good MH bulb for SPS growth

[sullyfish]

I currently have phoenix 250 DE 14k that need replaced and although I like the color and I am getting some growth, I am tired of staring at my 1 inch frags hoping they will grow ( my tank is 11 mos old ) . I would like to replace these bulbs with something that will give me the most growth, color does not matter. ( I have T5 supplement anyways )

I realize I will probably have to go with 10k or something and have a white/yellow look. That is OK .

suggestions ? is there a website that compares bulb/PAR values ?

thanks

[dzhuo]

suggestions ? is there a website that compares bulb/PAR values ?


Have you check out Sanjay's Lighting Guide (http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting)? Did you already rule out other possibilities such as flow, pest or nutrient issue? Phoenix 14K is a very capable MH bulb lots people have good success with. What reflectors are you using?

[my40breeder]

xm 10k is a good bulb for growth. look at that sanjay guide too

[chessmanmark]

Another option is the Reeflux 12K. I had two good years of growth with these bulbs.

Before
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/chessmanmark/IMG_3859.jpg

Two years later
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/chessmanmark/DSCN1009.jpg

[Finland]

+1 on reeflux. I had xm 10k and got decent growth, but get about the same growth with reeflux 12k, but reeflux is a bit bluer and looks better imo.

[DustinB]

Personally, if it works and you like the color I would stick with it. Your 1" frags are going to grow slow for a while, period. I highly doubt you would even see much, if any difference in growth anyway.

[sullyfish]

Thanks for the replies. the xm10k or reeflux 12k sound good I will do some more checking.

DZHUO- I have no pest issues ( all corals are dipped in revive & flatworm exit ) and flow is good and nutrients low (No3 and PHos are 0) .The tank is very stable . I do see some growth and color & PE are great. I would just like to speed up color a bit.

Not sure if bulbs will do it but since I have to replace them anyway ....

[iriejp1]

Personally, if it works and you like the color I would stick with it. Your 1" frags are going to grow slow for a while, period. I highly doubt you would even see much, if any difference in growth anyway.

+1. It aint the bulbs.

[DustinB]

Switch if you want to, but don't sacrifice color by going 10k in the hopes you will have miraculous growth. It won't happen. MH bulbs can vary greatly, even from people's descriptions/pictures. Personally, I would try and find someone local and see the tank in person before forking out $200 for bulbs you've never seen.

[stagcrazy]

xm 10k is a good bulb for growth. look at that sanjay guide too

agreed when i was running mh my xm10k 250 grew sticks crazy

[allsps40]

My sps grow pretty fast under 20ks. I notice slowed growth when there is something not right with the tank, colors normally suffer as well. I agree as well XM 10k or Reeflux 12k are known for good growth. The Phoenix 14k is also known for is growth and color, personally I like the Phoenix 14k.

[jeffreylesser]

+1. It aint the bulbs.

Agree. Phoenix 14k DE are great bulbs. To be honest it may very well be the best compromise bulb on a DE fixture when weighing color vs. PAR. Clean water, good flow, and stable alk all play a huge role in growth.

[robert abercrombie]

Just changed my Radium 20k and mid range 14k to XM 10K:eek1:
Pure crisp white that renders full spectrum,best colour bulb I have ever used with great PAR.
Check sanjays site as running them on an M58 ballast/130 volts probe starter puts out 12 1/2k versus a HQI ballast @100volts pulse start is higher PAR but cicra 9 1/2 k