Looking for 250w MH SE bulb --help me pick

[SteveDola]

Im starting a new tank and Im looking for bulb selection help. Ive been running T5s on my 75 with great results but I think for the next tank Im going with a single 250watt on a Galaxy ballast with the Lumenbright Mini reflector( black pendant sytle) . Ive decided upon that however now I need to order a bulb. Its a 2x2x2 cube tank that I will transfer most of my SPS with a few nice LPS/zoas/clams. I want something that makes corals POP but not too blue and still retain a good PAR value.

Ive talked with my LFS guy and he was telling me XM 20k bulbs are nice and I saw a tank with it and it was appealing. Ive also heard good things about the 20 radiums. What are you all running without actinics that makes you say WOW?

Thanks for any input-


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[JohnK]

Sounds like you like the blue look...

Pheonix 14Ks come in SE now. Personally I like the ushio 14Ks better, but they aren't really blue at all.

 

[SteveDola]

im looking for that POP and i think the ushios 10k are too white from the last time I saw them. I dont have actinics in this senerio so the color stands alone and I what I dont want is white yellowy coloration. I also dont want it overly blue. Its been along time since Ive ran MH so Im out of the loop and dont have much to go on here.

 

[KSC]

I'd run a 250w Radium on an HQI ballast. I had the xm20k, pretty dissapointing. After 3-4 months I was only getting 450 par on the surface. After 3 months the Radium is still putting out over 1000 on the surface, 250 on the sand. The xm 20k was a dull blue color(magnetic ballast), while the radium is a bright blue/white.

 

[SteveDola]

does anyone have pictures running just 20k 250w Radiums? ive never seen them in person but a pic might help.

 

[Gardiner]

I am currently testing bulbs. I am running Ushio 14k(left), Phoenix 14k(Center), Ushio 10k(right). I will take a pic of the tank when I get home. I decided on the Phoenix 14ks, and ordered 2 more last night. I honestly cannot tell the difference between the Ushio 10k and 14k.

 

[SteveDola]

cool thx

 

[Gardiner]

Not a very good picture, but here are the three bulbs I like at work. I think the different light spectrums messed with my camera's white balance for this shot. The ballasts are all IceCap 250s. The 10ks are reflecting off a piece of white rock, and causing that glare.

I chose to go with the Phoenix 14ks. I do not think it looks that blue in person, and once burned in should not be as blue(bulb is 1 day old). I used Sanjay's Lighting Guide to help make my decision. The Phoenix have one of the highest PPFD ratings, which means you should have good growth. They also make the colors pop. The Ushio 14k does not have a very good PPFD if I remember correctly.



<---------->Ushio 14k<---------------------------->Phoenix 14k<--------------------------->Ushio 10k<---------->

 

[wrassefan]

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/

click the tab on the right for the bulb info...has pics too....don't think the ballast you listed is there tho

 

[JohnK]

Actually I believe that neither sanjay or joe burger have tested the ushio 14K lamps.

Subjectively, IMO the ushio 14ks are WAY brighter than pheonix's, but like gbreynol said, the ushio 14s look almost as white as 10ks.

I got these numbers for ushio 14Ks with an apogee par meter;
With electronic/digital ballasts;
275W 270W, 2.62 amp

depth
at surface - 710 765
3" 480 560
6" 420 460
9" 360 420


With M80 magnetic ballasts;
290 W 4.81a 300 W, 3.94amp

depth
at surface - 550 615
3" 410 470
6" 340 370
9" 280 315

 

[SteveDola]

um those ushio bulbs are too white for me. im leaning towards the radiums. doesn anyone have pics / par values on the galaxy ballast?

 

[SteveDola]

the hamilton 14k s are nice too.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry for the misdirect, I like ushios, you wouldn't

IME the hamiltons are a pretty nice color, but IIRC the PAR varies quite a bit (more than most bulbs) depending on the ballast. Dismal on regular magnetic ballasts, ideal on some electronics, and weak on others.

 

[marine mike]

i'm with John on the ushio 14Ks but I didn't want that much blue, wanted more par, so they were great. I think the 10ks are just a little yellower than the 14's imo. I think the Phoenix's are great for the blue side without going too far, but think the par is probably a good size step down. IMO the Radium would probably be a good compromise between blue and par.