Best 12K-14K 250W SE Bulb

cybrsufr · 07/27/2009, 07:57 PM

Look, I am currently running 3x 400W Radiums over my 180G Mostly SPS Reef. due to the 500.00+ electric bills, I am looking to downgrade to 250W Lighting. I have always been a proponent of 20K and Radiums especially, However, I would like to bring out more of the bight pinks, yellows, reds, etc which I have not been able to do using 20K bulbs over the last 3 years. So along with the downgrade in wattage, I figured I would try a Lower K bulb as well, that way I can increase the PAR and the colors I am looking for. I love the Phoenix 14K but they do not make a SE bulb. I was thinking of the Reeflux 12K, Ushio 14K, or similar, NO XM's though. I am also running 4x 48" Super Blue Actinic VHO's for supplamentation and will be switching those to the new UVL 454's as soon as I can get my hands on some. So, the question is what are some recommendations for a good white bulb, that is not yellow like 10K.

Another question which having a electronics background I am sure I already know the answer, but had a old timer reefer here tell me I can run 250W bulbs on a 400W Electronic ballast. He is doing it right now with PFO electronic Ballasts and 250W DE bulbs, he swears the ballast will drop the voltage down amd work fine but you can do the reverse and run a higher wattage bulb in a lower wattage electronic ballast. Anyone else heard of doing this? I would think that it would overdrive the bulb at a minimum and explode as a worst case scenario, but he swears you can do it. What is your experience or thoughts on this.

reef_doug · 07/27/2009, 10:01 PM

Phoenix does make a 14K 250w SE bulb... it's been out for about 6 months now. It's basically the HQI bulb inside an SE... still requires HQI ballast.

Phoenix can wash out the pinks though... if your looking to highlight pinks then I would try the Hamilton 14k.

No experience on running 250w bulbs on 400w ballast. It would most likely shorten the life of the bulbs dramatically.

07/27/2009, 07:57 PM	#1
cybrsufr Moved On Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 2,058	Best 12K-14K 250W SE Bulb Look, I am currently running 3x 400W Radiums over my 180G Mostly SPS Reef. due to the 500.00+ electric bills, I am looking to downgrade to 250W Lighting. I have always been a proponent of 20K and Radiums especially, However, I would like to bring out more of the bight pinks, yellows, reds, etc which I have not been able to do using 20K bulbs over the last 3 years. So along with the downgrade in wattage, I figured I would try a Lower K bulb as well, that way I can increase the PAR and the colors I am looking for. I love the Phoenix 14K but they do not make a SE bulb. I was thinking of the Reeflux 12K, Ushio 14K, or similar, NO XM's though. I am also running 4x 48" Super Blue Actinic VHO's for supplamentation and will be switching those to the new UVL 454's as soon as I can get my hands on some. So, the question is what are some recommendations for a good white bulb, that is not yellow like 10K. Another question which having a electronics background I am sure I already know the answer, but had a old timer reefer here tell me I can run 250W bulbs on a 400W Electronic ballast. He is doing it right now with PFO electronic Ballasts and 250W DE bulbs, he swears the ballast will drop the voltage down amd work fine but you can do the reverse and run a higher wattage bulb in a lower wattage electronic ballast. Anyone else heard of doing this? I would think that it would overdrive the bulb at a minimum and explode as a worst case scenario, but he swears you can do it. What is your experience or thoughts on this.

07/27/2009, 10:01 PM	#2
reef_doug Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hesperia/Apple Valley Posts: 3,814	Phoenix does make a 14K 250w SE bulb... it's been out for about 6 months now. It's basically the HQI bulb inside an SE... still requires HQI ballast. Phoenix can wash out the pinks though... if your looking to highlight pinks then I would try the Hamilton 14k. No experience on running 250w bulbs on 400w ballast. It would most likely shorten the life of the bulbs dramatically. __________________ "If you have more than one tank in your livingroom, you might be a reefneck" Current Tank Info: 180r SoCal Creations, 75g SCC1M Sump, WM EcoBAK, NextReef SMR1, TropicMarin Salt, ACIII, 3x250w HQI Phoenix 14k, 2x140w Super Actinics, ATi BM250, Eheim 1262, Tunze 2x6100+7095, Tunze Osmolator, 6 stage RODI w/ Spectrapure MaxCap