PDA

View Full Version : 250W DE 10K bulb recommendation

IndyReefMan
08/30/2006, 11:38 AM
It is time to replace my (2) 250W DE 20K bulbs on my 72gal reef. I really like the look of the 20K but growth has been too slow for my liking. I will be supplementing with (2) 54W T5 true actinics. My tank is SPS dominant with a few LPS and a t. crocea at the bottom. It is a 8 month old Giesmann fixture with the stock mag ballasts. I would like to maintain a white/blue to white look (no yellow, please). I've looked thru Sanjay's spectral anaylsis' and have tentatively narrowed it down to the Ushio 10K and the AB 10K, although the CCT of the AB 10K indicates that it could be a little yellow for my liking (I haven't actually seen either one of these bulbs). I would like some opinions and recommendations, please. Thank-you.
gasman059
08/30/2006, 11:50 AM
I tired ushio and coralview 400w 10k and my 275 sps is growing but yes its to yellow greeninsh to my liking thus going back to radium 400w 20 k!
gcarroll
08/30/2006, 12:36 PM
Have you considered the Phoenix 14K. Nearly 20K color w/ 10K par output.
IndyReefMan
08/30/2006, 12:55 PM
Yes I did. It looked washed out on my tank so I want to try something different. Interestingly, I've run the Phoenix 150W on an e ballast before and it looked awesome. Then, when I tried the 250W on the mag ballast I didn't like it. Amazing how different it can look.
gcarroll
08/30/2006, 01:52 PM
What do you mean by washed out? Were you running the actinics with the Phoenix bulbs?
IndyReefMan
08/30/2006, 02:04 PM
The colors were "hazy"... that's the best way that I can describe it. For some reason, it just didn't look as good with the ballasts that I'm using now. I was using the actinics with the bulbs. But, I was also using actinics when I used 150W phoenix with e ballasts. It looks like an entirely different bulb. Maybe I should put them back in again for a second opinion. I have been running the ushio 20k as of late and that is one incredible looking bulb, but very little growth.
gcarroll
08/30/2006, 03:50 PM
Yeah, I tested the Ushio 20K for the Ushio guys before they hit the US Market. It is an incredible bulb when it comes to coloration. When I changed back to the Phoenix I found that the actual colors of the corals were kind of dull and browning out because of the low PAR output. I now stay with the unsupplemented Phoenix and now the coral colors are awesome.
j_gilbert
08/30/2006, 04:35 PM
I have good growth with my 10K's and was wanting to goto 20k's to get better color. lol. we can never be satisfied
rustypixel
08/31/2006, 06:38 AM
Can anyone tell me how the Phoenix will look when used on an HQI balast?

Thanks.
IndyReefMan
08/31/2006, 07:19 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8045924#post8045924 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by j_gilbert
I have good growth with my 10K's and was wanting to goto 20k's to get better color. lol. we can never be satisfied

If I had a bigger tank, that Ushio 20K would be great to mix with 10K bulbs... best of both worlds.