who uses what halide bulbs?

[tgoeujon]

who uses what halide bulbs and why? ive been using 10k geissman bulbs since i started using halides but im thinking of trying a 14k. is there any real advantages in goin with a specific k value

[boots]

I have been using aqua connect 150w 14000k on my 90 gallon for a year now and love the color and results that they have given me
You can get them at a&a in abbotsford

[fkshiu]

I've used:

- AB 13Ks on 175w TAR ballasts because of the relative high PAR (score: 7/10)
- XM 10Ks with 250w HQI ballasts because of the massive PAR you get from this combo (score: 8/10 - too much PAR b/c it burned some corals!).
- Radium 20Ks on the HQI ballast because I was into my blue phase (score 8/10 - great for most colours but yellows are washed out).
- Iwasaki 15Ks on 175w electronic ballasts because I'm back into bright white and also the very high relative PAR considering how little electricity this setup uses (score 9/10 - the perfect bulb with actinic supplements).

Note that I supplement with actinics as well.

It's the bulb/ballast combo that will affect your colour/PAR - you have to take both into consideration. Don't always believe what a kelvin temperature bulb is marketed at; the true colour a bulb will spit out can be much different and will change depending on ballast.

Check out Sanjay Joshi's lighting page for more info.

[Interior_Reef]

Our coral tank uses the 14K Aqua Connect bulbs, if you want something to referance them to Trevor

[mark]

I've used (250w DE)
-14K Hamilton, really really love the colour, crisp white, touch of blue, but had a couple of bulbs burn out after a month, other after 6 months.
-14K Ushio, find rather yellow, maybe little more growth the the Hamiltons
-20K XM, way to purple, not long enough to comment on growth
-ordered 14K Pheonix today, hoping same colour as the Hammys

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Aquaconnect 14000k 250w DE - loved them. Used for 21 months but really low par by the time I switched them out. Kept them in cause I was waiting for our PAR meter to arrive. Corals did fine, even SPS, with these old bulbs & kept the crisp blue/white colour throughout. Very expensive though when you're talking about replacing 5 bulbs.

Phoenix 14000k 250w & 150w DE - love them. What I have on my Aqualight Pros right now. Great colour, perhaps less PAR than 10000k or new ACs, but great bang-for-the-buck IMO & IME.

Hamilton 14000k 250w - less blue than the Phoenix. Use it in the middle of 3 lights with Phoenix on the ends. Decent, but white for a 14000k. Heard these are not comparable in quality, longevity or PAR to Phoenix or AC.

Geisemann 14500k 150w - excellent colour and high PAR. Bit more expensive than Phoenix, but less than AC.

Geisemann 13000k 250w - only used a short time but not blue enough for me. Probably good PAR but would prefer a bluer tint.

[Navarchus]

Originally Posted by tgoeujon

. is there any real advantages in goin with a specific k value

Usually as higher the Kelvin the lower the par. Even tough I heard that the new coralvue enjoy high par even in higher Kelvin.

[shotzee]

I have been using Phoenix 14K bulbs forever. I love them! They have great balance of color good PAR and a great price.

[tgoeujon]

i decided to go with the 14k phoenix bulbs, hopefully it works well. thanks for the input everyone

[banditpowdercoat]

You get some new fixtures Trev? Weren't you running T5? I have to get some bulbs real soon too, 2 150 HQI and a 250W SE Thats gona be a big bill LOL