What options between 14K and 10K for DE MH ??

rdmpe · 06/25/2006, 09:33 AM

I'm thinking about a lighting change. Right now I have on hand Ushio 10K and Pheonix 14K and am wondering if there is a lamp that is somewhere between these two. IMO the pheonix 14K are a little more blue than I like.

I heard that the Megachrome 14.5K are not very blue at all, they were compared to a Hamilton 10K.

Anyone else familiar with a lamp that is somewhere between teh Ushio 10K and the Pheonix 14K???

moonpod · 06/25/2006, 10:35 AM

The megachrome 14.5k is shall we say.....supiciously simlar to the Ushio 14k--with the Ushio being about 75 bux a pop and the G'man 90+. Basically a tweaking of the Ushio and BLV 10k bulb and runs probably around a true 12-3k or so depending on your ballast (assuing 250w DE here. The SE bulbs are different). The Hammy 14k is a pleasant enough color but lacks....I dunno what...somehow is a bland bulb to me. Not that blue, not that bright, I dunno....

The reeflux 10k is probably what you are looking for. Personally I got skeeved out from the experiences with the initial Coralvue releases so I won't use 'em, but I know that others are doing it without issue.

rdmpe · 06/25/2006, 06:05 PM

I compared the megachrome 13K with the BLV 14K plots from Sanjay's site and they hit the exact same points. He doesn't have an Ushio 14K. My ballast is a blue line magnetic (stock ballast for the maristar fixtures). Sanjay also doesn't have anything on the reeflux lamps as far as I can tell. He has a coralvue 15K that hits all the same points exactly as the phoenix, except that the phoenix is stronger along the whole chart.

Guess I'll try to find some more info on the reeflux 10K lamps.

I ran a phoenix 14K along side an ushio 10K just to try to make a personal decision which one to run for now, and decided to go with the phoenix. I like the brightness of the ushio better than the blueness of the phoenix, but the coral colors are a lot better with the phoenix. I guess if my actinic supplements were better I may be able to get away with the Ushios but not for now. It's about time to replace my T5 actinics actually, they are older than the MH lamps!

Ti · 06/25/2006, 07:07 PM

I would go with a hamilton 14k, it's rright in between the phonix and a 10K

06/25/2006, 09:33 AM	#1
rdmpe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,737	What options between 14K and 10K for DE MH ?? I'm thinking about a lighting change. Right now I have on hand Ushio 10K and Pheonix 14K and am wondering if there is a lamp that is somewhere between these two. IMO the pheonix 14K are a little more blue than I like. I heard that the Megachrome 14.5K are not very blue at all, they were compared to a Hamilton 10K. Anyone else familiar with a lamp that is somewhere between teh Ushio 10K and the Pheonix 14K???

06/25/2006, 10:35 AM	#2
moonpod Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: B.H., Los Angeles Posts: 13,053	The megachrome 14.5k is shall we say.....supiciously simlar to the Ushio 14k--with the Ushio being about 75 bux a pop and the G'man 90+. Basically a tweaking of the Ushio and BLV 10k bulb and runs probably around a true 12-3k or so depending on your ballast (assuing 250w DE here. The SE bulbs are different). The Hammy 14k is a pleasant enough color but lacks....I dunno what...somehow is a bland bulb to me. Not that blue, not that bright, I dunno.... The reeflux 10k is probably what you are looking for. Personally I got skeeved out from the experiences with the initial Coralvue releases so I won't use 'em, but I know that others are doing it without issue. __________________ Excuses are just the nails for the house of failure. Current Tank Info: 32" Leemar starfire cube now empty and not quite so stinky

06/25/2006, 07:07 PM	#4
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	I would go with a hamilton 14k, it's rright in between the phonix and a 10K __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

06/25/2006, 06:05 PM	#3
rdmpe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,737	I compared the megachrome 13K with the BLV 14K plots from Sanjay's site and they hit the exact same points. He doesn't have an Ushio 14K. My ballast is a blue line magnetic (stock ballast for the maristar fixtures). Sanjay also doesn't have anything on the reeflux lamps as far as I can tell. He has a coralvue 15K that hits all the same points exactly as the phoenix, except that the phoenix is stronger along the whole chart. Guess I'll try to find some more info on the reeflux 10K lamps. I ran a phoenix 14K along side an ushio 10K just to try to make a personal decision which one to run for now, and decided to go with the phoenix. I like the brightness of the ushio better than the blueness of the phoenix, but the coral colors are a lot better with the phoenix. I guess if my actinic supplements were better I may be able to get away with the Ushios but not for now. It's about time to replace my T5 actinics actually, they are older than the MH lamps!