Show me some lighting options

Blue Reef Girl · 09/23/2007, 03:50 PM

I was thinking of getting some 250 watts hqi. The questions is what brand should I go with. I'm thinking of ( 14K ). Could you guy's post some of your pictures with what you are using so that I can compare color wise.

kdblove_99 · 09/23/2007, 04:05 PM

I have tried phoenix 14K Ushio 10K Hamilton 14K DE

Also tried reeflux 12K and XM20K SE

IN my opinion the Phoenix is the best!

not a great pic but Phoenix 14K on left and Ushio on right

[IMG]

[/IMG]

This is also Phoenix 14K on a 60 cube with blue black

[IMG]

[/IMG]

roblack · 09/24/2007, 02:25 PM

I am running an Ushio 20K on my frag tank, and it looks great, nice and blue. In my opinion, go with a 20K bulb if you want bluer light.

Rouselb · 09/24/2007, 03:33 PM

This is going to be a good thread..anytime there's a open question like whats your preference. I run (3) Aqualine 10K DE HQI which is about 104 PPFD each. That gives me the light spectrum for the corals, now for my eyes (heres the tricky part), i added (4) T5's Actinic Plus's that i run on a IceCap 660 ballast.

truthdesigns · 09/24/2007, 05:37 PM

Here is a pic of the Hamilton 14K At Three weeks old

And here is the phoenix 14k at three weeks old

bdare · 09/28/2007, 01:55 PM

MORE!!!

truthdesigns · 09/28/2007, 04:36 PM

^

USC-fan · 09/28/2007, 04:49 PM

Phoenix 14K FTW.

kuramura · 09/28/2007, 05:18 PM

Phoenix 14k 150 w over 36 corner
the tank is 2 y/o with some sps elkhorn growing on glass,
clam on the bottom (6 months)
and little bit of coralline here and there

BeanAnimal · 09/28/2007, 09:50 PM

Guys I hate to break the news to you...

but photos of tanks to discern bulb coloration are about 100% useless. You will need to see the bulb combinations in person to get a feel for what they look like.

Everything from the ambinet lighting, camera type, white balance settings, compression settings, monitor settings and a dozen other things affect what you see on your screen.

Walk into your favorite TV store and look at all of the TVs. Which TV has the proper color? They are ALL showing the same picture! They will ALL look different. Now consider that what you are watching has been painstakingly color corrected with state of the art equipment and the ONLY variable is the display device itself. Now think back about our NON calibrated cameras, flashes and software.

BTW:
Very nice photos and tanks folks!

09/23/2007, 03:50 PM	#1
Blue Reef Girl Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 32	Show me some lighting options I was thinking of getting some 250 watts hqi. The questions is what brand should I go with. I'm thinking of ( 14K ). Could you guy's post some of your pictures with what you are using so that I can compare color wise.

09/23/2007, 04:05 PM	#2
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	I have tried phoenix 14K Ushio 10K Hamilton 14K DE Also tried reeflux 12K and XM20K SE IN my opinion the Phoenix is the best! not a great pic but Phoenix 14K on left and Ushio on right [IMG][/IMG] This is also Phoenix 14K on a 60 cube with blue black [IMG][/IMG]

09/24/2007, 03:33 PM	#4
Rouselb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Detroit Michigan Posts: 1,238	This is going to be a good thread..anytime there's a open question like whats your preference. I run (3) Aqualine 10K DE HQI which is about 104 PPFD each. That gives me the light spectrum for the corals, now for my eyes (heres the tricky part), i added (4) T5's Actinic Plus's that i run on a IceCap 660 ballast. __________________ Larry Current Tank Info: 425g Mixed Reef, (6) Orphek LED mods, (4) MP60s, (2) Bubble King SM250 Skimmer, LMIII for Dose & ATO

09/24/2007, 05:37 PM	#5
truthdesigns Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilbert,AZ Posts: 1,861 Blog Entries: 1	Here is a pic of the Hamilton 14K At Three weeks old And here is the phoenix 14k at three weeks old __________________ -Justin "Beauty is within an ocean behind glass" Current Tank Info: 18 gallon custom nano.

09/28/2007, 01:55 PM	#6
bdare Salty Dude Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rockwall, TX Posts: 1,322 Blog Entries: 3	MORE!!! __________________ 220 Mixed Reef GeoCaRx, GHL Profilux 4, Octopus Skimmer, Kessil 360X 2 x Maxspect Gyre XF350

09/24/2007, 02:25 PM	#3
roblack Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 3,094	I am running an Ushio 20K on my frag tank, and it looks great, nice and blue. In my opinion, go with a 20K bulb if you want bluer light.

09/28/2007, 04:36 PM	#7
truthdesigns Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilbert,AZ Posts: 1,861 Blog Entries: 1	^ __________________ -Justin "Beauty is within an ocean behind glass" Current Tank Info: 18 gallon custom nano.

09/28/2007, 04:49 PM	#8
USC-fan Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,626	Phoenix 14K FTW.

09/28/2007, 05:18 PM	#9
kuramura Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Schiller Pk. IL Posts: 471	Phoenix 14k 150 w over 36 corner the tank is 2 y/o with some sps elkhorn growing on glass, clam on the bottom (6 months) and little bit of coralline here and there

09/28/2007, 09:50 PM	#10
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Guys I hate to break the news to you... but photos of tanks to discern bulb coloration are about 100% useless. You will need to see the bulb combinations in person to get a feel for what they look like. Everything from the ambinet lighting, camera type, white balance settings, compression settings, monitor settings and a dozen other things affect what you see on your screen. Walk into your favorite TV store and look at all of the TVs. Which TV has the proper color? They are ALL showing the same picture! They will ALL look different. Now consider that what you are watching has been painstakingly color corrected with state of the art equipment and the ONLY variable is the display device itself. Now think back about our NON calibrated cameras, flashes and software. BTW: Very nice photos and tanks folks!