Best 250w DE bulb for color?

[RRaider]

I want to try a MH over my 29g tank instead of the overdriven T5's. So I'd like opinions on the best DE bulb for color.

[mirkus]

EVC/Helios 20k

[murphreef]

i run a 20K XM DE over my 25G solana works great awesome coverage i wanted 20 k cuz i dont run acitinics not enough room and hanging the pendant over the tank looks clean and simple.

sps are happy and i have some pretty nice colors

[coral_lagoon]

Phoenix 250watt 14k bulb..

[kovuu86]

love my phoenix!

[bexi20]

EVC 20k

[Puffdragon]

Agree with the Phoenix 250watt 14k bulb

[STREAMLINEGFX]

I have been running Phoenix 14k's for about 2 years and have been super happy with both growth and coloring. I just switched today to the EVC 20k's. So far I am pretty happy with them, all the colors seem to pop a little more.

[Rathje70]

Aqualine AB 20k!

[nanoguy]

I'm currently running a 400 watt radium SE over my sps dominated tank but achieved the best colors from my corals when I was running a 250 watt 14k phoenix DE bulb. I've been running the Radium now for about 9 months and I am seriously considering switching back to the 14k. The only thing is that my growth is much better with the 400 watter. For the price I don't think you can go wrong with the phoenix 14k.

Are you not getting the results that you want with the T5's? It seems like everyone that uses T5's swears by them.

[Azar]

is there a thread somewhere about t5s and sps.

[gmneil]

where can i order the evc or phoenix bulbs from?

[Tswifty]

www.saltycritter.com

For what it's worth, I also run Pheonix 14k bulbs over my current system.

[Rathje70]

I have a one month old phoenix 250w DE Phoenix I am looking to sell, send me a pm if interested.....

[SirToppemHat]

Aqualine AB 20k!

Yes Sir.

[TheCoralNabber]

EVCs can be ordered from Reefscience.com

[RRaider]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15507990#post15507990 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanoguy
I'm currently running a 400 watt radium SE over my sps dominated tank but achieved the best colors from my corals when I was running a 250 watt 14k phoenix DE bulb. I've been running the Radium now for about 9 months and I am seriously considering switching back to the 14k. The only thing is that my growth is much better with the 400 watter. For the price I don't think you can go wrong with the phoenix 14k.

Are you not getting the results that you want with the T5's? It seems like everyone that uses T5's swears by them.

I like them, I just decided I want to give halides a try so I can decide which I like best based on experience. That, and I think my overdriven T5's are to blame for all of my corals being really light. I shortened my lighting period with the T5's to 4-5 hours and I'm already seeing a difference. I bought new ho ballasts and a mh setup. I'm going to run the mh for a while and i'll probably switch to the non-overdriven T5's at some point to test them as well.

[Puffdragon]

Premium Aquatics is having a sale on Pheonix bulbs in August.

[reefer31]

I have heard ushio 20k's are nice. I have only seen ushio 14k's in action and love the look and I must say if the 14k is nice the 20k must be even better :P

[jackson6745]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15499158#post15499158 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mirkus
EVC/Helios 20k

agreed

[reefer96]

Ushio 20k is very nice

[chessmanmark]

I ran Phoenix 14K 250w for 3 years before changing to Reeflux 12K. Overall the whole tank looks a nice blue with the Phoenix, but honestly my SPS have much better color with the Reeflux 12K. You have to consider which ballast you are using when deciding which bulb to run. I originally had a Protostar fixture with Hamilton ballasts and now I am running the Reeflux dimable ballasts and LumenBright reflectors.