Best stand alone 150W DE MH bulb

fishnfool · 04/11/2008, 07:36 PM

Looking for experiences with 150W DE bulb without actinic supplements. I'm using an HQI ballast. How do Pheonix 14K, XM 20K, Iwasaki 50K or others compare with the Radium 20K as far as fluorescence? I understand that the Radiums do pretty well in this department. Any comments?

If anyone has pics to help me out it would be much appreciated.

GQuinn · 04/11/2008, 10:01 PM

Out of the bulbs you mention I have only used the Iwasaki 50k, but it is my favorite bulb out of all the ones I have tried. I do not use actinic supplements. Here is a picture of the Iwasaki 50k, but sometimes pictures are hard to tell the true color.

Gary

Bygkid · 04/11/2008, 10:59 PM

The one that I use are the Pheonix 150w DE 14000k HQI in a 29 " deep tank. No actinics or any other supplemental lighting.

Soctt

kdblove_99 · 04/12/2008, 01:45 AM

Radium 20K

pledosophy · 04/12/2008, 02:26 AM

I use the Phoenix and 14K and love it.

Mark426 · 04/12/2008, 04:28 AM

Phoenix 14K

fishnfool · 04/12/2008, 08:07 AM

Awsome pics you guys thanks for the input!

GQuinn and Bygkid what ballasts are you running?

DarG · 04/12/2008, 08:47 AM

I would also use the 50000K Iwasaki. Pretty good par for a 150 watt DE, not overwhelmingly blue and it also has a decent amount of actinic energy. Unique color and my favorite bulb of all of them. M81 ballast (Blue Wave 7) . I would love it if EYE came out with a 250 watt DE version that has the exact same color.

The Radium has slightly higher par but doesnt have the actinic bump. The two bulbs look quite different in terms of color. I havent seen the Phoenix but from what I have read, most users report is as a white bulb with slight blue. Not as blue as the 250 watt Phoenix. I also dont believe that it is the same bulb as the 150 watt Aquaconnect which is sometimes said to be the same bulb. So be careful with expectations when looking at the Aquaconnect graph on Sanjays site and expecting the Phoenix to be the same.

GQuinn · 04/12/2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishnfool
Awsome pics you guys thanks for the input!

GQuinn and Bygkid what ballasts are you running?

I use the Aro 175/150 electronic ballast.

Gary

dobbs · 04/12/2008, 10:01 AM

I like the Ushio 150W 10K HQI's the best so far. I've tried the Current's, and the XM's.

fishnfool · 04/12/2008, 10:42 AM

DarG, thanks for the input. I was under the impression that Radiums had a higher blue spike for fluorescence despite having an overall white w/blue tint to it.

dobbs, very nice pics! I am currently using a 20K BLV (ushio?) but find it has a nice white w/blue tint on my HQI ballast but very little in the way of color "pop". How is your 10K in person?

DarG · 04/12/2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishnfool
DarG, thanks for the input. I was under the impression that Radiums had a higher blue spike for fluorescence despite having an overall white w/blue tint to it.

dobbs, very nice pics! I am currently using a 20K BLV (ushio?) but find it has a nice white w/blue tint on my HQI ballast but very little in the way of color "pop". How is your 10K in person?

You can look at both bulbs on Sanjays site. The blue spike is about the same for the Radium and Iwasaki. The radiums spike is a bit broader but the Iwasaki does have some energy in the actinic 420nm area as well. It's not a huge 420nm spike like the typical blue 450-470nm spikes. Rather its smaller in intensity but fairly broad over that range like 400 - 430nm. My point was that you can see this in the color of the bulb. It's not a typical blue bulb. It has some visible actinic/purple in the color. But color perception varies between individuals so you may see it differently. But there is a little more actinic energy for color "pop" with those corals that do tend to "pop" under the actinic light.

fishnfool · 04/12/2008, 12:04 PM

Thank you DarG, very informative. I have been leaning toward trying out the Iwasaki.

Bygkid · 04/12/2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishnfool
Awsome pics you guys thanks for the input!

GQuinn and Bygkid what ballasts are you running?

I don't have separate ballasts, they are internal electronic ballasts. Not sure of additional details on the ballasts.

Scott

DarG · 04/12/2008, 07:54 PM

They are Sunpark electronic ballasts. Decent ballasts, nothing at all wrong with them.

mile sq. reefer · 04/12/2008, 11:08 PM

GQuinn, what type of ballast do you use to run the Iwasaki 50k's?

submytion · 04/12/2008, 11:16 PM

How would you compare the Phoniex 150 14K HQI versus the XM 150 14k HQI?

mile sq. reefer · 04/13/2008, 01:10 AM

I wouldn't. The XM is 15k and the PAR is dissmal. Pheonix on that choice all the way.

fishnfool · 04/13/2008, 06:59 AM

mile sq. reefer, do you have any pics with the Phoenix? I've heard good things about it. Plus it's cheaper than the Iwasaki

I wish there was a definative site that showed various pics of these bulbs with different ballasts over aquariums. Sanjay's site is extemely helpful as far as spectrum and par but I find myself trying to find pics that show them with their actual look. I think having the means to do this would be difficult as there are variables involved...money, camera skills, etc.

Just a thought....

Fig · 04/13/2008, 07:30 AM

I've ran both the Iwaskai 50k and the Phoenix 14k. I like the Phoenix for color and price. Both are really nice looking bulbs though. Its nice to switch bulbs and see what happens from time to time.

DarG · 04/13/2008, 09:16 AM

Steve at coral reef ecosystems dot com has the Iwasaki 50K 150 watt DE for 63 bucks. Iwasaki also has a new 20000K 150 DE. More of a typical blue and bluer overall from what I understand.

fishnfool · 04/13/2008, 09:40 AM

Hey Fig, do you have any pics with the Phoenix? How does it bring out the coral coloration?

Thanks DarG, that's the best price i've seen. I'm thinking I may try both the Phoenix 14K and Iwasaki 50K but not sure if I want to buy both. I guess I could sell one if I dont like it

submytion · 04/13/2008, 01:15 PM

Thanks for the info. I will try it for my next bulb.

04/11/2008, 07:36 PM	#1
fishnfool Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: simi valley Posts: 165	Best stand alone 150W DE MH bulb Looking for experiences with 150W DE bulb without actinic supplements. I'm using an HQI ballast. How do Pheonix 14K, XM 20K, Iwasaki 50K or others compare with the Radium 20K as far as fluorescence? I understand that the Radiums do pretty well in this department. Any comments? If anyone has pics to help me out it would be much appreciated. __________________ Russel I've never been any good in groups. It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent. -Q Current Tank Info: 40B DT, 20L sump, 2x AI Hydra, Aquamaxx ConeS CO-1, MP10/WP10 (coming soon), DC3000 Return, Apex Lite

04/11/2008, 10:59 PM	#3
Bygkid Premium Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Grand Prairie, Texas Posts: 187	The one that I use are the Pheonix 150w DE 14000k HQI in a 29 " deep tank. No actinics or any other supplemental lighting. Soctt __________________ One cannot wage war under present conditions without the support of public opinion, which is tremendously molded by the press and other forms of propaganda. - Douglas MacArthur Current Tank Info: Custom 140g mixed reef. 2 Mag 12 returns, 60" Current Sunpod HQI with 3 Phoenix 14000K 150W DE MH,55g sump/fug, Tunze 9015 skimmer, 4 Tunze 6055's w/ Multi Controller: 29g FW community tank, 450G FW Comet ponds

04/12/2008, 02:26 AM	#5
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	I use the Phoenix and 14K and love it. __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

04/12/2008, 08:07 AM	#7
fishnfool Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: simi valley Posts: 165	Awsome pics you guys thanks for the input! GQuinn and Bygkid what ballasts are you running? __________________ Russel I've never been any good in groups. It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent. -Q Current Tank Info: 40B DT, 20L sump, 2x AI Hydra, Aquamaxx ConeS CO-1, MP10/WP10 (coming soon), DC3000 Return, Apex Lite

04/12/2008, 10:42 AM	#11
fishnfool Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: simi valley Posts: 165	DarG, thanks for the input. I was under the impression that Radiums had a higher blue spike for fluorescence despite having an overall white w/blue tint to it. dobbs, very nice pics! I am currently using a 20K BLV (ushio?) but find it has a nice white w/blue tint on my HQI ballast but very little in the way of color "pop". How is your 10K in person? __________________ Russel I've never been any good in groups. It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent. -Q Current Tank Info: 40B DT, 20L sump, 2x AI Hydra, Aquamaxx ConeS CO-1, MP10/WP10 (coming soon), DC3000 Return, Apex Lite

04/11/2008, 10:01 PM	#2
GQuinn Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 982	Out of the bulbs you mention I have only used the Iwasaki 50k, but it is my favorite bulb out of all the ones I have tried. I do not use actinic supplements. Here is a picture of the Iwasaki 50k, but sometimes pictures are hard to tell the true color. Gary

04/12/2008, 01:45 AM	#4
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	Radium 20K

04/12/2008, 04:28 AM	#6
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	Phoenix 14K

04/12/2008, 08:47 AM	#8
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	I would also use the 50000K Iwasaki. Pretty good par for a 150 watt DE, not overwhelmingly blue and it also has a decent amount of actinic energy. Unique color and my favorite bulb of all of them. M81 ballast (Blue Wave 7) . I would love it if EYE came out with a 250 watt DE version that has the exact same color. The Radium has slightly higher par but doesnt have the actinic bump. The two bulbs look quite different in terms of color. I havent seen the Phoenix but from what I have read, most users report is as a white bulb with slight blue. Not as blue as the 250 watt Phoenix. I also dont believe that it is the same bulb as the 150 watt Aquaconnect which is sometimes said to be the same bulb. So be careful with expectations when looking at the Aquaconnect graph on Sanjays site and expecting the Phoenix to be the same.

04/12/2008, 10:01 AM	#10
dobbs Moved On Join Date: May 2006 Location: Forest Lake, MN Posts: 58	I like the Ushio 150W 10K HQI's the best so far. I've tried the Current's, and the XM's.

04/12/2008, 12:04 PM	#13
fishnfool Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: simi valley Posts: 165	Thank you DarG, very informative. I have been leaning toward trying out the Iwasaki. __________________ Russel I've never been any good in groups. It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent. -Q Current Tank Info: 40B DT, 20L sump, 2x AI Hydra, Aquamaxx ConeS CO-1, MP10/WP10 (coming soon), DC3000 Return, Apex Lite

04/12/2008, 07:54 PM	#15
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	They are Sunpark electronic ballasts. Decent ballasts, nothing at all wrong with them.

04/12/2008, 11:08 PM	#16
mile sq. reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,045	GQuinn, what type of ballast do you use to run the Iwasaki 50k's?

04/12/2008, 11:16 PM	#17
submytion Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 51	How would you compare the Phoniex 150 14K HQI versus the XM 150 14k HQI?

04/13/2008, 01:10 AM	#18
mile sq. reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,045	I wouldn't. The XM is 15k and the PAR is dissmal. Pheonix on that choice all the way.

04/13/2008, 06:59 AM	#19
fishnfool Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: simi valley Posts: 165	mile sq. reefer, do you have any pics with the Phoenix? I've heard good things about it. Plus it's cheaper than the Iwasaki I wish there was a definative site that showed various pics of these bulbs with different ballasts over aquariums. Sanjay's site is extemely helpful as far as spectrum and par but I find myself trying to find pics that show them with their actual look. I think having the means to do this would be difficult as there are variables involved...money, camera skills, etc. Just a thought.... __________________ Russel I've never been any good in groups. It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent. -Q Current Tank Info: 40B DT, 20L sump, 2x AI Hydra, Aquamaxx ConeS CO-1, MP10/WP10 (coming soon), DC3000 Return, Apex Lite

04/13/2008, 07:30 AM	#20
Fig Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 817	I've ran both the Iwaskai 50k and the Phoenix 14k. I like the Phoenix for color and price. Both are really nice looking bulbs though. Its nice to switch bulbs and see what happens from time to time.

04/13/2008, 09:16 AM	#21
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Steve at coral reef ecosystems dot com has the Iwasaki 50K 150 watt DE for 63 bucks. Iwasaki also has a new 20000K 150 DE. More of a typical blue and bluer overall from what I understand.

04/13/2008, 09:40 AM	#22
fishnfool Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: simi valley Posts: 165	Hey Fig, do you have any pics with the Phoenix? How does it bring out the coral coloration? Thanks DarG, that's the best price i've seen. I'm thinking I may try both the Phoenix 14K and Iwasaki 50K but not sure if I want to buy both. I guess I could sell one if I dont like it __________________ Russel I've never been any good in groups. It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent. -Q Current Tank Info: 40B DT, 20L sump, 2x AI Hydra, Aquamaxx ConeS CO-1, MP10/WP10 (coming soon), DC3000 Return, Apex Lite

04/13/2008, 01:15 PM	#23
submytion Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 51	Thanks for the info. I will try it for my next bulb.