Phoenix 14k with actinic t5

steelerguy · 04/18/2007, 11:13 PM

I hesitate to ask this question because I know lighting is so much about aesthetics in addition to coral health and growth, but lacking my own experience, I turn to those that have more.

I have a Current USA Outer Orbit HQI/T5 fixture. It has 2 x 150W 10K halides, 2 x 39W 460nm T5, and 2 x 39W 420 nm T5. This is a brand new fixture so I don't know what it looks like over water yet. I am still building my tank so it is going to be a couple weeks yet.

I really like the look of the Phoenix 14k bulbs, but I don't know if it is getting too blue to do those bulbs with actinic supplementation. How much more blue would the actinic T5 bulbs make the tank look? I know, hard to answer, so I guess what I want to know is will it be a big difference or not much?

Also, would this just be too much blue to have healthy corals that have good growth? This is a display tank, so I am not looking for super fast growth so I can frag and sell, but good growth and coloration would be nice. I like to start with frags and let them grow out so I want to make sure Phoenix 14k bulbs with the actinic T5s would do that.

I know I could just wait till the tank is up and running to see how it looks, but I really don't want to start messing with the lights once I have corals in there.

Thanks everyone!

zoozimmy · 04/18/2007, 11:21 PM

wow

OO7 · 04/19/2007, 07:29 AM

I will be running a phoenix 14K 250 HQI along with two T5 UVL superactinics . . . . its going to be blue, but not ridiculously so.

Try out the 10K for a while . . . . you're not going to have corals in the tank for the first month anyways (at least you shouldn't until water parameters stabilize). If you don't like, then change . . . even if you have corals in there its not going to hurt anything.

SDguy · 04/19/2007, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by zoozimmy
wow

You won't get far bumping your post count like this...

At least have it make sense in the thread

As for the light, I run 14K phoenix with no supplementation, but they are on eballasts, so they are more blue, as I understand it, than on HQI ballasts. Also, the blue in the phoenix is in between the 420 and 460nm range, so I don't think you'd be adding to the exact same blue. If I had your option though, I'd stick with 10k's, since that sounds like a good amount of supplementation for 150 watters.

CSMReef · 04/19/2007, 08:14 AM

Steelerguy,

I asked a similar question the other day, only pertaining to the 250w fixture. I was told the ReefLux 12k looks amazing, not as blue as the 14k's and not as bright white as the 10k's. HTH.

CSMReef

twon8 · 04/19/2007, 08:37 AM

i don't use actinic, prefer other bulbs

what size tank is this for?

i would get some ati blueplus bulbs instead of actinic

skey44 · 04/19/2007, 09:25 AM

reeflux=lower par than phoenix i believe.

Rosseau · 04/19/2007, 09:57 AM

wow

Oh, right, back to the thread. I'm adding T5 actinics to a 10,000K after figuring my corals would like the increased PAR over the 14K.

steelerguy · 04/19/2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by twon8
i don't use actinic, prefer other bulbs

what size tank is this for?

i would get some ati blueplus bulbs instead of actinic

The tank is a 50 gallon, 36x15x20.

steelerguy · 04/19/2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by OO7
I will be running a phoenix 14K 250 HQI along with two T5 UVL superactinics . . . . its going to be blue, but not ridiculously so.

Try out the 10K for a while . . . . you're not going to have corals in the tank for the first month anyways (at least you shouldn't until water parameters stabilize). If you don't like, then change . . . even if you have corals in there its not going to hurt anything.

Right, there will be no corals in the tank for awhile while it cycles. My thinking was, being the cheapo that I am, if I was going to go with the Phoenix 14k then I would just sell the bulbs I have now since they are brand new rather than used. Not that I would get a lot for them anyway, but I figured it would be easier to sell new bulbs than used. The second reason was I didn't want to freak out corals that had not been established by changing the wavelength of light on them. I guess it is probably easier on them to go more blue than it would be to go a lot brighter all of the sudden.

I will have to check out some of the alternatives that have been mentioned. I may end up going with bluer MH and not using 4 actinic T5 bulbs, but perhaps some daylight/blue/actinic combination.

Cubman777 · 04/19/2007, 12:25 PM

what type of ballast are you thinking of using, electronic or magnetic? I run 2x250 DE phoenix 14k's supplemented by 2x54w pure actinic t5's. I have what I think is great color. Very far from "blue tank syndrome." My 14k's burn a little whiter because they are on a magnetic ballast though. They tend to burn a little bluer on electronic ballasts. I know that are wattages are different so make of it what you will. Just thought that it better to have more info than not.

toccata · 04/19/2007, 12:26 PM

FWIW, I just stopped using Phoenix 14ks. I don't think they live up to what is claimed. They were supposed to be white with a hint of blue? I ran these with actinics and it as very blue, almost 20k blue. It depends on personal preference. I switched to using 10k reeflux and (1) phoenix lamp still using the actinics and now the color is closer to what I was looking for. Coral growth wise, I can't say there is much of a difference...

reef_doug · 04/19/2007, 12:35 PM

The actinic is aesthetics only - florescent look
The aqua blue has more usable par and can help with growth and balance out 10k, but IMO the 12k or 14k will be the same.

My next bulbs will be Phoenix 14K w/ actinic VHO supplementation for the florescent look.

NYReef · 04/19/2007, 12:37 PM

On my HQI ballast the Phoenix 14K looks a lot more blue then the 20K Radium.

SDguy · 04/19/2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NYReef
On my HQI ballast the Phoenix 14K looks a lot more blue then the 20K Radium.

Strange, I've heard the opposite.

technomex · 04/19/2007, 01:19 PM

I run a Maristar fixture with 3-250W Phoenix 14K's on bluewave ballasts. The fixture also runs 4 39W blue puls T-5's. I went with the blue plus thinking the combination with the actinics would be too blue. I like it.

finless · 04/19/2007, 03:33 PM

I run
Phoenix 14k
pure actinic T5
actinic plus T5
6000k T5
aqua blue plus T5

And finally like it!

steelerguy · 04/19/2007, 04:44 PM

The ballasts in my fixture are electronic, so it sounds like that would make the Phoenix bulbs even bluer. I tend to prefer a more blue look, but I don't want it to be dark or as someone else put it have "blue tank syndrome". It is probably just going to come down to me playing with a couple combinations to see what I like. I'll probably just get the Phoenix bulbs and try them out. If it is too blue I'll go back to the 10K bulbs and sell the Phoenix.

As long as it is not going to freak the corals out I don't mind spending some money to play around. I just don't want to bleach anything because I am experimenting with lights.

04/18/2007, 11:13 PM	#1
steelerguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Stony Brook, NY Posts: 263	Phoenix 14k with actinic t5 I hesitate to ask this question because I know lighting is so much about aesthetics in addition to coral health and growth, but lacking my own experience, I turn to those that have more. I have a Current USA Outer Orbit HQI/T5 fixture. It has 2 x 150W 10K halides, 2 x 39W 460nm T5, and 2 x 39W 420 nm T5. This is a brand new fixture so I don't know what it looks like over water yet. I am still building my tank so it is going to be a couple weeks yet. I really like the look of the Phoenix 14k bulbs, but I don't know if it is getting too blue to do those bulbs with actinic supplementation. How much more blue would the actinic T5 bulbs make the tank look? I know, hard to answer, so I guess what I want to know is will it be a big difference or not much? Also, would this just be too much blue to have healthy corals that have good growth? This is a display tank, so I am not looking for super fast growth so I can frag and sell, but good growth and coloration would be nice. I like to start with frags and let them grow out so I want to make sure Phoenix 14k bulbs with the actinic T5s would do that. I know I could just wait till the tank is up and running to see how it looks, but I really don't want to start messing with the lights once I have corals in there. Thanks everyone! Last edited by steelerguy; 04/18/2007 at 11:29 PM.

04/19/2007, 08:37 AM	#6
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	i don't use actinic, prefer other bulbs what size tank is this for? i would get some ati blueplus bulbs instead of actinic __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

04/19/2007, 09:25 AM	#7
skey44 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Taylors, SC Posts: 929	reeflux=lower par than phoenix i believe. __________________ Just trying to enjoy a delicious slice of reef pie in the suburban jungle. -Scott Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder Dining Room Tank- 2 Kessil A160, Vortech MP10, Tunze Nanostream, Tunze 9004 skimmer, Marineland HOB, Eheim heater 34g Office Honeymoon Shallow Reef

04/19/2007, 09:57 AM	#8
Rosseau Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 2,049	wow Oh, right, back to the thread. I'm adding T5 actinics to a 10,000K after figuring my corals would like the increased PAR over the 14K. __________________ Still fighting entropy.

04/19/2007, 12:25 PM	#11
Cubman777 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 517	what type of ballast are you thinking of using, electronic or magnetic? I run 2x250 DE phoenix 14k's supplemented by 2x54w pure actinic t5's. I have what I think is great color. Very far from "blue tank syndrome." My 14k's burn a little whiter because they are on a magnetic ballast though. They tend to burn a little bluer on electronic ballasts. I know that are wattages are different so make of it what you will. Just thought that it better to have more info than not. __________________ I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. If all of the girls from my prom were laid end to end, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. Current Tank Info: My tank, uh, doesn't exist anymore...

04/18/2007, 11:21 PM	#2
zoozimmy Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7	wow

04/19/2007, 07:29 AM	#3
OO7 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 153	I will be running a phoenix 14K 250 HQI along with two T5 UVL superactinics . . . . its going to be blue, but not ridiculously so. Try out the 10K for a while . . . . you're not going to have corals in the tank for the first month anyways (at least you shouldn't until water parameters stabilize). If you don't like, then change . . . even if you have corals in there its not going to hurt anything.

04/19/2007, 08:14 AM	#5
CSMReef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 83	Steelerguy, I asked a similar question the other day, only pertaining to the 250w fixture. I was told the ReefLux 12k looks amazing, not as blue as the 14k's and not as bright white as the 10k's. HTH. CSMReef

04/19/2007, 12:26 PM	#12
toccata Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 234	FWIW, I just stopped using Phoenix 14ks. I don't think they live up to what is claimed. They were supposed to be white with a hint of blue? I ran these with actinics and it as very blue, almost 20k blue. It depends on personal preference. I switched to using 10k reeflux and (1) phoenix lamp still using the actinics and now the color is closer to what I was looking for. Coral growth wise, I can't say there is much of a difference... __________________ Life is what happens to you While you’re busy making other plans -JL Current Tank Info: 350gal Starphire: fowlr, some corals

04/19/2007, 12:35 PM	#13
reef_doug Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hesperia/Apple Valley Posts: 3,814	The actinic is aesthetics only - florescent look The aqua blue has more usable par and can help with growth and balance out 10k, but IMO the 12k or 14k will be the same. My next bulbs will be Phoenix 14K w/ actinic VHO supplementation for the florescent look. __________________ "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

04/19/2007, 12:37 PM	#14
NYReef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 203	On my HQI ballast the Phoenix 14K looks a lot more blue then the 20K Radium.

04/19/2007, 01:19 PM	#16
technomex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 152	I run a Maristar fixture with 3-250W Phoenix 14K's on bluewave ballasts. The fixture also runs 4 39W blue puls T-5's. I went with the blue plus thinking the combination with the actinics would be too blue. I like it. __________________ Try this credit card, see what they have to say about it. Current Tank Info: 150g RR, 72 bowfront community

04/19/2007, 03:33 PM	#17
finless Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Greenville, S.C. Posts: 181	I run Phoenix 14k pure actinic T5 actinic plus T5 6000k T5 aqua blue plus T5 And finally like it!

04/19/2007, 04:44 PM	#18
steelerguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Stony Brook, NY Posts: 263	The ballasts in my fixture are electronic, so it sounds like that would make the Phoenix bulbs even bluer. I tend to prefer a more blue look, but I don't want it to be dark or as someone else put it have "blue tank syndrome". It is probably just going to come down to me playing with a couple combinations to see what I like. I'll probably just get the Phoenix bulbs and try them out. If it is too blue I'll go back to the 10K bulbs and sell the Phoenix. As long as it is not going to freak the corals out I don't mind spending some money to play around. I just don't want to bleach anything because I am experimenting with lights.