Another Metal Halide ?

JJ110 · 10/15/2009, 08:37 PM

I did some searching and just got more confused. I also reviewed the Sanjay pages. Here is my issue; I have Ice cap 250 watt electronic ballasts for my 250w DE fixture and have been running Ushio 20K bulbs. Well its time to change them out and I have recently upgraded to a deeper tank ( 22" ) I am not too concerned with color although I really dont want to go to 6500K. my goal is to have the best PAR and color combination. Can anyone shed some light on this for me ( pardon the pun ) I have read my brains out and just become more confused. Thanks to anyone who can simplify this decision for me.

luther1200 · 10/16/2009, 01:47 PM

Light color is really a personal preference. But having said that I like the Pheonix bulbs myself.

BLKTANG · 10/16/2009, 02:56 PM

+1 on the Pheonix

seapug · 10/16/2009, 03:03 PM

I can tell you from personal experience that the 14K Phoenix is more blue than a 20K Ushio. The 20K Ushio is a good bulb but if you want to try something different and want an extremely intense bright white bulb, you might try a 14K Iwasaki. I'm running one on a Galaxy ballast over my SPS right now and it's the brightest, whitest MH bulb I've ever seen. No yellow and very little blue. It's almost a little too "whiteout" for me so I'm thinking about going back to my old favorite 12K Reeflux. I really liked the 150W version of that bulb so I'm curious how the 250W version looks.

For me, the 12K Reeflux has a really nice color balance-- not "cotton candy blue" as the Phoenix and 20K Ushio but not a total washout like you get with some 10 and 14K bulbs.

10/15/2009, 08:37 PM	#1
JJ110 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 4	Another Metal Halide ? I did some searching and just got more confused. I also reviewed the Sanjay pages. Here is my issue; I have Ice cap 250 watt electronic ballasts for my 250w DE fixture and have been running Ushio 20K bulbs. Well its time to change them out and I have recently upgraded to a deeper tank ( 22" ) I am not too concerned with color although I really dont want to go to 6500K. my goal is to have the best PAR and color combination. Can anyone shed some light on this for me ( pardon the pun ) I have read my brains out and just become more confused. Thanks to anyone who can simplify this decision for me.

10/16/2009, 01:47 PM	#2
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	Light color is really a personal preference. But having said that I like the Pheonix bulbs myself. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

10/16/2009, 02:56 PM	#3
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	+1 on the Pheonix __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

10/16/2009, 03:03 PM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	I can tell you from personal experience that the 14K Phoenix is more blue than a 20K Ushio. The 20K Ushio is a good bulb but if you want to try something different and want an extremely intense bright white bulb, you might try a 14K Iwasaki. I'm running one on a Galaxy ballast over my SPS right now and it's the brightest, whitest MH bulb I've ever seen. No yellow and very little blue. It's almost a little too "whiteout" for me so I'm thinking about going back to my old favorite 12K Reeflux. I really liked the 150W version of that bulb so I'm curious how the 250W version looks. For me, the 12K Reeflux has a really nice color balance-- not "cotton candy blue" as the Phoenix and 20K Ushio but not a total washout like you get with some 10 and 14K bulbs.