New 20k bulbs from Light Spectrum Enterprise

[ErikH]

Nevermind. I found them with a quick google search, lol. Have any of you guys tried their 150w 10k's?

Glenn every ballast will affect the bulbs differently. I can say this though, I have 2 SE and 2 DE with 3 different types of ballasts and the bulbs (after burn in period) all appear to look the same. 10k are uber white, go with the 12k, they are white with just an inkling of pop.

[justahobby]

What about 14K, comparable to say a phoenix 14k?

[ErikH]

IIRC the Phoenix 14ks are much bluer than the standard 12k bulbs I have seen, I would say the 20 is probably closest in comparison, without actually knowing. I think Rob has the 20ks, so maybe he can help SHEDD SOME LIGHT! haha at the double pun.

[Mr Cob]

I think the 20k bulbs from Spectrum Enterprises are extra blue with very little crisp white light IMO...just a hair too blue though but it is a decent trade-off considering the price. I personally was not too happy with their 14k bulbs as I thought it lacked the crisp white light and had too much yellow in comparison to XM bulbs. I have not used Phoenix bulbs.

Jack has also used their 14k bulbs.

This is also coming from someone who does not use actinic supplemental lighting.

[Jarob]

Would you go with their 12k or 14k is I were to use supplementation also

[txav8r]

I got great growth from the 14K bulbs but I too thought the color was a bit lacking. Still a great bulb for the price, though.

[Mr Cob]

Would you go with their 12k or 14k is I were to use supplementation also

Personally, I would go with 14k because i think their bulbs run more yellow in comparison to namebrand bulbs. I think 14k with actinic supplemental lighting would be perfect...BUT I like blue....so depends on your taste though. If you typically like 20k bulbs by themselve's then go with the 14k and actinic. If you prefer the true 14k colors from namebrand bulbs over the 20k's then go with 12k with actinic.

[glennr1978]

Thanks for the info guys. I may just order one of each 10k, 12k, and 14k. At $20 each it's worth it to me to buy all three to see which one I like best. Fwiw, I had originally planned to use two 150w 10k's and four 36" T5 actinics over a 42"x21x16" tank. I'm thinking that should be plenty of blue light to balance out the yellow of the 10k.

[ErikH]

Thanks for the info guys. I may just order one of each 10k, 12k, and 14k. At $20 each it's worth it to me to buy all three to see which one I like best. Fwiw, I had originally planned to use two 150w 10k's and four 36" T5 actinics over a 42"x21x16" tank. I'm thinking that should be plenty of blue light to balance out the yellow of the 10k.

Just make sure you give each bulb ample burn in time before making your decision! Also shade your light as necessary to avoid frying, or dying corals.

[Mr Cob]

Just make sure you give each bulb ample burn in time before making your decision! Also shade your light as necessary to avoid frying, or dying corals.

Good points Erik. I just bleached some SPS from switching bulbs and they didn't come back :(

Also...the 14k bulbs were really yellow the first week and a couple weeks later they began to burn out a bunch of the yellow tint.