Advise: Best 250w SE +14k Bulb

[jawwad2004]

Cali,
Thanks for doing the research, but I have one question still.
I tested out some Reeflux 10k's but they dont look as blue as the spectral plot depicts. They look. . .pink out of all colors.
Do you think this is related to the ballast?

 

[cali_reef]

Cali,
Thanks for doing the research, but I have one question still.
I tested out some Reeflux 10k's but they dont look as blue as the spectral plot depicts. They look. . .pink out of all colors.
Do you think this is related to the ballast?

Could be a bad bulb, but bulbS? I would guess its the cheap ballast under driving the bulb..

 

[pecan2phat]

I've heard 100% comments that the 250w SE Reeflux 10k is pinkish in color so I wouldn't doubt with what your seeing.

 

[loismustdie]

IMHO, stick with XM 10,000K. I already posted pics of what happened when I stopped using 10,000k and went to higher Kelvin temps. My coral grew towards the 10's. No offense to the Phoenix users, but several who chose those are moving on.
Reeflux are very pink for the first couple of weeks, no matter which ballast you use. My center bulb is Reeflux. It was pink at first. They burn in. Reeflux are good, especially if you like blue SPS.
DE burn at much higher watts than advertised. I have a Kill-o-watt. I checked. You are better off getting 250's SE on electronic (icecap) ballasts and Luminarcs.
For growth, I have not seen a better combo that 10K MH and actinic supplements.

 

[cali_reef]

I've heard 100% comments that the 250w SE Reeflux 10k is pinkish in color so I wouldn't doubt with what your seeing.

After looking at the plots, I would agree with Pecan. Looks like the peak at 590nm (pink to red) is making your eye see more of the red than the blue\violet.

 

[jawwad2004]

Ive seen the Reeflux on icecaps, still pinkish. . .

 

[jawwad2004]

I was highly considering going with xm20k and add an additional bulb, which would be a white bulb.
If you see Sunnyx's (TOTM) tank from reefcentral, he has this setup and its gorgeous.

 

[jackson6745]

Ive seen the Reeflux on icecaps, still pinkish. . .

There is a difference in color between the new bulbs(blue package), and old bulbs (rainbow package). new bulbs burn much more blue with vey little pink.

Jawwad go so some tanks in person that have the lighting you are considering. The Spectrum charts and stats will have you scratching your head.

 

[loismustdie]

XM 20K 250's will leave you disappointed. Very dim. They call their PAR what ever they want. My corals grew towards the 10's.

Jawwad go so some tanks in person that have the lighting you are considering. The Spectrum charts and stats will have you scratching your head.

I agree with this. My Reeflux isn't pink. And I don't even like Reeflux. I'm biased to XM on IC.

 

[loismustdie]

Oh, I knew I saw that name before. You asked a similar ? a while back. I had the same response back then to the pink:XM 10k vs. Reeflux 10k
Patience. They settle in and really show up white. I promise. White enough that I tagged in actinics.
You're the same guy who bought a Deltec and still brought your water to the LFS to be tested.

Damn the SPS game is hard!
You're right. SPS are hard. Very hard. They are conisered advanced for a reason. Keeping PO4 low is hard (however easy on a Salifert kit... or LFS kit). Intense flow is hard. Crazy skimming is hard. SPS pests are hard. Water changes are hard. There are many angles to SPS. All must be dealt with.
Husbandry is key to SPS. Lighting shouldn't be number one on your list. TOTM on RC? His lights are the least of your worries. His husbandry is what you should be looking into. Rather than looking into the same question, look into new ones.

 

[jawwad2004]

Oh, I knew I saw that name before. You asked a similar ? a while back. I had the same response back then to the pink:XM 10k vs. Reeflux 10k
Patience. They settle in and really show up white. I promise. White enough that I tagged in actinics.
You're the same guy who bought a Deltec and still brought your water to the LFS to be tested.

Damn the SPS game is hard!
You're right. SPS are hard. Very hard. They are conisered advanced for a reason. Keeping PO4 low is hard (however easy on a Salifert kit... or LFS kit). Intense flow is hard. Crazy skimming is hard. SPS pests are hard. Water changes are hard. There are many angles to SPS. All must be dealt with.
Husbandry is key to SPS. Lighting shouldn't be number one on your list. TOTM on RC? His lights are the least of your worries. His husbandry is what you should be looking into. Rather than looking into the same question, look into new ones.

Well the reason I am touching upon the lighting issue is because I have considered other factors in the 'Sps Game,' which I have spent a cosiderable amount researching. I dont know much about lighting, thats why I asked. But I do agree with you, that lighting should be on the latter end of your worries when trying to establish a thriving tank. Thats why I invested in top notch equipment to achieve that pristine tank, but now Im being told my ballasts underdrive the bulbs, meaning more RESEARCH!

By the way Jackson, the Reeflux bulbs that I have came in the blue box and not the rainbow box you mentioned. Im assuming that the 250 and 400w versions drastically differ, and it might not be the ballast. When I spoke to Tony @ ReefExotics, I was told that my ballast would run them fine. Apparently not. . .