New bulb suggestions?

[lolgranny]

Hey guys.

Im going to buy a new bulb today, i typically run a 250w 14k phoenix but i was thinking of trying out the 20k ushio

Thoughts?
Opinions?

Its a DE bulb otherwise i would go with a radium. I havent tried anything other then the 14k Phoenix so im unsure about swapping.

Thanks for any opinions fellas.

 

[dzhuo]

What don't you like the 14K Phoenix? What do you want the most from the new bulb? What ballast are you running?

 

[lolgranny]

What don't you like the 14K Phoenix? What do you want the most from the new bulb? What ballast are you running?

I do like the Phoenix to be honest, colors of SPS are good! I figure they might pop a bit more if i went with a bluer bulb?

Running a Coralife pro hqi (came with the fixture i have)

I will soon be using a Blue wave HQI ballast, but have yet to pick it up.

Everything is doing well except a few in lower light / off to the sides (shaded areas) which are starting to brown and i assume thats from a old bulb (8months of use ~8hr/day)

Everything is in check
Po4= 0 hanna
Nitrates= 0 api
cal= 440
alk = 9-10

:dance:

 

[dzhuo]

If you go with the Bluewave, you can try the Radium which is very popular. However, the browning of your coral might not be caused by lighting. Have you check out this site to see which color you like the best? CnidarianReef: Lamp Tests

 

[dahenley]

He had a double ended fixture and radium only makes single ended bulbs

 

[shiladitya1991]

I would prefer a 250 watt XM 10k bulb with actinic VHO's...I have used the USHIO 20k and its just too blue...Growth will be hindered...

 

[newbie916]

I just switched from a 14k Phoenix to a 20k Ushio in the same light setup that you have. The Phoenix's were frying my chalices at the bottom of my tank, so decided to go with the 20k's. It's not much bluer than the phoenix bulbs in my opinion. It's a nice bulb, but my all time favorite was the Aqualine Pro bulb. It had a nice crisp blue with PAR that allowed nice growth with my sps. When it's time for a new bulb I'll probably go with the Aqualine, but they're double what you could get the Phoenix's for.

Regarding growth on my corals between the 14k or 20k I'm still getting good growth with my sps with the 20k. I left for a week on vacation and came back and many of my sps showed growth of 1/4-1/2". There may have been better growth with the Phoenix's, but I can't really tell the difference too much. I go for looks rather than how fast they grow

 

[Doobze]

I just got the new Elos 20k Abyss, initially looks identical to a radium, but after burn in it has much more of a UV actinic pop, I'm in love with the bulb, it looks like I'm running supplemental actinics