Another in the line of

[Anonymous]

The great bulb debate

Time to change my other lamp is comming up and as always I am considering a change. When I changed out the other lamp I went back with what was in it a 10k XM. The bulb that is up for a change is a 10k reeflux.

I run DE 250's on coralvue electronic ballast. Also have 2ea 110 watt VHO actinics on icecap 660.

If I do not go back 10k of some flavor I would want to go just a tad bluer.

Are the phoniex really all that great?

 

[Anonymous]

Waz - I am not sure. I had the Phoenix and I loved the color. I ran them for 2 years but my corals were faded. I switched to the 10K XM and the colors started to return and then went to brown. So I dont think they were really turning just looked that way on their way to browning up. I too run 2 95W VHO actinics.

I would and probably go back to the Phoenix bulb again if and when I reconstruct this tank after the move. My tank just has too many other variables to tell if its really good or not.

 

[trido]

I am getting ready for a new set of bulbs and will stick with mine. They say a picture will speak a thousand words. Here you go.

Some of these corals are browned out a bit from my lack of WCs. They have become more vibrant since this pic was taken.

 

[Anonymous]

Very nice - Hopefully if I rebuild I can get to that.

 

[Anonymous]

Nice. What bulbs?

 

[pcardone]

once I switched to 14k. I was able to turn off my blue pc.

 

[Anonymous]

This is my tank "now".

 

[trido]

Nice. What bulbs?

Phoenix 14k DE 250s with an ice cap ballast and lumenarc reflector.

I havent noticed any significant changes in growth since I "upgraded" from PFO HQI reflectors. Other than coolness and bragging rights for company.

 

[Anonymous]

I am running 14K Aqua Connects on my tank now. I had ran 10K XM's and had also ran 10K Reeflux.

These 14K AC's are by far my favorite bulb that I have tried so far. They are very pricey though.

Louey

 

[bleedingthought]

Here's another tank (Ranger's tank) with 14K DE Phoenix's (plus supplementation):

 

[Anonymous]

The 14K's(Phoenix or AC) are the best bulb I have seen yet. They really make the coral colors POP. They seem to be at least average for growth. When I upgrade I will be getting one of those 14K's.

Trido, tank looks awesome.

Wazzel your tank looks nice and clean, I cannot wait to see it matured.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. I guess I will give the Phoenix a try. I'm really not interested in getting super fast growth. Slower growth with better color woudl be fine.

Nice tanks Ranger and trido. Hopefully mine will look that nice one day.

ANEMONEBUFF, thanks. Nice and clean is what I want. I hope it lives up to its potential.

 

[trido]

Thanks all. I guess I will give the Phoenix a try. I'm really not interested in getting super fast growth. Slower growth with better color woudl be fine.

Nice tanks Ranger and trido. Hopefully mine will look that nice one day.

ANEMONEBUFF, thanks. Nice and clean is what I want. I hope it lives up to its potential.

Thanks for the compliments.

IMO the phoenix gives my corals good colors in all of the ranges. From pink to purple, yellow to blue. Some of my corals grow like weeds under these lights and require constant fragging and have for ovew six months. Keep in mind, this tank was full of frags just 14 months ago.
From what I am seeing with the 10k XMs in my frag tank, certain colors arent quite as vibrant. My rose mille for example, is much paler and pinkish under the 10k and a dark maroon/rose under the 14s.

I just wish they would last a year.