Phoenix 14K bulb ?

[NewSchool04]

I have one and I'm not very happy with it. The problem is everything is dull, blends out colors, blah. Not bright at all. From a distance it's a nice looking bulb and makes the tank look very ocean like but very different for close viewing. It's impossible for me to get a good picture of any of my corals and the real problem is that they look like that without the camera. Very shady and dull. I'm trying to describe everything that I see and it's hard but I'm not very happy with it.
I've had the bulb now over a month so it's burned in. Anyone else have the same experience?

 

[BreadmanMike]

I ran these as well on HQI ballasts, and I hated them. I don't know if it was the bulbs or DE bulbs in general, but they just didn't light the tank like SE bulbs do.

 

[NewSchool04]

I'm on HQI and DE bulb also. BLAH!

 

[clkwrk]

I ran them on both HQI ballasts and electronic . Love the color on electronics but HQi ballasts over drive them by 40 watts which makes them look like a blah washed out look.

Same camera only differnce is ballasts which one is which

And I am sure you have seen my 180 with phx on icecaps.

 

[NewSchool04]

by changing the ballast, did you really get a noticible difference clkwrk? This is really driving me crazy!

 

[clkwrk]

Yes with out a doubt .

Look at the pics its there. Bottom one washed out and look at the greens .......Compare to the top . Look at colors not corals

 

[NewSchool04]

totally, bottom one is my tank. That's funny you said colors not corals, I was comparing the streams and the locline, looks like my tank. Blah!
Are you using the icecap electronic ballast? If not, which one? Looks like I'm making another order but at least cheaper than changing out my whole system.

 

[clkwrk]

Yes I am using Ice cap electronics. You can also use ARO electronics as they are one in the same and I also run a few of those with PHX. Just incase your wondering I run a total of 3 aro 250 balasts and 5 ice cap 250 balasts and I can't tell which is which . Not to mention the only difference with the ballasts are color of the box and the sticker

 

[prodman]

Which is which?

 

[Horace]

Doesnt running a DE bulb on an electronic defeat the whole purpose of the DE???

 

[gobygoby]

I am in the same boat...kinda.

While at first I was very disappointed with the bulb( I got a 150 watt version). it seemed to take about 2 months before it brightened up. its still a little dim compared to my favorite(ushio 10k). the phoenix isnt a bad bulb for color, my only disappointment is growth. every since switching to that bulb my corals have pretty much decided to stop growing with the exception of one monti cap. as soon as this bulb's life is over I am going back to ushio's!

the phoenix bulb is one band wagon I wish I never got on!

 

[King-Kong]

...and here I was strongly considering dumping my 10k HQI DE ushio for a 14k phoenix.

my corals seem to lack the darker colors (and as far im concerned, growth)... what bulb should I aim for instead?

 

[NewSchool04]

I have the 150 watt version also and I've had it running for a month. Maybe it needs another month to get brighter.

 

[gcarroll]

I run 4 of them on HQI ballast and I think the colors look great. Pics come out nice as well.

 

[carpus]

Wow, mixed opinion. I have an oceanlight HQI and ppl who run pheonix on it like it.

Dunno if its electronic ballast tho

 

[SFlogic]

I love my pheonix

 

[atzak]

I like my pheonix

 

[jay2525]

i like it on the oceanlight as well....

 

[want2reef]

Out of all the bulbs I have had, Phoenix is my favorite.

 

[Rueg]

I love the color, but I think the brightness has started to fade after only around 8 to 8 1/2 months.