Which do you prefer?

[Unarce]

Hi everyone,

After about 6 months, my 400W Ushio 14k bulb went yellow on me. I considered just getting another one, but a friend convinced me to try the Helios 20k.

This is by far the bluest bulb I've ever used. The colors on some of the corals are spectacular, but the overall blue cast makes the darker colors just blend in.

I'm not quite sure which I like better.

Here's the tank in December with the Ushio 14k:

Here it is today under the Helios 20k:

Thanks for the input!


Karl

 

[herpencounter]

I like the look of the second one better.

 

[Len]

I like 2nd one better too. I just went from 10K to 14K to 20K. So far, the Radium 20K is doing well.

 

[Mike612]

Obviously the second one! There's no contest.

 

[Anonymous]

the second looks good. I had a problem whit my 14K's and now went to the 20K XM's and my tank has turned around. Do your corals seem happy with the new bulb?

 

[bleedingthought]

Second one, also! But the blue is really starting to grow on me.

But Karl, this by no means signifies that the Ushio looked bad! Do you think it was your bulb only or is this the standard for them?

 

[trido]

Are you sure those pics arent backwards? I was under the impression that a 20k was supposed to be less intense and bluer than a 14k. Is the camera saturation level the same in both pics. That is a huge difference in lighting. IMO the 20k has twice the white punch as the 14.
WOW! That second pic sure looks better than the first. You sure have some good growth in some of those corals for only four months as well.

and he rambles on, and on, and on.......

 

[Anonymous]

The second one looks better, but the pic can be deceiving due to f-stop and integration time as well as white balance. Make sure you have the same parameter for the photos so we can give a proper judgement.

 

[Anonymous]

Have you tried the CoralVue Reeflux bulb? I like them and everyone I personally know who has one loves them as well.

 

[Anonymous]

They both look nice to me.

 

[Anonymous]

I like first, but that's because I really dislike the blue hue to everything, that and when I say "yeah my coral is XXX in color" I know it is not because of some fluorescence that is occuring.

 

[ChrisRD]

I prefer something in-between those two looks, but given the choice I think I'd lean toward the second one...

 

[TheJGMProject]

i'm kind of torn....leaning toward the second pic though. Those colors pop with that new bulb!

The first bulb did you justice though. The growth on your corals is excellent.

 

[Anonymous]

I prefer something in-between those two looks, but given the choice I think I'd lean toward the second one...

Given time will 20s drift toward the 14?

(do they get less blue as they age?)

If so - I say try the 20s.

 

[Anonymous]

Your red x boxes are gorgeous! That's all I can see. Errrrr!

 

[ufotofu]

It's hard to judge a pic on here b/c we may all be looking at different pics due to the differences in monitor settings. On my laptop, the images can both go from crap to amazing just by tilting the screen a little or adjusting the brightness. etc.

If I try to get my screen settings just right and then look...yeah, your tank looks amazing in either pic! I can't pick a clear-cut winner. I like the clams under the 20Ks for sure, though! The 14Ks seem to provide a greater contrast for highlighting the colors on the fish and corals, though.

I've always thought the higher temp. lights made tanks look kind of washed out, but this doesn't appear to do that as much. Maybe that's b/c most of the comparisons I've seen are b/t 10K and 20K bulbs.

I dive every chance I get, and the 20K here seems a better rendition of how most wild reefs appear underwater b/t 20-40ft of water. I guess it depends on what depth you're trying to simulate with your aquarium.

What size tank is this?

 

[Anonymous]

Even the fish look better in pic#2. I like #2 as well.

I really like the orange encrusting monti. I have the same one. It grows pretty fast.

Do you have any updated full tank shots?

I love your tank. I'd love to get the same footprint.

 

[Unarce]

Everyone,

Thank you for your comments. Most of you are in favor of the 20k. It's been a few months, and I think the Ushio 14k photo may have been taken with a lower exposure setting. However, when I made the switch from Radium to Ushio last September, so there wasn't much of a difference in brightness.

I really do like how blue bulbs bring out fluorescing pigments. My montipora seem to be most affected by this. I do prefer the more natural look of the Ushio, but I will keep the Helios on for the next 6 months. After that, I will jump back to an AC 14k, and then see which palette I prefer then.

I guess I'm still trying to find the right standalone bulb between 10k and 20k. I do like how the 20k excites contrasting colors.

For example...

Here's how the Orenji looked under the Ushio:

Under the Helios, the Orenji just looks insane:

OTOH, my blue pieces have become background noise.

Here's the Icefire under the Ushio:

Now, it's hardly visible with the Helios:

 

[pcardone]

I like the look of the ushio

 

[Anonymous]

I guess it is kind of a trade off. You should send a piece of the icefire to me so you could see how it looks under an XM 10k and Reeflux 10k.