Opinoins on 250watt 14K Hamilton vs Phoenix DE's?

Edward Smith

Active member
I tend to like my light on the blue side. Any opinions?

Imagine that, actually REQUESTING an opinoins on Reef Central, :lol:
 
Ed, I'm running 400 watt 14K Hamiltons in Lumenarc reflectors. Mine are moguls and more wattage than what you are asking for but I'll tell you that I love these Hamiltons, I'm on my second set of them so I'm 15 months into running them. For grins on this bulb change, I put two XM 20K's and 2 of the Hammies in there....Bleech....I still hate 20K's....Too blue, not enough punch.

The 14K's are just enough blue IMO.
 
Never use a hamilton, but I am running a Phoenix 14k (HQI ballast) and I like it. Recently replaced 10k XM's with 20k Radiums (also switched to HQI ballasts to run the radiums), and the colors are very close.

The 14k is coming up on a year old now, but is a little brighter and whiter than the radiums, but the radiums seem to give a better color to the corals.
 
Ed,

Just picked up a Reeflux 250 12k from Rod for the Zero Edge...love the color w/out being too much blue. Was running a 10k prior and was TOO white. Clams seem to be responding well. Too soon on the corals.

The offer to come over is still open.

Bill.
 
On a HQI Ballast the Reeflux 12K DE bulbs burn in white/yellow. They really lost almost all blue after a few weeks in my opinion. I went back the Phoenix bulbs which aren't real blue on an HQI ballast, but are blue enough. The Phoenix 14K or Reeflux 12K on electronic ballasts are a much bluer look.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7554159#post7554159 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Don Berry
On a HQI Ballast the Reeflux 12K DE bulbs burn in white/yellow. They really lost almost all blue after a few weeks in my opinion. I went back the Phoenix bulbs which aren't real blue on an HQI ballast, but are blue enough. The Phoenix 14K or Reeflux 12K on electronic ballasts are a much bluer look.

I agree about the Phoenix on an HQI ballast. Mine are run on the aquamedic ballasts and are very bright with enough blue to make me happy. They aren't 20K blue, but just the amount of blue for me.

On E ballasts they arent nearly as bright. It almost seems as if your bulbs are worn out even though they are not.
 
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