SE 14000k Halides for sps growth/color

[CoralMonkey]

What are the best250watt SE 14k choices out there for an sps tank, considering growth/color? My friend has DE Phoenix with Blue+ T5 supplement and he seems to get really good growth with that. Plus the color is appealing to the eyes.
Has anybody gone from Radiums to a 14k?

 

[F15-hornet]

Ushio 250w 14K.

 

[redfishsc]

+1, but also the 14K Hamiltons are great. I have the 250DE Phoenix, but I've personally seen the Hamiltons in use and they are very nice.

 

[CoralMonkey]

Thanks! I'll look into both of those and compare PAR. Did the Hamiltons look similar to your DE Phoenix?

 

[bigfalcon36]

hamiltons are stellar! I've had great results with them

 

[Phyxius]

Another point to ponder is some bulbs will look different using mag ballasts vs electronic and some run better using one or the other. I`ve seen Ushios on a electronic and a mag and they had different hues of blue to them.

 

[CoralMonkey]

I have Galaxy elctronic Ballasts. They are typicall bluer with electronic right?

 

[Faisal1976us]

what about 400w ?

 

[64Ivy]

what about 400w ?

I'm using the 400W SE 14K AquaConnects and have been very pleased with them. Pretty neutral in color, good PAR. They're fairly hard to find here in the States and the are expensive but supposedly retain their useful lifespan longer than many others, therefore somewhat mitigating costs.

 

[TurboGuru]

I use the 250w SE 14k Aquaconnects, I also have been very pleased with them. I agree with 64Ivy's sentiments as they also apply to the 250s.

 

[myaerica]

I have hamitons they were great for 5 months at best now have turned yellow.

 

[jubjub]

you might stick to the phoenix 14k SE bulbs i've had mine up for almost year now....still bout same color as when i got um

 

[Nanook]

I love my Ushio 14K 400 watt bulbs on HQI ballast. They look like 14K.

The Ushio 14K 250 watt bulbs on HQI look like 10K, too yellow. Maybe on a different ballast they would be acceptable, but on the HQI they are not very impressive.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I have Galaxy elctronic Ballasts. They are typicall bluer with electronic right?

I too have Galaxy ballasts, and while not a 14K, I am very happy with my 250 watt Radiums with those ballasts. I love the color and the growth I am getting from them.

 

[reefried]

I too have Galaxy ballasts, and while not a 14K, I am very happy with my 250 watt Radiums with those ballasts. I love the color and the growth I am getting from them.

i thought that radiums were supposed to be run on a pulse start ballast like a m58, or like the sunlight supply bluewave brand, and not to be run on an electric ballast

 

[bawla47]

i thought that radiums were supposed to be run on a pulse start ballast like a m58, or like the sunlight supply bluewave brand, and not to be run on an electric ballast

generally yes, but i believe this ballast was actually engineered for the radium bulb. this is what i have read in the past on rc atleast.

definately runs great and how it should on this ballast whatever the case.

 

[xtremereefer]

I'm using the 400W SE 14K AquaConnects and have been very pleased with them. Pretty neutral in color, good PAR. They're fairly hard to find here in the States and the are expensive but supposedly retain their useful lifespan longer than many others, therefore somewhat mitigating costs.

64 Ivey what ballast are you using with these bulbs. At this time I am running 20k XM on a PFO HQI ballast with no atinics. Very happy with the results, but looking for a change. Do you think 14k with no actinics will be to white? TIA

 

[Leonardo_]

I'm using the 400W SE 14K AquaConnects and have been very pleased with them. Pretty neutral in color, good PAR. They're fairly hard to find here in the States and the are expensive but supposedly retain their useful lifespan longer than many others, therefore somewhat mitigating costs.

Second that. Using 400W Aqua Connect SE bulbs on Lumatek E-ballasts. Crisp white light, excellent PAR and long lifespan of the bulbs.
IIRC the Phoenix bulbs are actually the same as the Aqua Connect (according to Sanjay's test results)

Leonardo

 

[redfishsc]

Thanks! I'll look into both of those and compare PAR. Did the Hamiltons look similar to your DE Phoenix?

Similar, yes, Mostly crisp white with a mild blue punch. Not sure what kind of ballasts he had on his tank, I think Icecaps. My Phoenix is 9 months old but looks very similar, on a CoralVue electronic ballast.

 

[64Ivy]

64 Ivey what ballast are you using with these bulbs. At this time I am running 20k XM on a PFO HQI ballast with no atinics. Very happy with the results, but looking for a change. Do you think 14k with no actinics will be to white? TIA

I'm running the Sfiligoi ACLS electronic ballasts. I am also not running actinics and don't miss them much at all. As far as 'too white', nah, unless you really love the 20K look, which I understand many do.