Sunburst 12K's or 14K's for a Bluer tank that POPS!

[Anonymous]

I am going to replace my 175 watters and I want bulbs that will make the tank look bluer than my 15K Iwasakis. I know that the growth will be less with 12 or 14 K's but I am willing to give that up for astehtics.

So:

12K Sunbursts or 14K Hamiltons.

Pics would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Len]

Hamiltons, for sure. I avoid Sunbursts like the plague. I've tried it twice, and both times, they bleached a lot of corals.

 

[SnowManSnow]

14k hamiltons are good bulbs..

I run the 400w DE 14Ks on my tank now.... here's a video of my tank with the 14ks... the actinics weren't on for the filming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzmPY83W0RM

i know.. its nerdy.. but was fun to do.

b

 

[Anonymous]

Cool. Sunbursts are out. How about the Venture 10K(blue) bulb?

 

[Anonymous]

14k hamiltons are good bulbs..

I run the 400w DE 14Ks on my tank now.... here's a video of my tank with the 14ks... the actinics weren't on for the filming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzmPY83W0RM

i know.. its nerdy.. but was fun to do.

b

Cool video. Thats's the color I am looking for.

Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

Hamiltons, for sure. I avoid Sunbursts like the plague. I've tried it twice, and both times, they bleached a lot of corals.

Good looking out.

 

[Anonymous]

I liked the Hams as far as the blue color, however I found out the horrid PAR they gave so switch out... to a 250w setup

 

[bleedingthought]

Dan, I'm using the 175W 15K iwasaki on my frag tank and I'm very pleased so far. Honestly, it's the crispiest and cleanest looking light I've seen over a tank. Seems to wake up the colors but not make them too drastic like 20k bulbs (which I like also! ). Anyways, all this to say that if I wanted more POP I'd probably add some actinics. Not sure if that is an option for you but at least you'd keep the great PAR of the iwasaki 15ks.

 

[Anonymous]

Dan, I'm using the 175W 15K iwasaki on my frag tank and I'm very pleased so far. Honestly, it's the crispiest and cleanest looking light I've seen over a tank. Seems to wake up the colors but not make them too drastic like 20k bulbs (which I like also! ). Anyways, all this to say that if I wanted more POP I'd probably add some actinics. Not sure if that is an option for you but at least you'd keep the great PAR of the iwasaki 15ks.

I have two 40 watt actinic supplementation. The 15K's are very white, they look more like 10K IMO. I am looking for a bluer look. The 14K with the actinics should really pop....I hope. I had 20K XMs and they were bluer and the growth was OK. I am guessing that the 14Ks will get less growth than the Iwasaki, but better than the 20Ks.

 

[bleedingthought]

Dan, I'm using the 175W 15K iwasaki on my frag tank and I'm very pleased so far. Honestly, it's the crispiest and cleanest looking light I've seen over a tank. Seems to wake up the colors but not make them too drastic like 20k bulbs (which I like also! ). Anyways, all this to say that if I wanted more POP I'd probably add some actinics. Not sure if that is an option for you but at least you'd keep the great PAR of the iwasaki 15ks.

I have two 40 watt actinic supplementation. The 15K's are very white, they look more like 10K IMO. I am looking for a bluer look. The 14K with the actinics should really pop....I hope. I had 20K XMs and they were bluer and the growth was OK. I am guessing that the 14Ks will get less growth than the Iwasaki, but better than the 20Ks.

Well, definitely don't go with the 14k XMs. Less blue and less growth than the 20ks.

According to Sanjay, the EVC and the Hamilton bulbs will be at the top of the 14k list. Then, there's the 20k Helios.

 

[Anonymous]

For those that have seen both DE and SE for 14K Hamis, do they look the same or is the color different? I have a 250W DE on my basement and love the color. My main tank is a 400W SE though, so I am debating if I should change to a 250W DE or just go with the 400W SE version of the Hami.

 

[ChrisRD]

I can't recall ever seeing the 400 watters, but the 250 watt Mogul on an electronic ballast appears bluer and dimmer to me than the 250 DE on an M80 ballast.

Not sure if that helps...

 

[Anonymous]

14k hamiltons are good bulbs..

I run the 400w DE 14Ks on my tank now.... here's a video of my tank with the 14ks... the actinics weren't on for the filming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzmPY83W0RM

i know.. its nerdy.. but was fun to do.

b

At least you had a Skillet song.