10k vrs 14k or 20k

rsantangelo3@co · 08/10/2009, 04:37 PM

So went with the 10 k and cant stand the light. To yellow washes out all nice colars. 20k seems really dark but like the blue. Will sps thrive under 20k just grow slower but do just as well?

coral_lagoon · 08/10/2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rsantangelo3@co
So went with the 10 k and cant stand the light. To yellow washes out all nice colars. 20k seems really dark but like the blue. Will sps thrive under 20k just grow slower but do just as well?

Go with a 14k bulb. Phoenix 14k bulb is a real nice one. Not too white or blue and you will still get good coral growth from it..

noahm · 08/10/2009, 04:44 PM

+1 on the Phoenix. Check out like 60 reviews at the marinedepot site and make your own decision.

http://www.marinedepot.com/250_Watt_...6664-4-vi.html

mojo~ · 08/10/2009, 05:01 PM

Here is my build thread the last pictures with the halide on is the phoenix 14k nice color for a halide. it s a tad whiter in person than the pics. but here ya go for what its worth.
Mojo~

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1681334

Henryreef · 08/10/2009, 05:28 PM

I agree, the Pheonix 14k is really great

rsantangelo3@co · 08/10/2009, 05:55 PM

you guys agree the xm 10k it way to yellow?

CubeNoob · 08/10/2009, 06:11 PM

No.. definately not yellow to me, it is slightly blue on normal ballast (Icecap) and pure white on M80 ballast for the first 3 months, but after 3 months it does start to lean towards yellow. I agree the XM is not a good bulb. Phoenix all the way.

I ran an XM for 9 months. I got more growth and better coloring out of the Phoenix in 1 month than I got in 9 with the XM.

nmbeg · 08/10/2009, 06:53 PM

I got 3 10K 250W bulbs with my fixture, at first I liked it, but then I replaced one of them with a 14K when it went bad, and the difference is HUGE! I can't stand the 10K anymore... colors are totally washed out. In the 14K the corals are actually vibrant.

But they have been growing well in either light.

jtrasap · 08/11/2009, 07:36 PM

When I was running that bulb on my system I was running it in combination with actinics and I really liked the color, but alone, I have to say it would not be my choice either. I am running two 400w 20,000k xm bulbs at the moment and it looks pretty nice.

Toddrtrex · 08/11/2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rsantangelo3@co
So went with the 10 k and cant stand the light. To yellow washes out all nice colars. 20k seems really dark but like the blue. Will sps thrive under 20k just grow slower but do just as well?

SE or DE? I have 2*250 20Ks over my 58 (( XMs for a year, and now 4 months with Radiums )). I have had fantastic growth with 20Ks. I had (( moved it to another tank, getting too big )) a tabling milli go from a 1-2 inch frag to a 12+ inch colony in about 10 months.

t4zalews · 08/11/2009, 08:28 PM

dunno if you have mogul or DE, but I used to run pheonix 14k and now run radium 20k and like the radiums much better...also ran a reeflux 12k and was very nice as well.

seapug · 08/11/2009, 09:24 PM

It really depends on the wattage of the bulb, brand AND or whether its SE or DE. 150W 14K DE Phoenix is about the bluest bulb I've ever seen. I recently upgraded to a 2 X 250W DE fixture and tried the 14K Phoenix in the 250W version and love it-- much more intense and less "cotton candy" blue than the 150 version. The other bulb over the SPS is a 14K Iwasaki which started out so insanely bright white I could barely stand it. It's mellowed out now and looks better, but really want to go back to my old favorite-- a 12K Reeflux. I loved the 150 version so want to try it in the 250 version.

jtrasap · 08/11/2009, 10:26 PM

SE or DE? I have 2*250 20Ks over my 58 (( XMs for a year, and now 4 months with Radiums )). I have had fantastic growth with 20Ks. I had (( moved it to another tank, getting too big )) a tabling milli go from a 1-2 inch frag to a 12+ inch colony in about 10 months. [/QUOTE]

It's an SE bulb that he bought from me.

das75 · 08/11/2009, 10:33 PM

Couple of days ago installed the 14K Phoenix and finding a little blue, even considering was trying out 20K XM for a couple of months prior.
14K Ushio I find yellow but the Hamilton 14K I like the best (nice crisp white, touch of blue).

As for growth figure the Ushio and Hamilton similiar, didn't really run the 20K long enough to fairly comment and just put in the Phoenix but would imagine real world, all 14K about the same.

08/10/2009, 04:37 PM	#1
rsantangelo3@co Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ct Posts: 846	10k vrs 14k or 20k So went with the 10 k and cant stand the light. To yellow washes out all nice colars. 20k seems really dark but like the blue. Will sps thrive under 20k just grow slower but do just as well? __________________ Fish Crazy! Current Tank Info: 300 FOWLER display (675 gallon system) & a 30 oceanic cube (Nano) reef!

08/10/2009, 05:01 PM	#4
mojo~ Skimmer Guy Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: IN Posts: 5,647	Here is my build thread the last pictures with the halide on is the phoenix 14k nice color for a halide. it s a tad whiter in person than the pics. but here ya go for what its worth. Mojo~ http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1681334 __________________ Mojo~

08/10/2009, 05:28 PM	#5
Henryreef Ocean Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 957	I agree, the Pheonix 14k is really great __________________ - Henry Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon Rimless

08/10/2009, 05:55 PM	#6
rsantangelo3@co Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ct Posts: 846	you guys agree the xm 10k it way to yellow? __________________ Fish Crazy! Current Tank Info: 300 FOWLER display (675 gallon system) & a 30 oceanic cube (Nano) reef!

08/11/2009, 07:36 PM	#9
jtrasap Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: St. Elmo, Illinois Posts: 2,361	When I was running that bulb on my system I was running it in combination with actinics and I really liked the color, but alone, I have to say it would not be my choice either. I am running two 400w 20,000k xm bulbs at the moment and it looks pretty nice. __________________ Jason Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

08/10/2009, 04:44 PM	#3
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	+1 on the Phoenix. Check out like 60 reviews at the marinedepot site and make your own decision. http://www.marinedepot.com/250_Watt_...6664-4-vi.html

08/10/2009, 06:11 PM	#7
CubeNoob Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Solvang, CA Posts: 200	No.. definately not yellow to me, it is slightly blue on normal ballast (Icecap) and pure white on M80 ballast for the first 3 months, but after 3 months it does start to lean towards yellow. I agree the XM is not a good bulb. Phoenix all the way. I ran an XM for 9 months. I got more growth and better coloring out of the Phoenix in 1 month than I got in 9 with the XM.

08/10/2009, 06:53 PM	#8
nmbeg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 894	I got 3 10K 250W bulbs with my fixture, at first I liked it, but then I replaced one of them with a 14K when it went bad, and the difference is HUGE! I can't stand the 10K anymore... colors are totally washed out. In the 14K the corals are actually vibrant. But they have been growing well in either light.

08/11/2009, 08:28 PM	#11
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	dunno if you have mogul or DE, but I used to run pheonix 14k and now run radium 20k and like the radiums much better...also ran a reeflux 12k and was very nice as well. __________________ - Taylor - 65g - Radion XR30 G3 Pro x2 - Deltec SCA 1351 - APEX - Tunze - Vortech

08/11/2009, 09:24 PM	#12
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	It really depends on the wattage of the bulb, brand AND or whether its SE or DE. 150W 14K DE Phoenix is about the bluest bulb I've ever seen. I recently upgraded to a 2 X 250W DE fixture and tried the 14K Phoenix in the 250W version and love it-- much more intense and less "cotton candy" blue than the 150 version. The other bulb over the SPS is a 14K Iwasaki which started out so insanely bright white I could barely stand it. It's mellowed out now and looks better, but really want to go back to my old favorite-- a 12K Reeflux. I loved the 150 version so want to try it in the 250 version. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

08/11/2009, 10:26 PM	#13
jtrasap Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: St. Elmo, Illinois Posts: 2,361	Re: Re: 10k vrs 14k or 20k SE or DE? I have 2*250 20Ks over my 58 (( XMs for a year, and now 4 months with Radiums )). I have had fantastic growth with 20Ks. I had (( moved it to another tank, getting too big )) a tabling milli go from a 1-2 inch frag to a 12+ inch colony in about 10 months. [/QUOTE] It's an SE bulb that he bought from me. __________________ Jason Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

08/11/2009, 10:33 PM	#14
das75 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton AB Posts: 2,269	Couple of days ago installed the 14K Phoenix and finding a little blue, even considering was trying out 20K XM for a couple of months prior. 14K Ushio I find yellow but the Hamilton 14K I like the best (nice crisp white, touch of blue). As for growth figure the Ushio and Hamilton similiar, didn't really run the 20K long enough to fairly comment and just put in the Phoenix but would imagine real world, all 14K about the same.