which MH bulbs

[biger]

Trying to decide which 250 SE MH bulbs to get. I currently have reeflux 10Ks but from reading different posts it sounds like the 14K bulbs look better. It is almost time to replace anyway so was looking for suggestions. I have Icecap electronic ballasts and a mixed reef w/mostly zoos.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks.

 

[flying_dutchman]

I would go with 14K, Do you have supplement light?

 

[Str8outakompton]

Depends what you want
10k: yellowish color Really good growth
14k: blueish white color with good growth
20k: Deep blue but your corals wont grow as fast as they will with a 10k but it honestly doesn't make that big of a difference imo

I personally am using a 14k ushio bulb on my 12g nano but only because i got it for free i will def be switching to a 20k bulb when i have the money being a college student with no job and a coral addiction is wack... so u take what u can get. but dont get me wrong 14ks look great! i just prefer the deeper blue brings out the color of the corals

 

[biger]

I also have 4 65 watt pc for supplement.

Any particular brand suggestions?

 

[650-IS350]

14K phoenix

 

[Guygettnby]

+1 on the pheonix 14k bulb... that is without a doubt my favorite bulb so far. next in line would be the radium 20k bulb.

 

[650-IS350]

+1 on the radium. next bulb on my list.

 

[carolina reefer]

xm 10k

 

[biger]

I saw the Radium 20k are not the best bulbs for icecap ballasts.
Do the pheonix work well with icecap?

 

[JDS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15584561#post15584561 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by biger
I saw the Radium 20k are not the best bulbs for icecap ballasts.
Do the pheonix work well with icecap?

radium work best with a HQI ballast. Ive all so herd the pheonix bulbs can wash out the looks of some of your coral. I haven't used them so i don't have first hand experience.

 

[pimpinitup6969]

Pheonix 14k are the best bulbs IMO Especially for zoas

 

[biger]

Do u know if they work well w/icecap ballasts? When I try to check them out on Sanjays sight it only comes up with info for the pheonix 10K bulbs with that ballast.

 

[biger]

Sounds like the pheonix 14K would work well w/icecap ballasts but my tank is 24" deep. I found this on Marine Depot site what do u think about the depth of my tank?

"This 250W Single Ended Mogul 14000K bulb casts a crisp-white light with a blue tint. Great for bringing out the coloration of fish and corals while providing sufficient intensity for growth. An HQI, Pulse-Start or Electronic ballast is required. This bulb is offered at an excellent price and is a very good choice for reef tanks up to 18" deep."

Or do these work better on HQI and shallower tanks?

 

[zoadude]

Phoenix. I have gone through many brands, a few of them 10Ks and 20Ks, and many 14ks and 14K Phoenix are the best for a coral's/tank's color. I just bought and tried a known brand and I am sending it back for a refund after a week of trying it. I am sticking with Phoenix 14Ks and not going to bother with wasting hard earned cash trying others any more. Lesson learned, finally.

 

[ct_vol]

I like the Aquaconnect 14k's if you have actinic supplementation, and BLV 14k's without...


I do not have experience with the Phoenix SE bulbs, but the DE bulbs were too blue IMO...

 

[biger]

It sounds like the majority like the pheonix 14K

 

[biger]

So if u use icecap elec ballasts instead of HQI the pheonix 14k will be bluer is that correct? So would that make the Radiums really blue?

 

[biger]

It's starting to sound like magnetic ballasts are better then elec.
Is there any advantages to electronic ballasts?

 

[mfinn]

I like Radium 20k bulbs on my zoanthid tank.

 

[biger]

mfinn, do u use electronic ballasts with the radiums?