Has anyone gone from a 250w reeflux 12k to a reeflux 10k ???

badazztealcobra · 11/08/2008, 08:01 PM

Im getting ready to order new bulbs and am currently running reeflux 12k's in the tank.... I like the color but would like to get some more growth if possible. Has anyone switched to the 10k to try to get more growth and if so would you do it again or just stick with the 12k's ???

MBasile · 11/08/2008, 10:13 PM

I switched from the 10Ks to the 12ks and there are pluses and minuses. I think I prefer the 10k, It was a very crisp white with no yellow or pink, maybe a hint of blue, and I had some good growth. When I switched to the 12k, they do have that nice blue to them but they pack much less of a "punch" I think. They are less bright and my sps dont grow as fast. I like the 12ks but I think Im going to either go back to the 10ks next or try something new.

FWIW, from what I could find the 10ks had a much broader spectrum as well, in comparison to the 12ks witch werent much different from your typical blueish bulb.

Hope that helps!

gotfish8 · 11/08/2008, 10:21 PM

what ballast are you using? this is a pic of a 10k left 12k right. The 10k burned very pink using a coralvue e-ballast. I had 4 bulbs all looked the same

[IMG]

[/IMG]

badazztealcobra · 11/09/2008, 12:46 AM

Im using CoralVue dimmables.....

JNye · 11/09/2008, 07:10 AM

wow that 10k looks horrible. did you try turning the bulbs a little, nipple up/ nipple down? I haven't heard anyone saying they like the reeflux 10k.
BATC- maybe you should try XM 10k, its a nice crisp white. only a little yellow. The ones I seen were run with Blueline ballsts.
Reef Depot runs them too, maybe you could see them in person.

Rod Buehler · 11/09/2008, 07:22 AM

The reeflux 10KK that I run look nothing like that pink bulb does. Nice crisp white.

JNye · 11/09/2008, 08:14 AM

gotfish did say 400 watt. there probably is a difference. Are you running 400 or 250s Rod?

gotfish8 · 11/09/2008, 09:34 AM

those are 250s, the 10k's look good on a magnetic ballast.

badazztealcobra · 11/09/2008, 10:27 AM

Everything I have read about the Reeflux bulbs is that they are BRUTAL on magnetic ballasts.....

I would be really depressed to get the 10k's and have them look that pink though..... Maybe I can try them and then sell them if I dont like the look after a week of burning in ???

Rod Buehler · 11/10/2008, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by poo-tang
gotfish did say 400 watt. there probably is a difference. Are you running 400 or 250s Rod?

Both. Thinking back though, it seems that I do remember one of the 10KKs burning pink on a certain ballast but I dont recall. I know that they all burn bluer on a standard magnetic, but on a coralvue electronic or on HQIs all of the ones that I have now are a nice crisp white.

kimoy · 11/10/2008, 09:12 AM

I like my old AB 10K. Great growth. I now have the 12K reflux and like the color but I am not liking the growth. I am going back to AB 10K. With that said I just remember that I have 3extra 12K reflux used for a couple weeks that I have for backup and is up for sale. I will start a new thread of that, don't want to hijack Doug's thread. Sorry Doug if I did.

ostrow · 11/10/2008, 12:52 PM

I have the 12Ks on HQI mag ballasts and love them. Growth is wild, colors great. Couldn't be more pleased. If you are having problems of growth, maybe try bumping alk/ca up a bit? I an pretty much assure you that 12K bulbs aren't inhibiting the growth.

Rod, I thought you used 12Ks. No?

badazztealcobra · 11/10/2008, 02:51 PM

I guess I should be more specific... Ca/Alk/Mg are all good, Im just wanting to see if I would get BETTER growth with the10K's.... The 12k's definitely do grow things well, just wouldnt mind giving it a "bump" if possible.....

ostrow · 11/10/2008, 03:14 PM

Unless your levels are really high, you'll get more of a bump by upping the levels. My corals started taking off when I raised alk from 3 meq/l to 3.5 meq/l. Bulbs remained 12K reeflux.

NewSchool04 · 11/10/2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by badazztealcobra
I guess I should be more specific... Ca/Alk/Mg are all good, Im just wanting to see if I would get BETTER growth with the10K's.... The 12k's definitely do grow things well, just wouldnt mind giving it a "bump" if possible.....

Now the self doubt starts. "Should I have gon with the those 400's instead of 250's?"

badazztealcobra · 11/10/2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NewSchool04
Now the self doubt starts. "Should I have gon with the those 400's instead of 250's?"

Not at all Pat.....

Im perfectly content with the 250s. Growth has been good, but as always I want more.

Also I wouldnt mind it being more of a crisp white, its got a blue tint now, wouldnt mind it being whiter...

Just not that pink.

NewSchool04 · 11/10/2008, 11:36 PM

"I want more" is unfortunately part of this hobby.

I used the 10K's to start out and switched to the 12K's. I like the 12K's much more but the 400W's may look different than 250's so you have to make sure you go take a look. Either way I found the 10K's to be a bit yellow but not pink at all. I think they had a problem a long time ago with those pink bulbs, I wouldn't worry about it. The 10K's with HQI ballast run very white.

I would go to Sanjay's site and see what the difference between the 10K and 12K PAR ratings are. The difference on the 400W bulbs for 10K and 12K bulbs on a Coralvue E ballast is miniscule, about 125 to 127. Only two or at most 4. I didn't bother looking up the exact results . . . because I'm lazy!

badazztealcobra · 11/10/2008, 11:44 PM

I wish I could look at those plots and charts and actually make heads or tails out of it. They might as well be written in French or something...

11/08/2008, 08:01 PM	#1
badazztealcobra Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Streamwood, IL Posts: 7,394	Has anyone gone from a 250w reeflux 12k to a reeflux 10k ??? Im getting ready to order new bulbs and am currently running reeflux 12k's in the tank.... I like the color but would like to get some more growth if possible. Has anyone switched to the 10k to try to get more growth and if so would you do it again or just stick with the 12k's ???

11/08/2008, 10:13 PM	#2
MBasile Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: chicago- south side Posts: 1,737	I switched from the 10Ks to the 12ks and there are pluses and minuses. I think I prefer the 10k, It was a very crisp white with no yellow or pink, maybe a hint of blue, and I had some good growth. When I switched to the 12k, they do have that nice blue to them but they pack much less of a "punch" I think. They are less bright and my sps dont grow as fast. I like the 12ks but I think Im going to either go back to the 10ks next or try something new. FWIW, from what I could find the 10ks had a much broader spectrum as well, in comparison to the 12ks witch werent much different from your typical blueish bulb. Hope that helps! __________________ -Matt

11/08/2008, 10:21 PM	#3
gotfish8 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Carpentersville IL Posts: 1,160	what ballast are you using? this is a pic of a 10k left 12k right. The 10k burned very pink using a coralvue e-ballast. I had 4 bulbs all looked the same [IMG][/IMG]

11/09/2008, 07:10 AM	#5
JNye Moved On Up Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lansing, IL Posts: 2,230	wow that 10k looks horrible. did you try turning the bulbs a little, nipple up/ nipple down? I haven't heard anyone saying they like the reeflux 10k. BATC- maybe you should try XM 10k, its a nice crisp white. only a little yellow. The ones I seen were run with Blueline ballsts. Reef Depot runs them too, maybe you could see them in person. __________________ Joe Current Tank Info: it don't matter just don't bite it

11/09/2008, 07:22 AM	#6
Rod Buehler Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: DeKalb, IL Posts: 3,070	The reeflux 10KK that I run look nothing like that pink bulb does. Nice crisp white. __________________ Rod Buehler Biodiversity matters because all life on earth has a right to exist. Current Tank Info: many

11/09/2008, 12:46 AM	#4
badazztealcobra Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Streamwood, IL Posts: 7,394	Im using CoralVue dimmables.....

11/09/2008, 08:14 AM	#7
JNye Moved On Up Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lansing, IL Posts: 2,230	gotfish did say 400 watt. there probably is a difference. Are you running 400 or 250s Rod? __________________ Joe Current Tank Info: it don't matter just don't bite it

11/09/2008, 09:34 AM	#8
gotfish8 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Carpentersville IL Posts: 1,160	those are 250s, the 10k's look good on a magnetic ballast.

11/09/2008, 10:27 AM	#9
badazztealcobra Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Streamwood, IL Posts: 7,394	Everything I have read about the Reeflux bulbs is that they are BRUTAL on magnetic ballasts..... I would be really depressed to get the 10k's and have them look that pink though..... Maybe I can try them and then sell them if I dont like the look after a week of burning in ???

11/10/2008, 09:12 AM	#11
kimoy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Huntley, IL Posts: 2,317	I like my old AB 10K. Great growth. I now have the 12K reflux and like the color but I am not liking the growth. I am going back to AB 10K. With that said I just remember that I have 3extra 12K reflux used for a couple weeks that I have for backup and is up for sale. I will start a new thread of that, don't want to hijack Doug's thread. Sorry Doug if I did. __________________ 120 Gal pico reef tank Aqua C-EV180, 30 gal sump/fuge, 2X250 DE 12k Reflux with 2X54 Geisman Actinic+ T5's, K2R calcium reactor,Phosban reactor Current Tank Info: 120 gal mixed reef almost a DAY old

11/10/2008, 12:52 PM	#12
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	I have the 12Ks on HQI mag ballasts and love them. Growth is wild, colors great. Couldn't be more pleased. If you are having problems of growth, maybe try bumping alk/ca up a bit? I an pretty much assure you that 12K bulbs aren't inhibiting the growth. Rod, I thought you used 12Ks. No? __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

11/10/2008, 02:51 PM	#13
badazztealcobra Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Streamwood, IL Posts: 7,394	I guess I should be more specific... Ca/Alk/Mg are all good, Im just wanting to see if I would get BETTER growth with the10K's.... The 12k's definitely do grow things well, just wouldnt mind giving it a "bump" if possible.....

11/10/2008, 03:14 PM	#14
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	Unless your levels are really high, you'll get more of a bump by upping the levels. My corals started taking off when I raised alk from 3 meq/l to 3.5 meq/l. Bulbs remained 12K reeflux. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

11/10/2008, 11:36 PM	#17
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	"I want more" is unfortunately part of this hobby. I used the 10K's to start out and switched to the 12K's. I like the 12K's much more but the 400W's may look different than 250's so you have to make sure you go take a look. Either way I found the 10K's to be a bit yellow but not pink at all. I think they had a problem a long time ago with those pink bulbs, I wouldn't worry about it. The 10K's with HQI ballast run very white. I would go to Sanjay's site and see what the difference between the 10K and 12K PAR ratings are. The difference on the 400W bulbs for 10K and 12K bulbs on a Coralvue E ballast is miniscule, about 125 to 127. Only two or at most 4. I didn't bother looking up the exact results . . . because I'm lazy! __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

11/10/2008, 11:44 PM	#18
badazztealcobra Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Streamwood, IL Posts: 7,394	I wish I could look at those plots and charts and actually make heads or tails out of it. They might as well be written in French or something...