best 20k bulb for sps color and growth - Page 5

ksc · 06/25/2009, 04:41 PM

LOL! You won't have to worry about par if you run those DE's without a shield over your tank. That's cheating, don't you think?

Garage1217 · 06/25/2009, 04:54 PM

Naw, just a technical advantage

But I do run glass under all my DE's personally. I think if they flipped the darn fill hole nipple "up" instead of "down" on DE bulbs, they could squeak another 4-5ppfd out of them. With 150w bulbs it is no issue as they can spin around and point whatever way you want.

And in the name brand DE category, the only ones I have liked are the following in order... As posted, just discovered the EVC this week. Totally blown away by the color. Just an outstanding bulb!

Best way I can describe them, is they look like that "sweet spot" when a bulb like the AB, Ushio or XM are heating up... During the warm up, they turn that amazing color, then they turn there regular color when fully warm. The EVC turns that amazing shade, then keeps it!

EVC / Helios 20K "same bulb"

AB / Ushio 20K "same bulb"

XM20K

kaskiles · 06/25/2009, 06:14 PM

Does EVC or Helios make a 150 watt DE 20000 Kelvin bulb?

docsky · 06/26/2009, 02:55 PM

I run 2 phoenix 250's and a ushio 20K 250 in the center all on icecap e-ballast. The tank has a very even color. People can not tell where the ushio 20K is versus the phoenix. Also the ushio 20K is 3 months old and the phoenix are 14 months old. I will buy the phoenix again just ad a aqua sun vho and the washed out windex look goes away!

Garage1217 · 06/26/2009, 03:49 PM

I have a very hard time with that statement docsky, I had phoenix side by side with ushio 20K's and there was a massive difference in color. Not even close to even. One side was like looking at a bowel of watered down windex, and the other a pure white with violet hue crystal look. Totally different spectrum.

Unless somehow the light from the phoenix are totally taking over any and all color from the ushio, the difference would be dramatic.

henrystyle · 06/28/2009, 03:05 PM

Ok, Im switching my ballast to a PFO 250w hqi ballast.

Which bulb do you guys recommend, the EVC or the Radium SE 20k?

Im not going to be using any supplemental lighting. (no t5s or vho) Gonna be used as a stand alone bulb in my coralvue lumenbright mini pendant. Looking for a nice tank color, coral colors, with the highest possible par.

James77 · 06/28/2009, 05:21 PM

Then go with the Radiums, they are great stand alone. On the M80 ballasts they run at their spec wattage. They are more of a 14k bulb- bright crisp white, with a strong actinic blue in them.

On that ballast, the Radiums give more than 20% more PAR than the EVC.

henrystyle · 06/28/2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James77
Then go with the Radiums, they are great stand alone. On the M80 ballasts they run at their spec wattage. They are more of a 14k bulb- bright crisp white, with a strong actinic blue in them.

On that ballast, the Radiums give more than 20% more PAR than the EVC.

Cool..Thanks for the info....

Garage1217 · 06/28/2009, 08:49 PM

More par, not so impressive color. Choose the compromise

James77 · 06/28/2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Garage1217
More par, not so impressive color. Choose the compromise

You've run Radiums on M80 ballasts,correct? Your comment seems odd, since I constantly see people recommend Radiums for the best color, but rarely EVC bulbs.

06/25/2009, 04:54 PM	#102
Garage1217 GET OFF MY LAWN Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Globally Posts: 5,863	Naw, just a technical advantage But I do run glass under all my DE's personally. I think if they flipped the darn fill hole nipple "up" instead of "down" on DE bulbs, they could squeak another 4-5ppfd out of them. With 150w bulbs it is no issue as they can spin around and point whatever way you want. And in the name brand DE category, the only ones I have liked are the following in order... As posted, just discovered the EVC this week. Totally blown away by the color. Just an outstanding bulb! Best way I can describe them, is they look like that "sweet spot" when a bulb like the AB, Ushio or XM are heating up... During the warm up, they turn that amazing color, then they turn there regular color when fully warm. The EVC turns that amazing shade, then keeps it! EVC / Helios 20K "same bulb" AB / Ushio 20K "same bulb" XM20K __________________ No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness ~ Aristotle If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? ~ Albert Einstein I'm just as bent as ever. Hellishly so ~ Captain Jack Sparrow Current Tank Info: Systems and goodies by Lee-Mar / Coralvue / Neptune Systems / Jager / Spectrapure / Cree / Meanwell + more!

06/26/2009, 03:49 PM	#105
Garage1217 GET OFF MY LAWN Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Globally Posts: 5,863	I have a very hard time with that statement docsky, I had phoenix side by side with ushio 20K's and there was a massive difference in color. Not even close to even. One side was like looking at a bowel of watered down windex, and the other a pure white with violet hue crystal look. Totally different spectrum. Unless somehow the light from the phoenix are totally taking over any and all color from the ushio, the difference would be dramatic. __________________ No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness ~ Aristotle If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? ~ Albert Einstein I'm just as bent as ever. Hellishly so ~ Captain Jack Sparrow Current Tank Info: Systems and goodies by Lee-Mar / Coralvue / Neptune Systems / Jager / Spectrapure / Cree / Meanwell + more!

06/28/2009, 03:05 PM	#106
henrystyle Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: East Stroudsburg, Pa Posts: 668	Ok, Im switching my ballast to a PFO 250w hqi ballast. Which bulb do you guys recommend, the EVC or the Radium SE 20k? Im not going to be using any supplemental lighting. (no t5s or vho) Gonna be used as a stand alone bulb in my coralvue lumenbright mini pendant. Looking for a nice tank color, coral colors, with the highest possible par. __________________ HENRYSTYLE - That Henry Guy Current Tank Info: 30g frag tank/120g sps dominant reef

06/28/2009, 05:21 PM	#107
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Then go with the Radiums, they are great stand alone. On the M80 ballasts they run at their spec wattage. They are more of a 14k bulb- bright crisp white, with a strong actinic blue in them. On that ballast, the Radiums give more than 20% more PAR than the EVC. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

06/28/2009, 08:49 PM	#109
Garage1217 GET OFF MY LAWN Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Globally Posts: 5,863	More par, not so impressive color. Choose the compromise __________________ No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness ~ Aristotle If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? ~ Albert Einstein I'm just as bent as ever. Hellishly so ~ Captain Jack Sparrow Current Tank Info: Systems and goodies by Lee-Mar / Coralvue / Neptune Systems / Jager / Spectrapure / Cree / Meanwell + more!

06/25/2009, 04:41 PM	#101
ksc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 415	LOL! You won't have to worry about par if you run those DE's without a shield over your tank. That's cheating, don't you think?

06/25/2009, 06:14 PM	#103
kaskiles Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 726	Does EVC or Helios make a 150 watt DE 20000 Kelvin bulb?

06/26/2009, 02:55 PM	#104
docsky Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 121	I run 2 phoenix 250's and a ushio 20K 250 in the center all on icecap e-ballast. The tank has a very even color. People can not tell where the ushio 20K is versus the phoenix. Also the ushio 20K is 3 months old and the phoenix are 14 months old. I will buy the phoenix again just ad a aqua sun vho and the washed out windex look goes away!