What's best lighting for Chalices?

[ChurchBoy]

Just wondering if anyone else has any suggestions as to what lighting brings out the best colors in chalices? In my experience it seems as if 150w MH DE 14k(Phoenix) bulbs have brought out the best colors from my chalices. What's your experience, thanks.

 

[143gadgets]

250w 20K Radiums!

 

[ChurchBoy]

Chris,

I've seen some of those colors on your chalices, simply beautiful, so you may be on to something. Are they SE or DE bulbs?

 

[Ian]

I believe 250w Radiums only come in SE...

 

[cee]

The real question is what ballast are the Radiums run on? That makes all the difference with that bulb.

 

[Emster]

cee- Would an HQI ballast burn the radiums bluer then an electronic ballast?

 

[143gadgets]

Churchboy - Thanks!

Emster - The radiums will burn whiter on hqi ballasts. I'm not a fan of the radiums on hqi. i prefer them on electronics. I'm using Icecaps.

Here are some pics of my chalices under Radiums w/o actinics. I just moved everything over to my new tank w/ Radiums and actinics. I am waiting for them color up more.
Alien Eye

Galaxy

Bubble Gum Monster

Frag Farmer Red

Gadgets Pink

Tyree Red

 

[pjr300]

Sweet photos!!!

 

[ct_vol]

Chris~ You're making me want to perservere through with the Radiums...

Carefull with these Bad boys... I switched from 250w DE Reeflux 12ks to 250w SE Radiuums both on the new IceCap ballasts... They bleached the hell out of a lot of my LPS... Too much too fast for me... They're all hiding out in the shade recovering right now... So I guess start them high, on a short light cycle, or screened... Well, depending on what you're changing from... I should have known better...

 

[143gadgets]

Thanks pjr300!!

Randy - They are worth it. Stick with them. I just upgraded to a new tank and I'm using the new ballasts as well. I started the lights out higher than they were on the old tank. I heard they are more powerful and I didn't want to take a chance of bleaching anything.

 

[ct_vol]

Yeah, I started mine about 4" from the surface which was where my other lights were... Big mistake... They're up to about 10" now... I didn't lose any corals... Just some colors... lol Live and learn... Hopefully this will help someone else from making the same mistake...

 

[143gadgets]

Yeah. Mine are about 12" from the water. I'm gonna bring them down much mower over the next couple weeks.

 

[AQrep]

[violation]

 

[143gadgets]

Those pics are beautiful! What 10K bulbs are u using?

 

[ChurchBoy]

Chris,

Now I'm really thinking about switching over to those 250w Radium SE on my smaller tank now that I've seen what it can do, thanks.

AQrep,

Those are sweet! Thanks for the pics.

 

[pjr300]

What about the XM 20K bulb (or even the XM 15K) instead of the Radium? MInd you, I like Radiums, but they are soooo blue and soooo expensive.

I know, if I worry about expensive, I'm in the wrong hobby

 

[pjr300]

P.S. Just curious on how high or low everyone places their chalices in the tank under the 250W lighting. Is there a general rule that you follow to keep them happy but not bleached?

 

[AQrep]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12472402#post12472402 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 143gadgets
Those pics are beautiful! What 10K bulbs are u using?

we're using the elos lighting systems....

 

[Hooligomy]

nobody is using T5s?

 

[143gadgets]

pjr - I've used the Xm 20Ks. Nice but not as good as the radiums. The 400w XMs are much better than the 250w ones.

Sharkysreef - i tried T5s and didn't like the results. i switched back to the Radiums.