opinions on lighting

[jenniebutterfly]

i have a 150 watt hqi fixture, i need a new bulb. i want growth and i also want a pleasing color. what brand bulb would you recommend. i currently have a xm 20k bulb, it is nice color wise, but i have no growth at all really. this is the only light over my tank, i have no room over the 15 for anything else, so adding actinic supplimentation is not an option. i also don't want to spend a fortune.

 

[loismustdie]

How about an XM 10K?

 

[jenniebutterfly]

i want to see pictures of how it will look. i hate spending the money without seeing what it really looks like. i don't want that yellow look that can come with 10k.

 

[bad coffee]

Jennie, I have a couple of 10k bulbs I bought with a fixture. You're welcome to borrow them and see if you like them.

I had a phoenix 14k on my 20 and it was just the right color for me. I didn't have any actinic. On my 58 I hope to throw in a couple of t5's so that's why I have the 10's.

B

 

[loismustdie]

XM 15k are white with a slight blue tint. If I were to tell you what they look like, I would say a dim 10k with blue actinics. I'm currently using 2 of them. You're welcome to check it out. I cannot comment on the PAR since I do not know, but my coral are growing just fine.

 

[jenniebutterfly]

i think i might go with 10 k, but i saw some 12 k somewhere. can't remember what brand. if i can find them i might try them instead though.

 

[kimoyo]

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum...here-white-bulb-without-yellow-blue-tint.html

 

[House of Laughter]

Jennie,

I run all Pheonix 14k's on Blue Wave III HQI ballasts and swear by them 0 same ones BC uses on his 20 (and the reason why I switched over)

I have NO Actinic supplementation.

House

 

[tomzpc]

Some of it depends on the ballast that you are using. IIRC different bulbs will burn differently under certain ballasts. I do know that 20k xm's don't have the greatest par rating.

Some good stuff here: http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/index.htm

 

[jackson6745]

Iwasaki 50k

 

[PalmTree]

Jennie I have XM 250 Watt 10K HQIs on my 180. Check my tank thread. I have picture posted there. To me they seem extremely white. I suppliment with 4 actinic VHOs to give it a blue hue. I think you might want 14K.

 

[cali_reef]

Iwasaki 50k

I don't think they come in DE version.

 

[cali_reef]

For what is worth, the same market named bulb (the K rating is not really true ratings) from the same manufacture in different wattage and bulb style will have different visual color. Comparing different wattage and bulb type's (DE vs. SE) color is not productive at all and is very subjective to the individual's eye. Different ballast will also give you a different color temp. I have even seen the same model ballast and bulbs have slight color variation when placed next to each other.

Sanjay's website gives you a pretty good idea what each bulb and ballast combination can do with spectrum plots and PPFD(PAR or brightness) rating.