14k Bulbs ,,,which ones are the best

[DEEPWATER]

Ok ,,,im at a stand still here.I wan to replace my 10k reflux with a 14k bulb SE ,,which one are the best ,,XM,PFO,HAMILTON,ETC ,,,,which one gives out the best lighting ,par ..,can I pick some of your brains to find out which one is good for me ,

 

[Deanos]

Wattage? Also, what ballast are you using?

Or go here: Metal Halide

Dean

 

[marrone]

All depends on what type of corals you have and how you want the tank to look. Do some searches on RC and you'll find a whole bunch on lighting, which will include pictures and graphies of color and par.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=212

 

[DEEPWATER]

ok,,it tell me to go with the XM 175w(thats what i need ) 15k,,how does that look ,thats going to be blue ,,D ,,and marrone ,,how do you guy think my tank would look with them ,,i have 10k now to white for me ,

 

[DEEPWATER]

i can look athe threads ,,but im interested in MR opinions ,,,i find it better then RC ,,,your opinion counts ,not RC ,,had too too many f*&k ups with RC ,,,any you guys are cool to talk too as well

 

[marrone]

That is true but what you'll find on RC is people have done anaylsis on color, par and such where they have charts and actually pictures of how the tank looks under different bulbs. You don't need to post there and ask questions, you can do that here, but you can use RC as a reference place.

 

[marrone]

I'm using the Hamilton 14k and it's bluish white. also using 2 VHO actinic. The XM isn't as bluish as the Hamilton, from what I've seen.

Why do you want to change the bulbs you tank looks fine with what your using now and the corals are doing great. Are you just looking for a change in the tank color?

 

[NYPDFrogman]

I had 250W XM 15K on my 180 they arent that blue, good color on corals
I did read the par was much lower than the 10K

I replaced my bulbs with 10K's I'm looking for max growth.
I supplemented with 2 70" VHO super actinics to bring out the colors

I did get growwth with the 15K bulb, I did notice a big jump in calcium consumption about a week after the switch but as Solby pointed out my tank may have just gotten into the SPS zone.

I have the bulbs up for sale or trade Steve and Kris showed some interest if you want to try and see if you like the color LMK I'm in brooklyn at least twice a week

 

[DEEPWATER]

I'm using the Hamilton 14k and it's bluish white. also using 2 VHO actinic. The XM isn't as bluish as the Hamilton, from what I've seen.

Why do you want to change the bulbs you tank looks fine with what your using now and the corals are doing great. Are you just looking for a change in the tank color?

no ,not changing anything ,just hate looking at all white when the MH go on ,,
my eagel eyes are not as vib as the should be ,open vry nice thou ,but color is not the same as when i got them ,

 

[DEEPWATER]

I had 250W XM 15K on my 180 they arent that blue, good color on corals
I did read the par was much lower than the 10K

I replaced my bulbs with 10K's I'm looking for max growth.
I supplemented with 2 70" VHO super actinics to bring out the colors

I did get growwth with the 15K bulb, I did notice a big jump in calcium consumption about a week after the switch but as Solby pointed out my tank may have just gotten into the SPS zone.

I have the bulbs up for sale or trade Steve and Kris showed some interest if you want to try and see if you like the color LMK I'm in brooklyn at least twice a week

thx Frank ,but i can only use 175w

 

[NYPDFrogman]

no ,not changing anything ,just hate looking at all white when the MH go on ,,
my eagel eyes are not as vib as the should be ,open vry nice thou ,but color is not the same as when i got them ,

add a set of actinics???

 

[marrone]

If your looking for a very blue light go with 20k mh.

Also is the color not the same because of what the person, that you got them from, was using? Alot of times zoo's will change color because of different light.

 

[DEEPWATER]

add a set of actinics???

iI have 2 x125 uri vhos ,,
and 2 x175 10 reflux ,

 

[DEEPWATER]

If your looking for a very blue light go with 20k mh.

Also is the color not the same because of what the person, that you got them from, was using? Alot of times zoo's will change color because of different light.

20k is to blue for me ,14k or 15k is good ,,just cant deside on which brand to go with

 

[marrone]

Well the 14k Hamilton is a little bluer than the XM bulb and if you Supplmt with VHO actinic you'll get a bluish-white color. If you had 3 mh bulbs you could mix it with a 10k and a 14k.

 

[DEEPWATER]

Well the 14k Hamilton is a little bluer than the XM bulb and if you Supplmt with VHO actinic you'll get a bluish-white color. If you had 3 mh bulbs you could mix it with a 10k and a 14k.

Any more electrical use in this apt and the meter will fall of the wall ,its spinning fast as is ,they may think i started growing something in here

 

[paul]

IMO, the best all around 14K bulbs are Aquaconnects. Very pricy, but worth every penny. I ran them on my old 65 gal reef, no actinics just two 175W 14K Aquaconnects fired by IceCap electronic ballasts. Nice bright blue/purple color, much more intense than the 14K Hamiltons. If I`m not mistaken, the AC scored the highest PAR for a 14K bulb.

No need for actinics, will save $$$ on the electric bill.

Paul.

 

[jackson6745]

IMO if you're going to use 175 watt halides you should stick with 10k's + actinics to get the most par. 175w 14k's are pretty dim. If you do decide on 14k's I like the hamilton's (based on 250w bulbs that I've seen)

 

[DEEPWATER]

IMO, the best all around 14K bulbs are Aquaconnects. Very pricy, but worth every penny. I ran them on my old 65 gal reef, no actinics just two 175W 14K Aquaconnects fired by IceCap electronic ballasts. Nice bright blue/purple color, much more intense than the 14K Hamiltons. If I`m not mistaken, the AC scored the highest PAR for a 14K bulb.

No need for actinics, will save $$$ on the electric bill.

Paul.

do youhave a pic of your tank with the light on ,,,and wherei can take a look on buying them

 

[paul]

Small pic because photobucket resized it. 14K on the left and 10K on the right.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/pwilk20/DSCN0025.jpg

Got them from Premium Aquatics. 1/2005 at $96 each.

Paul.