14k DE 250w. Do or Not do

[RayAllen]

Who on here runs 250w 14k DE bulbs and what do you think of them. I just purchased a 250w PFO pendant that came with a 2 month old 10k Ushio bulb and its super bright but I think I want to trade up for a 14k to be a little more on on the cooler spectrum. Any thoughts? Im new to MH and no that 6500-10000k is best for growth and that 20k is not so much but what about 14k?

[RayAllen]

I could always supplement using a Actinic flourescent if I had to.

[ErikH]

I have the same pendant. I do not like the SPS bulbs 14 or 20k as they almost look identical to the 10k. Not sure of any others, always been cuirous if there was a good reeflux 250w de bulb. I thinkkkkk that's what Tony has if I am not mistaken. Anyone know if AD or B&B has the DEs?

[erebus]

I use a Phoenix 14k 250w DE and like it better then 10k. I still use t5 actinics.

[RayAllen]

erebus I was wondering about the Phoenix 14k myself, heard good things about them. Erik you have Ushio bulbs? Thats what my 10k is so the 14k may not be much diffrent. XM also carriers a 15k- wonder what that looks like. Heres a link to them

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=808

[ErikH]

I have the SPS branded bulbs that our locals carry, at least AD and B&B have them. They are all right, but imo, I don't think they are very blue...

[erebus]

I think for the price you can't get a better bulb.

[bigmoe21]

ad should have the reeflux 12k de..just call they usually have several different kinds

[alton]

I have two Ushio 14 K 250w that you can try free of charge. They are here at work and you could pick them up on Monday @ 2014 west ave. if nothing else happens over the weekend.

[RayAllen]

Thanks for the offer Alton I will let you know.

[tony]

12k reeflux here and LOVE it

[Jynxgirl]

14k hamiltons here. The 250's have just the hint of blue. Everyone who sees it likes it, but I like brighter lit tanks, like the 10ks :D

[RayAllen]

I still need to get over to you place and check out your tank tony. I will be in Austin this weekend maybe I can make it next week sometime.

[JimD]

10k Reeflux and VHO actinics....The only way to go! :lightbulb:

[Paul28]

yep 10k hit that high par and find a nice 420 and 460 actinic

[Paul28]

and if you want to hit some nice colors you can hit a nice color 650 to 720 with t5 HO non-fluorescent pigments in corals bringing out the true color just think you dont half to filter the camra you take the pic to make the corals look good

[brewercm]

I just went from 14K Hamilton de's to the 12K reeflux and can't tell the difference between the two. I love them both as far as that goes but have never tried the Phoenix but have heard they are similar in color to the Hamilton.

[Kristy]

ad should have the reeflux 12k de..just call they usually have several different kinds

Do you recall what they cost?

PS: I just want to point out that I read this entire thread and understood all of it. This would have been totally Greek to me about six months ago.:)

[apedroza]

12K reeflux!!!

[glennr1978]

I run a 250w DE 14k phoenix on my tank, and love it.

[JimD]

I run a 150w de Phoenix on an anemone tank and hate it.

[caferacermike]

Phoenix, luv it

[rz1a]

i want to upgrade my bulb and want a blue bulb with some good PAR for SPS to grow. im using the 14k phoenix and its more of a 10k, its not blue at all

im thinking of the following and was wondering if anyone had any experience as far as the color and growth of corals:

250 Watt 14000K Metal Halide Bulb - Iwasaki, Double Ended
250 Watt 14500K Metal Halide Bulb - Megachrome Coral, Double Ended
250 Watt 15000K Metal Halide Bulb - XM, Double-Ended

[RayAllen]

Ive heard good things about the XM's but they still wont be as blue as a 400w 14k. 250s just dont give off much blue.

[RayAllen]

Ive decided to stay with my Ushio and supplement with Actinic VHO or T5. 10k will give you much more PAR and growth.

[Bill S]

Ray, you might seriously consider the Helios 20Ks. Check out what Eric on fragfarmer has to say about them, and he grows corals for a living.

If you want to see mine, you are welcome any time.

[brewercm]

You are also welcome to check out my DE 12K Reeflux, I'm running with VHO actinic support and really like the look. They are still burning in as they only went on last Friday but so far I like them and I've seen them on Ace's system before I bought them.

[RayAllen]

Ray, you might seriously consider the Helios 20Ks. Check out what Eric on fragfarmer has to say about them, and he grows corals for a living.

If you want to see mine, you are welcome any time.

I will check that out. Everything ive read has said 20k will give you growth only much slower. Both of you guys live 281 and 1604 area. I still need to get over to Tonys nears ACE's and check his out. Bare with me im still new to the MH world and am trying to work out the kinks. I dont even have water in the tank yet, lol.

[RayAllen]

Bill I got this info directly from fragfarmers site; I sent them a email with my question. Their info mentions using 250w 14 and 20k for color but doesnt really mention the growth they get. Im waiting from his response to my email to get a better explanation. I want both good color and growth so the 12-14k range may be better. I need to see your guy's tanks. We need to start a tank tour asap,lol.

Coral Pictures:

1. A lot of our corals and fish are "What You See Is What You Get" Some are not. So if you have a question regarding a specific coral or fish please contact us to find out.

2. All our corals and fish are taken under a variety of lights, mostly 14k and 20k. We do not enhance our pictures to make them out to be more spectacular than they already are. We get the best coloration out of corals using these bulbs.

3. The corals at our facilities may not look the same in our system as yours for the following reasons:

1. Pictures taken from the top usually look different from the front.
2. Shipping can cause stress to the coral or fish resulting in loss of color.
3. Lighting may be different than what we use here at our facility.
4. Water parameters are different and can cause stress and loss of coloration as well.

4. When making your decision, please consider these factors before purchasing. Although corals will generally color back up, we want to make sure you are 100% confident in your purchase before speculating.

5. We use a combination of mostly 20k 250 watt Radium and Helios, bulbs. We also use a 6 bulb T-5 Fixture by ATI.

[brewercm]

Yeah, Bill and myself live within a few miles of each other so whenever you want you're free to swing by. Just shoot me a PM and we could set up a time. Right now not a lot in my tank so not much to see except some very nicely purpled up rock and a few frags here and there with a couple of nice pieces and clams.

[Bill S]

I think a SA tank tour would be GREAT! How about Sunday the 21st - we'll be here that weekend!

I've been running the Helios for over 3 months - and my growth is very good. Much better than I expected. Remember, Eric is in the frag farming business- growth is EVERYTHING to him!

BTW, I only run my actinics before & after the MH, not with them...

[RayAllen]

Bill i think you meen Sunday April 20th, if so Im in for a tank tour. Anyone else game? Cliff, Tony, Ace, Mike etc.....

[ratboy]

I run 250W DE Reeflux 14K on my big tank and 250W SE Reeflux 14K on my small tank (both coralvue). The DE's are IMO an excellent MH bulb choice (used as sole light source) but the SE are a bit too blue for my tastes. Now that Ive added some T5 actinics, the DE color is even better. Next time I'll go 12K with the SE reeflux.

[Kristy]

Hey guys,
Just thought I'd point out that Sunday April 20th is the date of the Fenner speaking engagement, in case you had not realized...

[RayAllen]

LOL, I hadnt realized that. May need to rethink this one.

[Bill S]

Oh, cool. Something I might actually make!

[rz1a]

has anyone tried the icecap bulbs?

[RayAllen]

Here is a email I got from Eric at Fragfarmer

Raymond, I use 20k primarily for the colors and I am happy with the growth. I tried 10k with no success but I am sure there would be better growth using a lower k bulb like that. Sometimes you have to just do what works best for your situation. It is still a subject that carries much debate J



Fragfarmer.com (http://fragfarmer.com/) Team
http://www.fragfarmer.com (http://www.fragfarmer.com)

[brewercm]

It is still a subject that carries much debate J

How true.:)

[captexas]

How true.:)

As a member of the MAAST debate team, I would disagree with you simply to debate some more, but as I actually agree with you it wouldn't last long! :hypnotyized::bigsmile:

Yeah, as everyone's eyes are different, lighting will always an issue of discussion and disagreement. I remember I used to run 400watt 20k XM's on my 75g and a lot of people thought they were too blue. They looked just fine to me, I just didn't like how much the growth rate slowed down on my corals. Now I'm running a 250watt DE 14k Coralvue and I think it looks way too white. I'm thinking of trying the Reeflux 12k. Hopefully that will give me a better balance.

[RayAllen]

LOL, dont want to start a debate; just wanted to post his email. I still have my 2 month old 10k Ushio bulb that has at least 6-7months of life left that im not going to let go to waste. Unless someone wants to buy it or trade for a 12-14k DE im going to stick with it untill its time to buy a new bulb.

[joelb]

don't exclude 20k because of no growth. i had 2 X 20k XM's over my tank and my polyps spread very fast and the display was very blue in color. my new mh lights came with 14k but as soon as i can i am going to go back to 20k.

[captexas]

don't exclude 20k because of no growth. i had 2 X 20k XM's over my tank and my polyps spread very fast and the display was very blue in color. my new mh lights came with 14k but as soon as i can i am going to go back to 20k.


I'll admit my zoo's and my green star polyps liked them. The SPS grew, just at a slower rate than what I had been used to with the 6500 Iwasaki and then the 10k XM's I had before the 20k.

[RayAllen]

don't exclude 20k because of no growth. i had 2 X 20k XM's over my tank and my polyps spread very fast and the display was very blue in color. my new mh lights came with 14k but as soon as i can i am going to go back to 20k.

I want my SPS to grow at a decent rate. Zoas spread like crazy under many Kelvins. I dont want a blue tank, Ive will definatley end up with 12-14ks now; just need to decide which one and what brand. I think this weekend I may go check out a couple of tanks to see the lighting.

[RedDragon]

I just got a 12k reeflex and im very happy with it looks amazing....nice blue white color....

[hobogato]

are you running SE or DE? the SE will stay that nice barely blue tint, but the DE will turn very stark white when it burns in. as a result, i think i am gonna keep using the reeflux 12k in my SE fixtures but switch to Pheonix 14k in my DE fixtures.


I just got a 12k reeflex and im very happy with it looks amazing....nice blue white color....

[captexas]

are you running SE or DE? the SE will stay that nice barely blue tint, but the DE will turn very stark white when it burns in. as a result, i think i am gonna keep using the reeflux 12k in my SE fixtures but switch to Pheonix 14k in my DE fixtures.


That's interesting and now that I hear that I may change my plan. I have DE and am trying to get away from the bright white affect. I really wish I could go SE to get a better spread of light, but I don't have room for a big reflector in my hood.

[RayAllen]

Ive been leaning towards the Phoenix 14ks myself

[ErikH]

You should get yourself a 6500k bulb and get your stuff to grow out like mad then switch to the higher Kelvin to get that purdy color.

[RayAllen]

You should get yourself a 6500k bulb and get your stuff to grow out like mad then switch to the higher Kelvin to get that purdy color.

LOL, I dont even have water in the tank yet. 65k will make them grow like crazy but is way to yellow for me to enjoy. Not to mention I wont actually have any sps for a while do to letting the tank mature :(

[captexas]

Well I got my new Phoenix 14k 250w HQI bulb in yesterday. So far I like it. Have to see how it looks in a few days or so after gets burned in.