tank build(NEW PICS)

[sharkboy]

the 15k's really bring out the colors...awesome!

[clone]

thanks guys heres a macro shot.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3339/...f8bb2914_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/...220831ac_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/...4d003da7_o.jpg

[Mr Cob]

That first one is killah!

[Dee]

So are the 15K hamilton's Metal Halides? Is that what is making the color that nice blueish and making things pop?

I just replaced my 150W MH and got 14K's, but my husband just grabbed the dang coralife bulbs off the shelf and didn't care that I was wanting to research more on bulbs. He likes the look, but I want the colors to stand out more. We went from 20K's to 14K's because someone told us that the 14K's are better at stimulating growth. I may convince him to let me buy something else and sell those on Ebay or something.

Anyway, I have a 150W 14K (I believe) Phoenix bulb in a clamp on I got from someone and the color is much better with that.

So the question is...what's the deal with these bulbs making such a nice color...and from your experience would you guys recommend switching to them? And if there is some other type of bulb that is even better, what would that be?

Thanks!!!

So

[Texreefer]

things are looking very nice Kevin

[clone]

Dee-ive been using thoses 15ks since i set the tank up.the only thing is that i supplement them with 2-39w and 2-24w t5's.
another thing is that ive been dosing brightwells low nuterient system,AA,BF,MB7 and KC.
ive also been feeding REEFUEL from coraldynamics.com
jeremy at B&B had some phoenix 150w,and i would have to say they are really nice looking,realy blue,when im ready to change out my bulbs i might go with either those or XM 20k.

[Dee]

So you would buy the Phoenix over the Hamilton's next time...good thing to know because your tank looks great now, which means you think it would look the same or better with the Phoenix's, right?

The T5's are definitely adding to the color then. I've got a coralife unit with the 96W actinics so I can't really add T5's unless we make something ourselves to hang next to the Coralife. I can change out the bulbs to Phoenix bulbs though...which I'm thinking would definitely help with the color. My 24 gallon looks nice with the Phoenix and the frags i put in there have much more color than when they are in the main tank under the coralife MH and actinics.

Dee