Will a 10K MH with T5 Actinics look anything like a 14K Phoenix?

[MeuserReef]

I run the 150W Phoenix 14K without any actinic supplementation and LOVE the color (electronic ballasts). Im planning to move my reef from a 30 to a 105 and would like some advice as to my lighting options. I want to make sure that I have good PAR as I will be moving to mainly SPS, but I also dont want to be too limited on what I can put at the bottom of a 30" tall tank.

Will a 10K lamp setup look anything like my current 14K's if I supplement with T5 actinics?


I've narrowed my lighting down to the following setups:

1 - (2) 250W Phoenix 14K bulbs with (1) 65W PC Actinic (mainly for Dusk/Dawn)

-or-

2 - (2) 250W 10K bulbs with (4) 39W T5HO Actinics (for blue spectrum and Dusk/Dawn)

[Treg]

no.the 10k's will over power the t5s. How about phoenix MH and t5 actinic?

[MeuserReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10731030#post10731030 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Treg
no.the 10k's will over power the t5s. How about phoenix MH and t5 actinic?

Would that setup appear anymore blue than running the PHX's alone? I have 2 PHX 14K's on my 30 gallon now and I run them without any actinics. I have the 150W version of the PHX and I love the color. I have heard that they arent very high in the 420 nm range.

Im basically trying to keep the same color as the PHX but increase PAR.

Thanks for your advice

[oosurfin]

i personally like the 10k + actinic but treg is kinda right the MH will over power the t5 to a degree. i wouldnt get actinic t5's i would get blue+ bulbs which are geared more for displacing that yellow tint of t5. you might want to look into reeflux 12k's people seem to be really impressed with them right now.

[Treg]

Some it will, that is if you use all Blue T5's. But it will mostly appear just brighter.


You could just go with 250w P14k alone or if you add the T5s and dont like the extra blue use a Aquablue bulb (60% Actinic 40% white). The beauty of T5's is being able to change bulbs and colors cheaply. :)

[aninjaatemyshoe]

IMO MH 10K plus T5 actinic (mine are overdriven with IC ballast) is one of the best looks you can get. Everything really pops. However, you don't really get that blue look many people love. I don't care for the blue look myself; I like to see all the colors of the spectrum.

[MeuserReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10732875#post10732875 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oosurfin
i personally like the 10k + actinic but treg is kinda right the MH will over power the t5 to a degree. i wouldnt get actinic t5's i would get blue+ bulbs which are geared more for displacing that yellow tint of t5. you might want to look into reeflux 12k's people seem to be really impressed with them right now.

Thanks. Im considering the 12K's and was thinking of even running some T5 actininc supplementation with them since I will likely be running them on a magnetic ballast (=more yellow)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10732899#post10732899 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Treg
Some it will, that is if you use all Blue T5's. But it will mostly appear just brighter.


You could just go with 250w P14k alone or if you add the T5s and dont like the extra blue use a Aquablue bulb (60% Actinic 40% white). The beauty of T5's is being able to change bulbs and colors cheaply. :)

I run the 150W P14K's now on my 30 gallon without any supplementation and kind like the color. Just not sure if I want to see what a P14K looks like at a depth 24".

I like the T5 technology ALOT... Im just in love with the "shimmer" that MH produces. Call me crazy... but "to each his own", right?!?



<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10733018#post10733018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aninjaatemyshoe
IMO MH 10K plus T5 actinic (mine are overdriven with IC ballast) is one of the best looks you can get. Everything really pops. However, you don't really get that blue look many people love. I don't care for the blue look myself; I like to see all the colors of the spectrum.

I like the blue look..... just not the 20K blue look. I like the PHX14K but wouldnt mind moving more torwards 10-12K with actinics to take advantage of the increased PAR that a 10-12K bulb will give me.

I originally went from PC to MH so the PHX14K is all I have ever really had to work with. Im considering a change to something more torwards what you are using.

Thanks for the comments folks!

[bdare]

I'm going through the EXACT same dilema at the moment. Have you bought any bulbs yet? What are your current options?

After reading a bit of this I'm thinking I'll just get the Phoenix 150 14K and then play with the t5 options.

[GatorWPB]

I went with the Aqualine ABs 10K for my 2x150 W Sunpod with 42w of T-5 actinic. But I didnt want the blue look.

Maybe see if you can find some pics of the Geisman Megachrome 12.5K or 14.5K 250w DE bulbs.

This thread has some pics for you.
http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=30240

[bdare]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10841312#post10841312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GatorWPB
I went with the Aqualine ABs 10K for my 2x150 W Sunpod with 42w of T-5 actinic. But I didnt want the blue look.

Maybe see if you can find some pics of the Geisman Megachrome 12.5K or 14.5K 250w DE bulbs.

This thread has some pics for you.
http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=30240

The pictures it that thread seem like they are old. I like the color in the close up picture of the 14k. In the far away shot I think the middle and the right are too blue, but the left is too white.

[MeuserReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10841124#post10841124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bdare
I'm going through the EXACT same dilema at the moment. Have you bought any bulbs yet? What are your current options?

After reading a bit of this I'm thinking I'll just get the Phoenix 150 14K and then play with the t5 options.

I have not bought any bulbs yet. Im upgrading my reef this winter so Im still kind of in "Study Mode".

Im almost 100% set that Im going to go with:

(2) 250W SE Reeflux 12K bulbs in Luminarc reflectors running on m58 magnetic ballsts.
-along with-
(4) 54W T5 Actinics (420nm since the 12k reeflux MH has mostly 460nm, yet surprisingly little 420nm) running on a Workhorse 7 ballast.



<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10841312#post10841312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GatorWPB
I went with the Aqualine ABs 10K for my 2x150 W Sunpod with 42w of T-5 actinic. But I didnt want the blue look.

Maybe see if you can find some pics of the Geisman Megachrome 12.5K or 14.5K 250w DE bulbs.

This thread has some pics for you.
http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=30240

Thanks for the link! I like the blue-ish look but not the 20K blue-blue-blue look! I run PHX 14K 150W DE now without any actinics and I like the color. Wouldnt mind a little more white, so long as the colors still *pop*

[kdblove_99]

WHen i had my 180 set up i just ran 3 Phoenix 14k's and loved the color.

I dont think there are that many 10K bulbs that have more par than the Phoenix 14K from what i have checked on Sanjays site.

[GatorWPB]

The TOTM this month uses 12K reeflux, 400w though. The colors are amazing in his tank.
I think your option with those @ 250W might be the best.

[Treg]

This might help...

Here is 2x 250w DE Ushio 14k's with 2 Actinic plus T5's

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/texasholdemtreg/Wavebox3.jpg


This is 2x 400w Giesemann 14.5k's with 2 Actinic plus and 2 actinic pure.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/texasholdemtreg/240%20FBH/all100.jpg

[bdare]

I LOVE the look of both of those. PLEASE HELP ME!

I'm setting up a 40 BDR and I'm SOOOOO stuck on what lights to get. I really want to get the T5 retro for the dusk / dawn. I was thinking of just getting a single 150 but I'm afraid I won't be able to keep LPS on the edges of the tank for lack of light. I suppose ideally I would get 2x150 and the T5, but that just seems like BANK right now.

Should I get 1x150 and the t5's to start or get 2x150 and add the T5's later? But then will the t5's make my tank look too blue?

ARGH!!!!

I should also add, I would like to keep some EASY SPS at the top of the tank. Monti, birdnest... but mostly LPS and softies.

[Treg]

Personally, I wouldnt run either of these bulbs as a stand alone bulb. Thats just me...

So If you like this color I would get the MH and T5's.

One MH will do the trick, If your not opposed to it for any reason, go with a 250w. You can run a single 250w in a decent reflector and get that spread you need. ;)

T5 tubes will not over power these MH bulbs. Only help to whiten things up. :)

[bdare]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10841618#post10841618 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Treg
Personally, I wouldnt run either of these bulbs as a stand alone bulb. Thats just me...

So If you like this color I would get the MH and T5's.

One MH will do the trick, If your not opposed to it for any reason, go with a 250w. You can run a single 250w in a decent reflector and get that spread you need. ;)

T5 tubes will not over power these MH bulbs. Only help to whiten things up. :)

The only problem is everything is going into a canopy. I won't be able to raise the MH up very high. Still get a 250? I would think it would pretty much torch stuff on the sand in a 16" high tank.

[MeuserReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10841519#post10841519 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Treg
This might help...

Here is 2x 250w DE Ushio 14k's with 2 Actinic plus T5's


This is 2x 400w Giesemann 14.5k's with 2 Actinic plus and 2 actinic pure.


Thanks for these pics. It always helps to see the "side by side" view. Is it me or doeas the (2) 250W setup seem a bit brighter than the 400W setup?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10841931#post10841931 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bdare
The only problem is everything is going into a canopy. I won't be able to raise the MH up very high. Still get a 250? I would think it would pretty much torch stuff on the sand in a 16" high tank.

I have the same 16" tall tank that you do (only 12" wide) and I have (2) 150W DE Phoenix 14K's running on electronic ballasts. I get great coverage and pretty good growth.

[horkn]

actinic or blue+ t5s will make the tank look a pale blue when combined with 10k Mh bulbs.

It is not phoenix 14k blue, which is fine, since for me the 14k phoenix blue is too blue.

several peoples tanks I have seen run different brands of MH (all 10k) on different ballasts but with the same type of ATI b+ or UVL SA and B+ t5ho combo, and they all look great.

[bdare]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10842597#post10842597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
actinic or blue+ t5s will make the tank look a pale blue when combined with 10k Mh bulbs.

It is not phoenix 14k blue, which is fine, since for me the 14k phoenix blue is too blue.

several peoples tanks I have seen run different brands of MH (all 10k) on different ballasts but with the same type of ATI b+ or UVL SA and B+ t5ho combo, and they all look great.

So wait... you are saying a single MH with B+ for T5 supplementation?

[horkn]

no, 2 MH over a 105, with either 2 or 4 rows of t5.

if running mixing B+ and UVL SA's does the trick just fine

[horkn]

and the nice thing about t5ho with proper reflectors is that it is more than just supplementation light, the t5s do quite well on their own, but t5ho and mh rigs have by far the best growth, and color of any tanks lit otherwise.

pc and vho are more just for color, and not growth unlike t5ho.

[bdare]

Ok... 2 MH over a 105, but what about 1 MH over a 40BDR? Will it do with the 2 B+?

[horkn]

yep...