Sum up my readings on metal halide bubls....

[glarior]

Going to buy new metal halide bulbs for my SW reef tank

10k - best for coral growth but is a white light
14k - not as good for coral growth but still decent... more blue color
20k - even more blue than 14k and shows corals color better but a little less growth

I am all about coral growth. I figure my 4x65w actinic bulbs will give me more blue... am I right or wrong?

Should I go with a 10k for both 250w housings or one 10k and one 14k to see if I like the blue color more? Or maybe even add a 10k and 20k or a 14 and 20k? Like I said I want coral growth. I have all softies and 1 SPS

[ismvel]

Do you use SE or DE bulbs?

For single ended bulbs, I had good results with Reeflux 12K bulbs. The colors are actually pretty good and it still provides a high enough K to promote better growth than a 20k bulb.

For double ended bulbs (and I have never had an HQI unit) I have had friends who saw good growth and great colors with Phoenix 14k bulbs.

Since you have actinics, you can go with a whiter bulb, I personally wouldn't go with the 10k bulbs. In my experience, they have always been a tad bit too yellow even with actinic supplementation.

[glarior]

Do you use SE or DE bulbs?

For single ended bulbs, I had good results with Reeflux 12K bulbs. The colors are actually pretty good and it still provides a high enough K to promote better growth than a 20k bulb.

For double ended bulbs (and I have never had an HQI unit) I have had friends who saw good growth and great colors with Phoenix 14k bulbs.

Since you have actinics, you can go with a whiter bulb, I personally wouldn't go with the 10k bulbs. In my experience, they have always been a tad bit too yellow even with actinic supplementation.

DE bulbs. I was thinking phoenix bulbs... seems everyone has always posted good things on it. Might try 14k's... seems to be very popular for a reason

[ismvel]

DE bulbs. I was thinking phoenix bulbs... seems everyone has always posted good things on it. Might try 14k's... seems to be very popular for a reason

If you indeed go that route, I believe you will be happy with that decision. Good luck . :)

[txmaverickmh]

Phoenix 14k bulbs are the absolute bomb!!!! You can get them on Amazon.com, prices better than even our wholesale pricing....oops, did I say that? Unfortunately yes!

If you had single ended, I would tell you to get Radiums, but with double-ended, nothing compares to Phoenix 14k bulbs, they are incredible!


Michael

[Big_Pun]

I'm very happy with the reeflux 12k I ran when I had MH. tank look really good and growth was great and I ran it with no actinic sup for over a year, also ran bulbs 10 hours a day.

[CoryDude]

++ on the phoenix bulbs. Been running the 250's for many years now. I use mine w/4 110W vho actinics and have had great color and growth.

[cowboy572]

+++ on Phoenix bulbs. I run them in my gutted Odyssea combo unit. There connected to 250 watt Coral-Vue ballasts. Good color and growth.

[stoneroller]

I ran DE Phoenix 14s and Reeflux 12s -- I would say the reeflux provided more growth. However, I recently switched to the XM 15k's. The colors are much better IMO -- time will tell how coral growth rates compare.

[glarior]

I run them in my gutted Odyssea combo unit.

I use a Odyssea combo unit too but why did you gut yours?

[ErikH]

Light Spectrum Enterprises.... 25 dollar MH bulbs. Alot of us use them and have great growth...

[cowboy572]

I use a Odyssea combo unit too but why did you gut yours?

I technically didn't gut it. I replaced all the Odyssea stuff with bulbs and ballasts that produce the right color (par) and the neccesary wattage. If you do some research you will find that there ballast are under wattage, they don't produce the 250 watts as they advertise. Also they use what are called "tar ballast". Aftermarket Electronic ballast from Coral Vue or Ice Cap to name a few are more effecient.