View Full Version : BLUEST 20K DE Bulb
stephenchoi
08/19/2008, 12:34 PM
Hi Everyone:
I'm hoping anyone with experience with 20K DE 250W bulbs will reply. I would like to know what is the BLUEST halide bulb you've tried and any opinions you had regarding the appearance.
My tank is FO, so par is not a concern. (I just love the shimmer lines)! Thank you for your input.
snslarison
08/19/2008, 12:39 PM
I would say XM or Radium. Doth are deep blue.
shawnz28
08/19/2008, 12:49 PM
Radium sadly does not make a 250DE. The Mogul is a HQI lamp though and would use the same ballast.
The only "rated" 20,000K's I've used were 250w XM DE and now a Ushio 20K DE. Here's my thoughts: The XM gives you that "thin blue" appearance on both the electronic and M80. It is a deep, thin, crisp blue. Very dim for my taste. I don't like how corals look under them (not enough flourescence) They look somewhat "washed off" with 420nm supplementation.
I am now using a Ushio 20K (on M80) I think I love this bulb. After burn-in (~3 days) it gives me a whitish appearance with heavy purple-ish hue (somewhat a baby-blue) It doesn't make corals flouresce as much as the Phoenix's but IMO it is very pleasing. Not too blue - but blue enough to not wash out the colors. It somewhat "tints" the sand purple though, which I like.
Another blue lamp to consider would be the PEC (phoenix) DE lamp. It is rated at 14,000K but it can easily be a 20,000K lamp. It has a good PAR rating, good flourescence, and overall a good quality bulb. This bulb is perfect if you don't plan to supplement w/ 420nm's. However, I don't like the phoenix under the icecap electronic - it looks like a really weak XM.
HTH
stephenchoi
08/19/2008, 02:27 PM
XTM: thank you for your detailed reply. I have a couple follow up questions for you. I've only seen the Phoenix 14K in person and I was hoping for something deeper in blue/purple.
1) Would you say that the Ushio 20K is nearly similar with the Phoenix in appearance? If not, what's the visual difference to to your eyes.
2) How do the Phoenix and XM20K differ visually to you? Is the Phoenix more "purple-ish" while the XM 20 is more "blue-ish"?
Many thanks in advance!
Garage1217
08/19/2008, 03:14 PM
I prefere phoenix bulbs for the much higher par output on larger tanks / when you use lower wattage bulbs to save on electricity.
On my 18G nano, I ran a 14K phoenix for a few months and loved it over the stock current usa 14K, I switched to an xm20K and I like it a lot better, but it is noticable dimmer than the phoenix. The XM had a more purple hue to it than the phoenix and cut out a lot of the white that the phoenix produced. An effect I personally liked, some do not care for. I think colors are fantastic with the xm20K.
With the phoenix I cannot look at the sides of the reflector at all, with the xm, I can see the water ripple reflect on it.
As much as I like the xm20K, with my new 90G build, I just do not feel I will get the par I need for such a deep tank so I am going back to twin 150W phoenix bulbs.
I have also tried aqualine busche "no idea if I spelled it right" 20K and did not like it, still at home in a box. More whitish yellow than the phoenix.
Have tried 10 & 14K current usa bulbs... The 10k was about as pure white as it gets without a hint of yellow. The 14K just had a
stephenchoi
08/19/2008, 04:28 PM
Garage: thanks for the info. Just curious, the ending of you reply seems to have been cut off?
markandkristen
08/19/2008, 06:00 PM
one thing i have found out is different types of ballast burn bulbs different ways as well.
my favorite bulb so far is the reeflux 12k on icecap ballast... to me corals pop but give a natual color... some tanks i see looks like a neon skating rink... just not reall.
dont get me wrong i love for colors to pop but not at the expense of distortion.. LOL
Garage1217
08/19/2008, 07:28 PM
Really odd, let me complete it haha
The 10k was about as pure white as it gets without a hint of yellow. The 14K just had a hint of blue / white. IMO needed more actinic.
kdblove_99
08/19/2008, 07:35 PM
Helio 20K is the bluest bulb
inachu
08/19/2008, 08:30 PM
Why do we want a deep blue?
Just for looks?
(I'm a noob yes this is a serious question)
stephenchoi
08/19/2008, 08:34 PM
Anyone have a picture of these bulbs over their tanks? I haven't been able to find any images of the Helio 20K.
kdblove: you see the Helio 20K as bluer than the XM20k?
kdblove_99
08/19/2008, 09:08 PM
Sanjay was a guest speaker at one of our club meetings in February and he said the Helio is the Bluest bulb on the market
kdblove_99
08/19/2008, 09:12 PM
Comparing them Helio definitley has a much bigger blue spike and has alot better par!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v109/kdblove_99/XMVsHelio.jpg
grigsy
08/20/2008, 10:34 AM
I agree. Helios seemed to be the "bluest" of the DE 250 20K bulbs I have seen.
stephenchoi
08/20/2008, 12:39 PM
Thank you everyone for their reponses!
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