a crash and a restore here because my response is missing from this thread.

Can you take before and after pictures when you do this please? I am curious how much more blue your tank is going to look...

 

[NewSchool04]

sure, no problem with the pictures Ted

I was thinking that dimming the bulb during the burn in time might affect the bulb long term. I wrote to Coralvue asking questions awhile back on what dimming did to bulb life, ballast life and heard nothing at all back from them. Great ballast, not so great customer service.

I think I'll just fire them up!!

 

[rickyb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11723326#post11723326 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NewSchool04

I think I'll just fire them up!!

DO IT!!!

Honestly I don't think you will encounter any problems as everyone stated above. I do too like the 12K's, let see if my corals will too.

 

[NewSchool04]

Here are the comparison shots. Just got the bulbs yesterday and put them in this morning so they are not fully burned in.

400W 10K Reeflux with Coralvue E ballast:

400W 12K Reeflux w/ Coralvue E ballast:

 

[bbehring]

Night and day diference! I much better like the 12k. I just swithced from 10k to Phoenix 14K and love it.

 

[NewSchool04]

I have to say that I love it!!!! What took me so long?!

 

[adamjr]

Pat, I did the same thing but with the 250's. I stopped using my actinics and upped my halide photo period to 14 hours. That excess blue will go away and you're going to love those bulbs even more.

WOW, 3 yellow tangs...where're the tang police?

 

[badazztealcobra]

Makes me SOOOOOO happy I went with the 12K reeflux for my setup....

Looks great Pat.

Any actinics on in the picture with the 12K's ????

 

[Jeff]

Nice Pat. I knew you would like the 12k's.

 

[NewSchool04]

No, no actinics. It's hard to describe the light, blue but not too blue and very crisp.

There are so many changes, I see different things every time I look at my tank. The fish look 100% better. I forgot how beautiful my flame angel was, the red just pops. The 10K's used to make reds look blah. My Anthias look awesome and so do my yellow tangs.

This light has a slight florescent tinge to it and really brings out the greens in the corals also. My orange monti cap doesn't even look like the same coral and neither does my orange digi. Both so much better. This is like having my T5's back!

 

[canar]

maybe its the camera but the 12k pic looks soooo blue

 

[NewSchool04]

It's not as blue as the pic Ted. I've got a crappy snap and shoot and it was the first pic I took. I'm downloading some now, I'll see if I can get more life like.

 

[NewSchool04]

Here's a better pic:

 

[badazztealcobra]

GREAT picture..... now it's got me wondering if I need to hook up the VHO's along with them or if I should skip them...

 

[NewSchool04]

I turned on my VHO and didn't really notice any difference in the light. I do like the VHO for Dawn and dusk so if I was you, I'd hood them up for that reason.