Best MH bulb to get the best coral fluorescence?

[Dave VG]

I’m looking at the Hamilton 14K. Anyone here use them? Really like to get some coral fluorescence without the use of actinics.

[es1887]

Go Radium. I just switched from ushio 10k to radium 20k and WOWE! The fluorescence is insane.

[mfinn]

I use the Hamilton 14k on my soft coral tank and use VHO actinics.
I'm happy with the color, but to get more you might want to go with a 20k bulb, like the Radium.

[Dave VG]

Humm how blue are they?

[mfinn]

Humm how blue are they?

which bulb?
Hamiltons are a white with blue. Radiums are more blue.

I'd suggest finding others in your area that have 14k or 20k bulbs, to see it in person. Pics on a computer are hard to judge.

[es1887]

this might help

10k Ushio
http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu158/es1887/IMG_2361-1.jpg

14k XM
http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu158/es1887/IMG_2531.jpg

20k Radium
http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu158/es1887/IMG_3756.jpg

[Ralph ATL]

nice wrasse!

[Dave VG]

Mfinn I was talking about the 20K sorry.

es1887 ya that does help thank you very much. There is a big difference between them but it's hard to see the fluorescence with pictures tho. How did you like the 14K XM by the way. It was on my list of possible bulbs.

Forgot to mention right now I’m running a 250 watt XM 10K with two 24 watt T-5 460 nm actinics. Very white and no fluorescence at all. You can see a difference with the t-5’s on or off but the 10K’s just wash out any of the fluorescence from the T-5’s. I have seen tanks with both Hamilton 14K’s and I do believe a radium 20k. The Hamilton 14K with VHO actinics sticks in my mind as a very nice mix. The 20K seemed a bit to bluish and purple for my taste. I do have an IC 660 and VHO end caps so I could go that route. I do not want to go back to T-5’s but I have to say my corals did look really good with them. God I hate these decisions that cost money lol. Especially sense I do not know if I will get that look and like it.

[mc-cro]

I hear ya, I am in the same boat. It is time to replace my current bulbs, XM10K and VHO supplementation. Although I have been running this combo for about 6yrs and love it, I am considering switching it a little.

I tried running XM20K one time and I hated it, and so did my corals.

I currently really need the growth from 10K's, since I am basically rebuilding my tank from the damage of 2yrs major neglect. But, I am starting to like the look of some slightly bluer set ups with a little "pop".

[Dave VG]

mc-cro how much pop do the VHO's give you in your current light combo?

[es1887]

Personally i did not like the xm 14k. The bulbs were way to blue. The radiiums have a very nice crisp white blue to them. I also supplement with vho super actinics and they really do make the corals pop. I am thinking about switching over to a LED strip for my actinic. I recently went over to a fellow reefers house and he had these led actinic strips on his tank. Man those little strips made all of his corals look absolutely amazing. I have never seen fluorescent colors like that. I personally though think that as far as MH is concerned radiums are the best. I get good growth and the colors are stunning.

[mc-cro]

mc-cro how much pop do the VHO's give you in your current light combo?


I dont think I get much '"pop", atleast not like some off these 20K pics I see. The actinic supplementation really just takes the yellow tinge off the 10k and gives it a nice crisp white light with a little blue.

When the 10ks go off in the evening and its just the actinics, I get some wild floresence of the corals.

[oscar.millan]

Without question the radium 20k in my experience has been the best bulb for this application. If you're using DE bulbs, Ushio 20k would be a good option since Radiums are only offered as an SE bulb.

[grigsy]

I have used Hamilton 14K and really like the color it gives corals. It gives a nice, actinic look to the tank. Not too blue, yet the corals come alive nicely and have great color.

The radium bulb is also a good choice and I have used 250 watt Radiums before and liked them, especially when being run on a M80 HQI ballast (didnt care for them on an electronic ballast).

VHO Actinics are great for bringing out color as well. They are the best suppliment to MH in my opinion versus any other lighting I have seen with them - supplimental T5 actinics, PC actinic and LED.

Both Hamilton 14K and Radium 20K Meteal Halides are excellent choices IMO and you wont go wrong with either.

A bit will depend on the ballast you are running. What ballast do you have now?

[Dave VG]

Lumatek ballasts

[oscar.millan]

I'm going to add the Phoenix 14k as well. Great bulb, great colors.

[Dave VG]

Ok so I'm going with the Hamilton 14K with UVL VHO 454 nm Actinics. I think lmao. Why can’t this be easy? It’s a very hard decision. I want to spend once lol.

[RokleM]

I would go with the Radium IMO, assuming adjustable Lumatek (that's what I have). Set it to 250 for a bit more blue, 250/HQI run to spec will be a nice crisp white with just a tad bit of blue and nice actinic pop.