Hamilton or Phoenix 14k MH DE bulb?

[mheaven]

Ill be replacing my MH bulb in a few week. Right now im running 12k Reeflux DE. Overall i like the bulb color and growth, but i think i want to try out a 14k. My question is which one would give me the best growth/color ( a little more blue)? I am running my bulbs on a ARO 250w electronic ballast.

I was also considering the Iwasaki 14k DE bulb.

Thank you , Danny.

 

[House of Laughter]

I tested the three next to each other at a clients house on Blue wave III ballasts - the reflux was a piece of garbage compared to the other two - my preference though, is still phoenix.

House

 

[ocholoco]

hey

Right now i'm using phoenix 14K Double Ended and the grown seems to be alright but when I was using Hamilton 14k single ended it seemed like the corals were growing much faster and the color was the same as 14K phoenix so when is time for me to change bulbs again i'm going back to hamilton.

 

[mheaven]

house:
i dont think they make a 14k reeflux. Im not trying to compare a 12k to a 14k. Im just trying to chose a 14k from the three that im considering: Hamilton, Phoenix or Iwasaki.

 

[House of Laughter]

Oh, I know, was just saying I compared them so you could undertand - the 12k's were very yellow in comparison.

Ocho - was the 14k phoenix you were using a single ended one? or double?

Jim

house:
i dont think they make a 14k reeflux. Im not trying to compare a 12k to a 14k. Im just trying to chose a 14k from the three that im considering: Hamilton, Phoenix or Iwasaki.

 

[ocholoco]

hey

The 14k phoenix i'm using right now is a DE and I just dont see my corals growing the way they used to with Hamilton 14K SE

 

[House of Laughter]

Interesting.

House

The 14k phoenix i'm using right now is a DE and I just dont see my corals growing the way they used to with Hamilton 14K SE

 

[mheaven]

any others out there...

 

[bad coffee]

I used to use the Phoenix 14KK, now I use Ushio 14KK's.

The Phoenix bulbs (a few years ago) were quite a bit cheaper than any other bulb. And I liked the color a lot. What I didn't like was the usable life of the Phoenix is only about 6-7 months. After that I'd get a color shift and algae growth. As soon as a new bulb was in, the algae would disappear.

I've since switched to the Ushio's. They're a whiter bulb, and they last a full 9-10 months before they need to be changed on my tank.

HTH
B

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

Bad,
When you were using the phoenix were you supplementing it with any other light ?

 

[KuyaMark]

phoenix 14k is my vote, I've got more growth and the bulb took 10 months til i replaced it! Can't wait to go back into DE phoenix 14k in 2 weeks hopefully

 

[mheaven]

well looks like the bulb to get are the phenix. Ill be ordering them at the end of the week. Thanxs everyone for your input.

 

[bad coffee]

I wasn't using any other lights for normal use. I did have PC actinics for dusk/dawn, but they turned off after the halide kicked on.

B

 

[Toadally]

I use the 175w se 15k Iwasaki. The growth is fantastic, but it's a little too white for my taste. I'm thinking about changing out to a 250 Radium, but I'm not certain that it might be too much light over my 25gal tank. Any thoughts?

 

[prattreef]

There is no need for a 250W lamp over a 25g. tank. The Iwasaki lamps you are using are absolute PAR beasts though---close to many 250W lamps in output.

 

[Toadally]

There is no need for a 250W lamp over a 25g. tank. The Iwasaki lamps you are using are absolute PAR beasts though---close to many 250W lamps in output.

Yeah I know....I was checking the numbers. The 250w Radium has less par on a electronic ballast. I just want a little more blue, but don't have the room above the tank to add anything.

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

Of the 14Ks the Phoenix Lamp is definitely the bluest of the bulbs I have seen mentioned on this thread thus far.

 

[ocholoco]

hey

The Bluest the bulb tends to be the less the growth am I right???