What to change MH kelvin...Not sure which buld to move to?

[Foster]

I have been running 250 10k ushios for years, but would like to switch to something a little bluer and dump the VHOs that I suppliment with.

I tried a CV 20k, but it is a little too blue for me.

I looking for a bulb that is close to as bright as a 10 ushio, but give off little more blue tint?

I was thinking about

12k sunburst
14k hamilton
15k XM
& 13,000K Megachrome Marine which I have never even heard of? Anyone try this bulb?

Some input from others using these bulb would be appreciated, maybe even a pic or 2.

Thanks

 

[dreaminmel]

Not sure if you liked the color of SunnyX's tank (was TOTM recently). I like the combo of 20K XM's with super actinic and white actinic VHOs over my tank and I believe he's still using that combo as well. W/out the VHOs it is quite blue but the VHOs seem to balance it out well. I've heard the 15K XMs PAR isn't so hot and not sure about the other bulbs...

Hope that helps. =)

Oh, and here's a current pic of my tank w/ that lighting... white balance on camera is goofy but this is pretty close, just has a slightly more blue tint in person.

[/IMG]

 

[icliao]

When you switch to higher kelvin from 10,000K, you will sacrifice a lot of PAR, too.

Even a 400W 14,000K or 20,000K can not match the intensity of 250W 10,000K.

BTW, how old is your tank?
It looks so clean

 

[dreaminmel]

Upgraded my 72 gallon to this 125 tall about a month and a half ago. I'm on a mission to keep the coralline off the glass... =) The more I look at that picture the more yellow it looks to me... I'll have to try to get a more accurate pic...

I can keep sps in all areas of my tank with the two 400 watt 20Ks and VHOs with both great growth and color. In certain scenarios, yes, you could sacrifice intensity but it depends on what ballast/bulb combo you are using not just on the bulb change itself.

Here is what the tank looked like the day of transfer when all I had running was the two 400w 20Ks. All the sps were brown from being under PCs in the 72 gallon before...

 

[Foster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8127068#post8127068 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by icliao
When you switch to higher kelvin from 10,000K, you will sacrifice a lot of PAR, too.

Even a 400W 14,000K or 20,000K can not match the intensity of 250W 10,000K.

BTW, how old is your tank?
It looks so clean

loosing PAR is a big issue for me. This is wyy I wa thinking about the 12k SB, I have been seeing alot of people recomending the 14k phoenix, I hear they put out alot of par, so I might try them .

 

[jjjimmy]

I ran the Giesmann 13K for a year and thought that they were a very good bulb. I just wanted to try some others but I will probably end up going back to them eventually.

 

[MACH5]

I'm currently using 250w 14k Phoenix. They impart a pleasant bluish cast IMO. Thus far growth and coloration have been very good. Although perhaps the growth on some acros is not as fast. I'm also able to grow them (acros) all the way to the bottom 24" deep. These bulbs are definitely intense enough for a variety of set ups.
A while back I was using 250w 10ks. I gave these up purely for esthetic reasons.

 

[PUGroyale]

What ballasts do you use? That'll impact both color and PAR...

IME the only lamp that approaches 10k intensity while still giving you a more bluish color is the AC 14k.

...and do not get the XM 15k, they're just about the lowest PAR lamp out there

 

[Foster]

I havent heard good results about XM, so I wont go with them.

I am using 250 PFO ballest.