Openion on Ushio 20k DE bulbs

[Doherty]

Hey guys I am going to be changing out my bulb in a few weeks, I am currently running a Ushio 10k on a electronic bluewave ballast
(very yellow-white in color), I want to bring out my colors a bit more. I have no actinic supplementation.

I have a mixed reef, zoa/paly dominant and plan to get more LPS, and I have very few SPS (I don't plan on adding anymore SPS)

I was thinking of going with an Ushio 20k, what do you guys think?
Does anyone have any experience with these color/brand bulbs?
Do you see good growth rates with this 20k? (softy/LPS)

I am looking for a bulb that will provide good growth rates with a blue coloration.

Any recommendations on other brands/k rating would be great.

TIA

 

[RayD]

20k look great but growth isn't. Try the Phoenix 14K. Just right blue color with a good growth rate.

 

[JayM]

If you're an Ushio fan...try the 14k Ushio. I run them in both of my tanks. I think the 20k might tip you too far to the blue. Last I knew, Jeremy @ CRA has Ushio 14ks in fixtures if you want a real world look at them. When I switched from phoenix 14k to Ushio 14k, the growth changes were unbelievable.

 

[Doherty]

If you're an Ushio fan...try the 14k Ushio. I run them in both of my tanks. I think the 20k might tip you too far to the blue. Last I knew, Jeremy @ CRA has Ushio 14ks in fixtures if you want a real world look at them. When I switched from phoenix 14k to Ushio 14k, the growth changes were unbelievable.

Do you use any actinic supplementation in your tanks Jay?
Do you have any pics that show the color of the 14k ushio?

Yeah I dont want to drown my tank in blue, I just want to make my colors pop a bit. Will the 14k ushio do that for me. (I heard they are more white with a hint of blue is it true) I am at CRA all the time, just was not sure what bulbs they use.

 

[Doherty]

When I switched from phoenix 14k to Ushio 14k, the growth changes were unbelievable.

Is this just for sps or all your corals?

 

[Reefried]

I'm confused you said you had a bluewave electronic ballast....all of the "bluewave" ballasts are Sun Light Supply's M80 or Pulse start ballast.....their electronic ballasts are the "galaxy" serries..........Oh and are we talking about a 250W or 150W?

.......so for some info, first of all good choice with ushio IME they are the best, they are expensive but well worth it IMO.....I ran 2 X 250W 10K ushio's with a dual bluewave 7 {M80} for about a year and they were awesome, i used the clubs par meter and the bulbs were PAR monsters i was getting 200-300's on the sand bed in a 75 with the lights 5" off the surface...i couldnt keep LPS unless they were under a shelve or in total shade..and the color was a crisp white, NO yellow at all, but IMO they needed actinic supplements...as for my SPS they were awesome pinks were bright pink pruples were dark deep purple.....

so when I downgraded to a smaller tank (37gall) I knhew that if i put in the ushio 10K's i would fry the tank and Lps would not be an option, and didnt want to get the 14k and not have it be blue enough so I went with the ushio 20k and I couldnt be happier...on the bluewave (M80) ballast the color is a nice crisp white with a tint of blue to it, it really looks like a true 15k exactly between a 10k and 20k....now when i switch to the galaxy (it will be here friday) i think the bulb will be a little more blue as the bluewave overdrives the bulb to about 290 watts and more of the white hue shows.....the galaxy or electronic will run the bulb at a constent 250W and I think it will look more blue I'll let you know......

your welcome to come see what it looks like im in norwood....but without actinics or any other supplements and using a M80 ballast the ushio 20k will be like a true 15K not too blue not too white and not at all yellow......i hope this helps........

...I just re-read your original post and its a 20 gall tank so i assume you have a 150w?....and if you plan on not having too many SPS and go LPS/Zoo's then maybe the XM 20k will be better for you, they dont put out nearly as much PAR as the ushio's but thats not an issue in a 20gall LPS/Zoo tank and the XM 20k is much more Blue than the ushio 20K.....IMO its not too blue I actually like the color it puts out but I'm an SPS guy so I need more PAR.....also i've seen the phoenix 14k's and I dont think they are blue enough for what your trying to do...

 

[jackthestrat]

20k look great but growth isn't. Try the Phoenix 14K. Just right blue color with a good growth rate.

If you really want Blue, agreed with the above assessment. I find Phoenix 14k gives me excellent coloration and growth on zoas, palys, and softies, and more than satisfactory growth on SPS. I get annoyed when SPS grow too fast. As an example of what Phoenixes are capable of, I have two monti caps and a birdsnest that have literally doubled in size in 3 months under Phoenix 250w (14 inches below the lights). If you want more growth than that, you might have a problem

 

[JayM]

Do you use any actinic supplementation in your tanks Jay?
Do you have any pics that show the color of the 14k ushio?
.

I run 2x54 actinicin the 72and 2x24 actinic in the 92
I don't have any phoenix pictures left,and my picture taking is so lame you wouldn't see the light balance anyway. Go see Jeremy, he will show you.

Is this just for sps or all your corals?

all of my corals, right down to clams in the sand,grow pretty well. I am having problems keeping up with Ca depletion at this point.....I think it the limiting factor at this point.

 

[Mr.HaHa]

im running 250w phoenixes on icecaps but i am tempted to try 20k ushios or 20k helios. im not worried about growth because my sps are really solid under the 14k phoenixes.

hellolights is having a 10% sale this weekend so i may pick up 20k ushios for about 100.

 

[pillowfish]

I have to agree with Jay on this one.I can't say ehough how much I love the 14K Ushio...Everything looked amazing under the new lights and the growth rate is awesome! I run 2-250W off IceCap ballasts. The 20K was just "too blue" for me and I am not running any supplemental lighting at this point either.

 

[JohnK]

I love the ushio 14ks as well, but I would add that if your after the "blue" look they might not be it. IME they really bring out the color of the corals, but they don't make the tank look blue.


"I'm confused you said you had a bluewave electronic ballast....all of the "bluewave" ballasts are Sun Light Supply's M80 or Pulse start ballast.....their electronic ballasts are the "galaxy" serries.."

The "Galaxy series" is fairly new and replaced an older line of sunlight supply electronic ballasts. I don't recall if they were called "bluewave" or not, but they did/do exist.



edit, adding link to bluewave IV electronic ballast;
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum...y-icecap-blue-wave-iv-mh-ballast-2-275-a.html

 

[Doherty]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone...... I will let you know what I decide to go with when I make the purchase. I believe I am going to stick with the Ushio..... 14k/20k I'm not sure yet.

 

[Mr.HaHa]

i just bought the 20k ushios from hellolights. maybe ill snap some pics next week when i get them. btw, i also run icecap ballasts

 

[Doherty]

i just bought the 20k ushios from hellolights. maybe ill snap some pics next week when i get them. btw, i also run icecap ballasts

That would be great!