Good MH Bulb

no_Wedge · 09/16/2009, 10:17 PM

I'm approaching my year mark and was wondering of a good replacement bulb 150w, 14000k

downhillbiker · 09/16/2009, 11:02 PM

DE or SE? I am pretty sure phoenix makes a 150w bulb. I know that my phoenix 14k 250w are amazing. great color and growth. they are probably blue like a 20k though. what kind of ballast do you have? what fixture? the phoenix need a decent ballast to fire.

no_Wedge · 09/17/2009, 07:19 AM

its a sunpod from current usa double end

seapug · 09/17/2009, 08:27 AM

The 14K Current bulbs are pretty white. If you're happy with how the tank looks with that bulb, you can always get a replacement of the same type. If you want to try something new and want more blue, a 14K Phoenix (VERY blue), 20K Ushio (blue, but not as blue as the Phoenix) or 12K Reeflux (like your current bulb with a little more blue) are good options.

I personally have found the 150W 14K Phoenix to look nice, but be a little weak. The 250W version is a lot more intense.

downhillbiker · 09/17/2009, 11:00 AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by seapug
The 14K Current bulbs are pretty white. If you're happy with how the tank looks with that bulb, you can always get a replacement of the same type. If you want to try something new and want more blue, a 14K Phoenix (VERY blue), 20K Ushio (blue, but not as blue as the Phoenix) or 12K Reeflux (like your current bulb with a little more blue) are good options.

I personally have found the 150W 14K Phoenix to look nice, but be a little weak. The 250W version is a lot more intense. [/QUOTE

i didnt realize the phoenix 14k 150w was less intense than the 250w. as seapug said, the phoenix is very blue, maybe the reeflux is right for you if you are used to a whiter color. the reeflux has very nice color pop. they are a pretty cool bulb.

Toddrtrex · 09/17/2009, 11:04 AM

Granted this is for the 250 watt version, but I didn't care for the Phoenix bulb in my SunPod --- the color was too monochrome for my liking. I ended up putting the 14K Current bulb back in.

augustasalty · 09/17/2009, 11:24 AM

i'm lovein the phoenix 14k in all of my 150 de fixtures.

Tswifty · 09/17/2009, 11:26 AM

I've heard the 150w Radium bulb is more powerful than the 150w Pheonix bulb... but Sanjay's site doesn't have both bulbs in the 150w version.

I would agree that the Pheonix 14k bulb is probably closer to a 20k spectrum, but it's not an overpowering blue by any means. I use the 250w versions and have been very happy thus far. You get nice pop to the corals without the overpowering blue water effect that goes along with most 20k bulbs.

Granted you have to get outside the 100 hr burn in period as well. As pretty much any bulb lean towards the "bluer" end of it's spectrum before it burns in.

noahm · 09/17/2009, 12:00 PM

The Phoenix is a very nice color IMO. Really brought out the greens, reds, yellows of some of my corals. I love it. running 2x250w DE icecap ballast.

Tswifty-love the avatar. It looks like space flowers growing on a mossy/grassy space hillside.

Typlus5 · 09/17/2009, 12:32 PM

I also heard the current sunpod 150w DE wouldn't fire the radium bulbs so I went with the phoenix 14K ...and am very satisfied....with price and look.

downhillbiker · 09/17/2009, 12:47 PM

I know that in 250w I LOVE the phoenix 250w. I have used them for a year now, and bought new phoenix 14k because I liked them so much.

styndall · 09/17/2009, 01:23 PM

This article:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2/feature2.htm

has a lot of good comparisons of PAR values and energy efficiency of a number of bulb/ballast combinations. I've found it very helpful in the past. It's a few years old now, though, so some of the numbers are probably out of date.

snowman5373 · 09/18/2009, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by augustasalty
i'm lovein the phoenix 14k in all of my 150 de fixtures.

+1

lombard0 · 09/18/2009, 07:32 AM

I wonder what's the maximum depth a decent 150W DE MH lamp can penetrate. Of course with a very good ballast and reflector.

Here's another article from Sanjay in addition to what Styndall posted.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...004/review.htm

rsantangelo3@co · 09/18/2009, 11:30 AM

i run the phnx 250 watt on a magnetic ballast and its crisp white.

no_Wedge · 09/18/2009, 01:11 PM

i'm looking for something a little bluer than the sunpaq 14k in my aquapod, but not too blue.

spazthecat · 09/18/2009, 07:13 PM

I don't have 150 watt bulbs but I just replaced my Hamilton 14k, 175 watt bulbs with the Reeflux 12k. It's a nice bulb. Not as blue as the hamiltons but blue enough that I don't need actinics.

--Andy

Tswifty · 09/18/2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by downhillbiker
I know that in 250w I LOVE the phoenix 250w. I have used them for a year now, and bought new phoenix 14k because I liked them so much.

+1

I use the 250w DE version as well, and unless I end up with SE pendants, I'll be sticking with them as well.

09/16/2009, 10:17 PM	#1
no_Wedge Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 422	Good MH Bulb I'm approaching my year mark and was wondering of a good replacement bulb 150w, 14000k

09/16/2009, 11:02 PM	#2
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	DE or SE? I am pretty sure phoenix makes a 150w bulb. I know that my phoenix 14k 250w are amazing. great color and growth. they are probably blue like a 20k though. what kind of ballast do you have? what fixture? the phoenix need a decent ballast to fire. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

09/17/2009, 08:27 AM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	The 14K Current bulbs are pretty white. If you're happy with how the tank looks with that bulb, you can always get a replacement of the same type. If you want to try something new and want more blue, a 14K Phoenix (VERY blue), 20K Ushio (blue, but not as blue as the Phoenix) or 12K Reeflux (like your current bulb with a little more blue) are good options. I personally have found the 150W 14K Phoenix to look nice, but be a little weak. The 250W version is a lot more intense. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

09/17/2009, 11:00 AM	#5
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	[QUOTE]Originally posted by seapug The 14K Current bulbs are pretty white. If you're happy with how the tank looks with that bulb, you can always get a replacement of the same type. If you want to try something new and want more blue, a 14K Phoenix (VERY blue), 20K Ushio (blue, but not as blue as the Phoenix) or 12K Reeflux (like your current bulb with a little more blue) are good options. I personally have found the 150W 14K Phoenix to look nice, but be a little weak. The 250W version is a lot more intense. [/QUOTE i didnt realize the phoenix 14k 150w was less intense than the 250w. as seapug said, the phoenix is very blue, maybe the reeflux is right for you if you are used to a whiter color. the reeflux has very nice color pop. they are a pretty cool bulb. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

09/17/2009, 11:04 AM	#6
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Granted this is for the 250 watt version, but I didn't care for the Phoenix bulb in my SunPod --- the color was too monochrome for my liking. I ended up putting the 14K Current bulb back in. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

09/17/2009, 07:19 AM	#3
no_Wedge Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 422	its a sunpod from current usa double end

09/17/2009, 11:24 AM	#7
augustasalty Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 80	i'm lovein the phoenix 14k in all of my 150 de fixtures.

09/17/2009, 11:26 AM	#8
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	I've heard the 150w Radium bulb is more powerful than the 150w Pheonix bulb... but Sanjay's site doesn't have both bulbs in the 150w version. I would agree that the Pheonix 14k bulb is probably closer to a 20k spectrum, but it's not an overpowering blue by any means. I use the 250w versions and have been very happy thus far. You get nice pop to the corals without the overpowering blue water effect that goes along with most 20k bulbs. Granted you have to get outside the 100 hr burn in period as well. As pretty much any bulb lean towards the "bluer" end of it's spectrum before it burns in. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

09/17/2009, 12:00 PM	#9
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	The Phoenix is a very nice color IMO. Really brought out the greens, reds, yellows of some of my corals. I love it. running 2x250w DE icecap ballast. Tswifty-love the avatar. It looks like space flowers growing on a mossy/grassy space hillside.

09/17/2009, 12:32 PM	#10
Typlus5 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gonzales Louisiana Posts: 966	I also heard the current sunpod 150w DE wouldn't fire the radium bulbs so I went with the phoenix 14K ...and am very satisfied....with price and look. __________________ TY I'm sure there's a way...and I have the will Current Tank Info: 110 Reef Savvy rimless, 40B sump, Current EFlux Return, XR15 Pros w/Reef Link, BK Mini 180 skimmer, MP40wES...driven by Apex

09/17/2009, 12:47 PM	#11
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	I know that in 250w I LOVE the phoenix 250w. I have used them for a year now, and bought new phoenix 14k because I liked them so much. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

09/17/2009, 01:23 PM	#12
styndall Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 282	This article: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2/feature2.htm has a lot of good comparisons of PAR values and energy efficiency of a number of bulb/ballast combinations. I've found it very helpful in the past. It's a few years old now, though, so some of the numbers are probably out of date.

09/18/2009, 07:32 AM	#14
lombard0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 319	I wonder what's the maximum depth a decent 150W DE MH lamp can penetrate. Of course with a very good ballast and reflector. Here's another article from Sanjay in addition to what Styndall posted. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...004/review.htm

09/18/2009, 11:30 AM	#15
rsantangelo3@co Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ct Posts: 846	i run the phnx 250 watt on a magnetic ballast and its crisp white. __________________ Fish Crazy! Current Tank Info: 300 FOWLER display (675 gallon system) & a 30 oceanic cube (Nano) reef!

09/18/2009, 01:11 PM	#16
no_Wedge Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 422	i'm looking for something a little bluer than the sunpaq 14k in my aquapod, but not too blue.

09/18/2009, 07:13 PM	#17
spazthecat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pickerington, OH Posts: 220	I don't have 150 watt bulbs but I just replaced my Hamilton 14k, 175 watt bulbs with the Reeflux 12k. It's a nice bulb. Not as blue as the hamiltons but blue enough that I don't need actinics. --Andy