New DE Bulb Suggestion?

Solitaryensis

Solitaryensis

New member
Hey guys,
Its about time for me to get a new bulb and was hoping to get some suggestions. I am currently running a 14k 250 DE Phoenix bulb and have been, for the most part, happy with the bulb. However, the bulb, while very pleasing to the eye, is IMHO "blueer" than a 14k and i havent gotten the growth that id like. I am looking to get something a bit "whiter" to encourage a some more growth.

What do you guys suggest? Pics would be nice as well. Oh, and a suggestion on where best to buy the bulb would be great.

TIA,
Theo
 
Yeah, the Phoenix is pretty much a 20K bulb. A great option as a standalone, but if you're looking to go whiter, you could try an AB 10k (which is an actual 13k). The Giesemann 14.5k and Ushio 14k are very similar options. Mostly a white look, with a slight blue tint.

The only thing I'd want to research about these 3 is how long they'll last with your ballast. Right now, I'm using the 400W SE version of the Ushio 14k, and I've noticed a significant color shift after only 6 months. The same thing happened with Doug (dots), who used the 250W DE version.

Personally, I'm considering going back to the Radium, which is also whiter than the Phoenix, when used with an HQI ballast.
 
Thanks Karl,
I have used the AB bulb in the past and have been happy with that, although it would have been nice if the bulb was a tad bit blueer. I actually got really good growth from that bulb though, so i might consider going back to that. Any experience with XM or the newer brands?

I am running a DYI Advance Magnetic pulse start setup. I do, however, have a sunlight supply setup that i could run. Do you (guys) suggest running that setup instead, or should i just stay with my current setup?

Ill be selling off a bunch of stuff soon and im sure i could get much more for my sunlight supply setup, as opposed to my DIY but if ill be getting significant improvement in performance, ill swap the setups out.

Thanks
 
As far as 250W DE, I've tried the XM 20k, which was really blue. I'm not sure if XM has fixed the low output of their 15k bulb. The Giesemann Megachrome Blue was one of my favorites, and is not as blue as the Phoenix. Unfortunately, it costs twice as much.
 
Im thinking of going with the aqualine 10k since ive had good experiences in the past with this bulb? Anyone else have anything to say about this bulb? Suggestions on the best place to purchase?
 
BTW, anyone using the BLV bulb? Experiences? Pics? They seem like a good price but is this another case of "you pay for what you get?"
 
:lol: We might as well be PM'ing eachother, Theo:p

BLV's the European brand for Ushio. Pretty much the same bulbs, with slight variations in the base.
 
I had the AB 10K but switched over to the Phoenix 14K because I wanted a bluer look, but realized that it was a bit bluer that I hoped for. I had some digitata near the middle/upper part of the tank that was getting bleached out with the 10K, but now looks better with the 14K. But overall I miss the AB 10K, and like you, would like to get the better growth with my other coral. I'm tending toward getting back to the AB 10K when I'm ready to pull out the 14K.
 
I have used both the ushio 14k and the pheonix 14k as well as coutless others. I was happiest with the pheonix14 overall.
 
Yeah, id like to know that too Paladin. I def. like the color on the Phoenix but am not getting very good growth at all.

On a sidenote, any of you guys experienece a huge drop in PH after an interceptor treatment?
 
As Karl mentioned I just switched from the 14K Ushio to the 14K Phoenix in the 250DE.

Karl is correct, the sucker started to go yellow on me after about six months and I have an 8hr photoperiod. No big deal, I get bored of em after about six months anyway and want to try something new.

I recently switched back to the Phoenix for the higher PAR number in combination with the blue. Combined with Actinics, I am happy with it currently. In fact just looking at it looks nice and "silver" since it has burned in.

I am suprised that your not getting good growth, if memory serves the reason I picked the Phoenix is because of the higher PAR value for a 14K. In addition, I have always thought the Phoenix to be a tad bluer in the 150DE (ballast probably). Which brings up his other thought.

I was curious of the 13K megachrome.....but hadn't heard much about it.

What about the A/B, I thought it was supposed to be a 10k that looked more like a 12K? That might give you the PAR you want while still not daylight yellow. Combined with some Actinics might be what your looking for.
 
Yeah, im leaning towards the AB with T5's. Ive had my kit for awhile now but never got around to setting it up again, given that the Phoenix was blue enough.

Anyone have experience with the megachrome?
 
I have a Geissemann 250w 14.5k megachrome coral DE bulb and a Hamilton 250w de bulb. They are both nice, but I only ran the Hami for a couple months then switched off as it was a little blue for me.

I love the megachrome coral, it is an awesome bulb! I am getting fabulous growth with it, and color as well, and would def recommend it. If I trade my 250w setup for something lower wattage, i'll put this bulb up for sale. It was quite expensive, but worth it! You can come check it out if you'd like.

Best,
Angela

p.s. be careful, the megachrome coral and megachrome marine are different bulbs. I hear the mc marine is yellowish.
 
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