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?