Best 250W DE Bulb for SPS Tank?

Wolfgang · 03/23/2008, 09:42 AM

Greetings all:
I set up a Standard 29 Gal tank and drilled and put in a Overflow.
Curently set up with a single 250W Phoenix DE Bulb. I chose a CoralVue Ballast, as I was was going to run a 12K Reeflux, but when I saw how Dim it was, I installed a Phoenix, WAY brighter.
I was thinking of a 20K but the Phoenix seems to have about the best Par.
What DE Bulb would you use and Why?
Other tank specs, ETS Sump, Reefdevil Skimmer run by a Mag 7, 700 gal return Pump, Two Maxi jet 1200's ,Sawed off Nozzle mod with a Timer. Phosban reactor using Phosar, TLF Hydrocarbon, Passive in sump. Using Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt.

Thanks!
-Wolfgang

milsaltnewbie07 · 03/23/2008, 10:10 AM

radiums are Bad A**, or 10k reeflux

t5Nitro · 03/23/2008, 11:53 AM

How are the reeflux 10k on electronic ballasts?

Phoenix 14ks still better? Anyone try both?

milsaltnewbie07 · 03/23/2008, 01:10 PM

i run 12k on regular pfo ballast, and 10k on 150w hqi sunpod, they are both really good

dailydriven911 · 03/23/2008, 01:22 PM

I run a de 12k reeflux on a hqi icecap ballast and your right it's not that bright. I'm leaning toward the 10k or phoenix 14k.

t5Nitro · 03/23/2008, 03:03 PM

Anyone have pics of their tanks with reeflux 10k (250w DE) by chance?

milsaltnewbie07 · 03/23/2008, 03:18 PM

Sorry no pics of 10 k reeflux but i have a pic of 12k on a SE i know its no use to you though.

reefkoi · 03/23/2008, 03:29 PM

I'll agree the 12K reeflux DE sucks bad, its a nice actinic look but very dim.
I am interested in the reeflux 10K but after throwing away the $ on a 12K I hate to throw more $ at their bulbs if the 10K isn't much better.
Anyone have the 10k's that can post a picture???

Cinderblock · 03/23/2008, 08:41 PM

Lighting is all subjective as far as look. For SPS on a <30 tank and a 250w MH you can use anthing you want.

A Phoenix 14k 250w with 2 actinic T5's and 2 T5 aqua-blue's on my ~43 gallon Elos 60 is what I have settled on for this year. It was a little blue at first but now the MH has broken in and I get the look I like.

Growth and color are in good balance.

LooseHip · 03/23/2008, 08:56 PM

I have a pick in my gallery of a 250 DE 12k reflux bulb in lumenbright reflector, on a coralvue electronic ballast. Looks bright to me but then again I really haven't compared it to any other bulbs... If you look at the pics, ignore my ghetto rig, the tank is a holding tank as I wait to move into our new house to setup my new tank.

Kip · 03/23/2008, 09:01 PM

p14k left and RL10k on right on m80

2farNorth · 03/23/2008, 09:07 PM

Here's a shot from a couple months back of my 120g with Reeflux 250w 10k on IceCap electronics.... Plenty bright... I'd like to add some more VHO Actinic for color though.....

More on my homepage....

2farNorth · 03/23/2008, 09:11 PM

Wow, nice Comparison Kip!!

What kind of growth rates are you getting from each side?

Kip · 03/23/2008, 09:14 PM

i only ran that RL bulb for about a week and put p14ks back in... IMO... it is hard to beat a 250wP14kDE

Wolfgang · 03/24/2008, 04:12 PM

Looks like as far as 250W DE Bulbs go, The Phoenix is hard to beat! I'm surprised that users of 20K's didn't voice any opinion.
Thanks all!
-Wolfgang

sditch · 03/24/2008, 05:16 PM

That my be because the Phoenix is a 20k bulb. Not sure why they call it a 14K, maybe because of the output. I have 2 Phoenix 250DE on my Outer Orbit and it took some getting used to coming from Gman DE Coral bulbs.

I really miss the brightness of the 14K but the corals seem to love these phoenix bulbs after 3 weeks of using some old ones someone gave me.

03/23/2008, 09:42 AM	#1
Wolfgang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 465	Best 250W DE Bulb for SPS Tank? Greetings all: I set up a Standard 29 Gal tank and drilled and put in a Overflow. Curently set up with a single 250W Phoenix DE Bulb. I chose a CoralVue Ballast, as I was was going to run a 12K Reeflux, but when I saw how Dim it was, I installed a Phoenix, WAY brighter. I was thinking of a 20K but the Phoenix seems to have about the best Par. What DE Bulb would you use and Why? Other tank specs, ETS Sump, Reefdevil Skimmer run by a Mag 7, 700 gal return Pump, Two Maxi jet 1200's ,Sawed off Nozzle mod with a Timer. Phosban reactor using Phosar, TLF Hydrocarbon, Passive in sump. Using Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt. Thanks! -Wolfgang __________________ 75 Gal Reef Ready, Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer, Maxspect Riptide Gyre Pump, ATI 4x48 Sunpower T5, Bubble Magnus Doser. Current Tank Info: 75 gal Reef

03/23/2008, 11:53 AM	#3
t5Nitro Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,384	How are the reeflux 10k on electronic ballasts? Phoenix 14ks still better? Anyone try both? __________________ ATI T5 club Current Tank Info: Left the hobby, looking to re-enter in the future

03/23/2008, 01:22 PM	#5
dailydriven911 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bonney Lake, WA Posts: 550	I run a de 12k reeflux on a hqi icecap ballast and your right it's not that bright. I'm leaning toward the 10k or phoenix 14k. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 170, Kessil A360N w/ controller, MP10wes, RKL, BM Curve 5, Aquamaxx Reactors

03/23/2008, 03:03 PM	#6
t5Nitro Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,384	Anyone have pics of their tanks with reeflux 10k (250w DE) by chance? __________________ ATI T5 club Current Tank Info: Left the hobby, looking to re-enter in the future

03/23/2008, 03:29 PM	#8
reefkoi Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,983	I'll agree the 12K reeflux DE sucks bad, its a nice actinic look but very dim. I am interested in the reeflux 10K but after throwing away the $ on a 12K I hate to throw more $ at their bulbs if the 10K isn't much better. Anyone have the 10k's that can post a picture??? __________________ 1Kw bulb club Current Tank Info: A 600gal. on Zeovit & a 240gal.

03/23/2008, 10:10 AM	#2
milsaltnewbie07 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 1,354	radiums are Bad A**, or 10k reeflux

03/23/2008, 01:10 PM	#4
milsaltnewbie07 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 1,354	i run 12k on regular pfo ballast, and 10k on 150w hqi sunpod, they are both really good

03/23/2008, 03:18 PM	#7
milsaltnewbie07 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 1,354	Sorry no pics of 10 k reeflux but i have a pic of 12k on a SE i know its no use to you though.

03/23/2008, 08:41 PM	#9
Cinderblock Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA Posts: 93	Lighting is all subjective as far as look. For SPS on a <30 tank and a 250w MH you can use anthing you want. A Phoenix 14k 250w with 2 actinic T5's and 2 T5 aqua-blue's on my ~43 gallon Elos 60 is what I have settled on for this year. It was a little blue at first but now the MH has broken in and I get the look I like. Growth and color are in good balance.

03/23/2008, 08:56 PM	#10
LooseHip Foaming Conehead Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: CO Posts: 1,002	I have a pick in my gallery of a 250 DE 12k reflux bulb in lumenbright reflector, on a coralvue electronic ballast. Looks bright to me but then again I really haven't compared it to any other bulbs... If you look at the pics, ignore my ghetto rig, the tank is a holding tank as I wait to move into our new house to setup my new tank.

03/23/2008, 09:01 PM	#11
Kip Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dropping 2, hitting 3 Posts: 2,495	p14k left and RL10k on right on m80 __________________ Sept'06 TOTM Taking a break from the hobby while we move to a new house.

03/23/2008, 09:07 PM	#12
2farNorth Moved On Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upper Peninsula, Michigan Posts: 929	Here's a shot from a couple months back of my 120g with Reeflux 250w 10k on IceCap electronics.... Plenty bright... I'd like to add some more VHO Actinic for color though..... More on my homepage....

03/23/2008, 09:11 PM	#13
2farNorth Moved On Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upper Peninsula, Michigan Posts: 929	Wow, nice Comparison Kip!! What kind of growth rates are you getting from each side?

03/23/2008, 09:14 PM	#14
Kip Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dropping 2, hitting 3 Posts: 2,495	i only ran that RL bulb for about a week and put p14ks back in... IMO... it is hard to beat a 250wP14kDE __________________ Sept'06 TOTM Taking a break from the hobby while we move to a new house.

03/24/2008, 04:12 PM	#15
Wolfgang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 465	Looks like as far as 250W DE Bulbs go, The Phoenix is hard to beat! I'm surprised that users of 20K's didn't voice any opinion. Thanks all! -Wolfgang __________________ 75 Gal Reef Ready, Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer, Maxspect Riptide Gyre Pump, ATI 4x48 Sunpower T5, Bubble Magnus Doser. Current Tank Info: 75 gal Reef

03/24/2008, 05:16 PM	#16
sditch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston,Texas (USA) Posts: 750	That my be because the Phoenix is a 20k bulb. Not sure why they call it a 14K, maybe because of the output. I have 2 Phoenix 250DE on my Outer Orbit and it took some getting used to coming from Gman DE Coral bulbs. I really miss the brightness of the 14K but the corals seem to love these phoenix bulbs after 3 weeks of using some old ones someone gave me.