Please Help Me Choose MH Bulb

unclereefer · 03/07/2007, 07:41 PM

My birthday is next week and its time to change my bulbs. I have a Corallife aqualight pro and have never been satisfied with the yellowish light i get out of the stock bulb that came with it. I would like a cooler light but not blue. Thanks for your help!

Tang Salad · 03/07/2007, 08:25 PM

Hi, I have 2 Coralife aqualight Pros. And I agree about the stock bulb.

I switched to Phoneix 14K bulbs and absolutely love them. They are bright white with a tinge of blue, and high in PAR, too. Many people rave about them, me included!

unclereefer · 03/07/2007, 10:07 PM

thanks

Ritten · 03/07/2007, 10:12 PM

I run an XM 20,000 K and love it. A lot of people think it is too blue, but I did try a 15,000 and thought it was way to yellow.

unclereefer · 03/07/2007, 10:21 PM

Do you know a good place online to buy pheonix bulbs?

Tang Salad · 03/08/2007, 12:28 AM

They're pretty common. Just ask at the place from which you usually buy stuff online.

That said, I got mine at M'Depot.

leeweber85 · 03/08/2007, 12:53 AM

I've heard the Phoenix 14ks are very blue.

Tang Salad · 03/08/2007, 02:05 AM

As far as 14Ks go, they are more blue than some others. Then again, many complain that most 14Ks aren't blue enough.

Most people who have them are very happy with the color.

toccata · 03/08/2007, 09:45 AM

I have a similar fixture, and you most likely have supplement PC lighting? The fixture came with 10k, and after researching I wanted a HQI bulb that was a little more blue (just a matter of preference) and bought the Phoenix 14k bulb. The advertisement behind this bulb said it was a 'white' light with a tint of blue. That I found was not true. The 14k is much 'bluer' then the stock 10k bulbs. Again it is a matter of preference. I could say my corals and fish look much better, the tank just does not look as bright to me anymore...

My suggestion would be if you know a LFS owner that might loan you a 14k/20k bulb you can experiment on your own. Marine Depot has a page that compares different bulbs and their color, this will give you a better idea, but won't necessarily give you the exact results you may get in your tank since there are other factors...

HTH

03/07/2007, 07:41 PM	#1
unclereefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 302	Please Help Me Choose MH Bulb My birthday is next week and its time to change my bulbs. I have a Corallife aqualight pro and have never been satisfied with the yellowish light i get out of the stock bulb that came with it. I would like a cooler light but not blue. Thanks for your help!

03/07/2007, 08:25 PM	#2
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Hi, I have 2 Coralife aqualight Pros. And I agree about the stock bulb. I switched to Phoneix 14K bulbs and absolutely love them. They are bright white with a tinge of blue, and high in PAR, too. Many people rave about them, me included! __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

03/08/2007, 12:28 AM	#6
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	They're pretty common. Just ask at the place from which you usually buy stuff online. That said, I got mine at M'Depot. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

03/08/2007, 12:53 AM	#7
leeweber85 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 2,482	I've heard the Phoenix 14ks are very blue. __________________ -Lee Current Tank Info: 120g reef, 20g reef

03/08/2007, 02:05 AM	#8
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	As far as 14Ks go, they are more blue than some others. Then again, many complain that most 14Ks aren't blue enough. Most people who have them are very happy with the color. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

03/07/2007, 10:07 PM	#3
unclereefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 302	thanks

03/07/2007, 10:12 PM	#4
Ritten Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,164	I run an XM 20,000 K and love it. A lot of people think it is too blue, but I did try a 15,000 and thought it was way to yellow.

03/07/2007, 10:21 PM	#5
unclereefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 302	Do you know a good place online to buy pheonix bulbs?

03/08/2007, 09:45 AM	#9
toccata Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 234	I have a similar fixture, and you most likely have supplement PC lighting? The fixture came with 10k, and after researching I wanted a HQI bulb that was a little more blue (just a matter of preference) and bought the Phoenix 14k bulb. The advertisement behind this bulb said it was a 'white' light with a tint of blue. That I found was not true. The 14k is much 'bluer' then the stock 10k bulbs. Again it is a matter of preference. I could say my corals and fish look much better, the tank just does not look as bright to me anymore... My suggestion would be if you know a LFS owner that might loan you a 14k/20k bulb you can experiment on your own. Marine Depot has a page that compares different bulbs and their color, this will give you a better idea, but won't necessarily give you the exact results you may get in your tank since there are other factors... HTH __________________ Life is what happens to you While you’re busy making other plans -JL Current Tank Info: 350gal Starphire: fowlr, some corals