Phoenix 14k's or radium 20k

3djedi · 03/07/2010, 01:30 PM

I have two 150w hqi mh and four 54w t5's on my 75g. The t5s are all actinic and I just bought two ushio 14k's that I just don't care for. It's still very white color. Do you think the Phoenix 14k's would a good choice for a nicer blue color? Or what about radium 20k? Would that be to much blue and look to dim? The t5's are due to be replaced so if anybody has a good combination please let me know! Thanks!

Typlus5 · 03/07/2010, 01:55 PM

I have 14K Phoenix in my 150w hqi's supplemented with Giesman pure actinic and aqua+ (even ratio). It's crisp white on the blue side. IMO, If you have supplement lighting, you may as well get some bang for your bucks. The problem with all actinic is your not getting much par value but I'll have to admit your colors will be popping. (correct me if I'm wrong)

luther1200 · 03/07/2010, 02:00 PM

What kind of ballast do you have?

Mattik · 03/07/2010, 02:02 PM

I would lean towards phoenix. I have 250W on a stock coralife ballast, and love them....they look far better than my old XM 20K bulbs did

sedor · 03/07/2010, 02:03 PM

Its a matter of personal taste. 20K Radiums with actinics is going to be fairly blue. Kind of that deep ocean look. If you like that, then go for it. Here is a shot of a tank running Radium 20K's and actinics:

luther1200 · 03/07/2010, 02:06 PM

The 150w are a little different color than the 250w. I have 150w Radiums and actinics onmy 65g and love it. I had Pheonix before that. I found the color to be very similar, but the Radiums are brighter if that makes sense. But it is really going to depend on what ballast the OP has. Most, (some would say all), electonic ballasts are not sutable for Radiiums so they might not even be an option.

3djedi · 03/07/2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luther1200

What kind of ballast do you have?

Not really sure. It's a current USA fixture. It's all contained in the fixture. 2-150w de mh's and four 54w t-5's and ballasts all in one unit. Pretty sure it is electronic.

luther1200 · 03/07/2010, 02:30 PM

I think it is electonic also. I read a thread a wekk or so ago were a guy was having issue's with his Radiums on a Current Sunpod. It would only fire them for a short time. I think you will be safer with Pheonix bulbs. I will try to find the thread to make sure I am correct.

luther1200 · 03/07/2010, 02:32 PM

This isn't the thread I meant, but it is about the same topic.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...+Radium+Sunpod

3djedi · 03/07/2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luther1200

This isn't the thread I meant, but it is about the same topic.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...+Radium+Sunpod

Hey thanks for the heads up! Very helpful!

3djedi · 03/07/2010, 03:27 PM

Anyone know how the Phoenix 14k compares to the xm 15k? What about maybe a reeflux 20k?

Since I'm running around 500w on a 75g should I stay away from the 20k's? Is intensity going to be a concern with that spectrum? Right now I have softies, lps, and a derasa clam but I want to try a few sps in the future.

luther1200 · 03/07/2010, 03:56 PM

I ran 150w Pheonix over my 65g and had clams and SPS. I also ran XM 20k. I noticed a good increase in growth when I switched from XM 20k to the Pheonix. I never ran the 15k XM though.

FWIW, That picture in my avatar is with the Pheonix bulbs in. And you can see the clam near the bottom that looks very happy.

3djedi · 03/08/2010, 02:59 PM

I've decided to go with the Phoenix 14k's. Thanks everyone.

HCO · 03/29/2010, 01:25 PM

and what do you think? are you happy?

I wan't to get the radiums but I'm not sure

3djedi · 03/29/2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HCO

and what do you think? are you happy?

I wan't to get the radiums but I'm not sure

Hmmm…not exactly. The ushio 14k with my 4 t5 actinics was way to white and now the Phoenix 14k with 4 actinics is way to blue! Hard to believe such a color difference between manufacturers with the same color rating. I will have to change out some of my t5's to get the color I want.

HCO · 03/29/2010, 01:51 PM

Ok. Thanks for the answer, btw.. do you have any pictures with the Phoenix and actinics?

Thanks again

3djedi · 03/29/2010, 02:06 PM

No but if you look at a bottle of windex it looks pretty similar.

elite401 · 03/29/2010, 03:56 PM

I think the thing with phoenix bulbs is what ballast you run then on. I have a phoenix 250W running on a Mag ballast and its crisp white and a 150W phoenix running on an electric ballast and its a lot more blue than the 250W. The 150 is about the color I like without needing any actinics. The 250W with 2 24W ATI actinic T5HO bulbs as supplementation is still slightly whiter than the 150W on an electronic ballast.

jus chillin · 03/29/2010, 03:57 PM

IMO , i like both.. have had great success with both , but for the money.. i would use 14k phoenix.. you can get better life out of them.. and also i have noticed that i get faster growth with the phoenix same color just grows quicker..

03/07/2010, 01:30 PM	#1
3djedi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 360	Phoenix 14k's or radium 20k I have two 150w hqi mh and four 54w t5's on my 75g. The t5s are all actinic and I just bought two ushio 14k's that I just don't care for. It's still very white color. Do you think the Phoenix 14k's would a good choice for a nicer blue color? Or what about radium 20k? Would that be to much blue and look to dim? The t5's are due to be replaced so if anybody has a good combination please let me know! Thanks!

03/07/2010, 02:00 PM	#3
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	What kind of ballast do you have? __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

03/07/2010, 02:03 PM	#5
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Its a matter of personal taste. 20K Radiums with actinics is going to be fairly blue. Kind of that deep ocean look. If you like that, then go for it. Here is a shot of a tank running Radium 20K's and actinics: __________________ Ryan

03/07/2010, 02:06 PM	#6
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	The 150w are a little different color than the 250w. I have 150w Radiums and actinics onmy 65g and love it. I had Pheonix before that. I found the color to be very similar, but the Radiums are brighter if that makes sense. But it is really going to depend on what ballast the OP has. Most, (some would say all), electonic ballasts are not sutable for Radiiums so they might not even be an option. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

03/07/2010, 02:30 PM	#8
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	I think it is electonic also. I read a thread a wekk or so ago were a guy was having issue's with his Radiums on a Current Sunpod. It would only fire them for a short time. I think you will be safer with Pheonix bulbs. I will try to find the thread to make sure I am correct. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

03/07/2010, 01:55 PM	#2
Typlus5 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gonzales Louisiana Posts: 966	I have 14K Phoenix in my 150w hqi's supplemented with Giesman pure actinic and aqua+ (even ratio). It's crisp white on the blue side. IMO, If you have supplement lighting, you may as well get some bang for your bucks. The problem with all actinic is your not getting much par value but I'll have to admit your colors will be popping. (correct me if I'm wrong)

03/07/2010, 02:02 PM	#4
Mattik Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 281	I would lean towards phoenix. I have 250W on a stock coralife ballast, and love them....they look far better than my old XM 20K bulbs did

03/07/2010, 02:32 PM	#9
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	This isn't the thread I meant, but it is about the same topic. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...+Radium+Sunpod __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

03/07/2010, 03:27 PM	#11
3djedi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 360	Anyone know how the Phoenix 14k compares to the xm 15k? What about maybe a reeflux 20k? Since I'm running around 500w on a 75g should I stay away from the 20k's? Is intensity going to be a concern with that spectrum? Right now I have softies, lps, and a derasa clam but I want to try a few sps in the future.

03/07/2010, 03:56 PM	#12
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	I ran 150w Pheonix over my 65g and had clams and SPS. I also ran XM 20k. I noticed a good increase in growth when I switched from XM 20k to the Pheonix. I never ran the 15k XM though. FWIW, That picture in my avatar is with the Pheonix bulbs in. And you can see the clam near the bottom that looks very happy. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

03/08/2010, 02:59 PM	#13
3djedi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 360	I've decided to go with the Phoenix 14k's. Thanks everyone.

03/29/2010, 01:25 PM	#14
HCO Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Montreal, Maple Syrup Land. Posts: 101	and what do you think? are you happy? I wan't to get the radiums but I'm not sure

03/29/2010, 01:51 PM	#16
HCO Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Montreal, Maple Syrup Land. Posts: 101	Ok. Thanks for the answer, btw.. do you have any pictures with the Phoenix and actinics? Thanks again

03/29/2010, 02:06 PM	#17
3djedi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 360	No but if you look at a bottle of windex it looks pretty similar.

03/29/2010, 03:56 PM	#18
elite401 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 64	I think the thing with phoenix bulbs is what ballast you run then on. I have a phoenix 250W running on a Mag ballast and its crisp white and a 150W phoenix running on an electric ballast and its a lot more blue than the 250W. The 150 is about the color I like without needing any actinics. The 250W with 2 24W ATI actinic T5HO bulbs as supplementation is still slightly whiter than the 150W on an electronic ballast.

03/29/2010, 03:57 PM	#19
jus chillin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: sw florida Posts: 93	IMO , i like both.. have had great success with both , but for the money.. i would use 14k phoenix.. you can get better life out of them.. and also i have noticed that i get faster growth with the phoenix same color just grows quicker..