250w Radium vs Phoenix SE

[ryshark]

Is there anything out there which compares the par on the two mogul bulbs? From what I read, the color seems to be pretty close. I'm thinking about ordering the Phoenix SE, even though I have no complaints about my Radiums.

[schoolisbad1]

I had a 250w SE radium on ice caps, then a 12k reeflux, then a 10k reeflux. Pretty much all sps. For me, radiums were to dim/blue, I am going to go with Phoenix next time around. I hear all good things. If you get one make sure to post, i'll do the same

[john90009]

i remember seeing a thread on here about a phoenix 14k bulb being so different from the other that it scared me away from them and figure id give them more time-

[sirreal63]

I have run both, but in DE form, a 250 watt Phoenix and a 150 watt Radium. One thing about the Phoenix, it is an overpowering blue and tends to wash out reds and greens. The Radium is better at showing the reds and greens. I prefer the Radium any day over the Phoenix. One thing to note about the Phoenix, after about 6 months the colors do improve and it has less of a tidy bowl look and I have run them for about 16 months with no noticeable decline in strength. (yes they do lose some par but that happens about the 3 month mark) The Radium is also a higher par 20K bulb than most. You could always order one Phoenix and try it out next to the Radiums.

To check the par and color charts, go here. http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

[nanojg]

here ya go:

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

Oops, didnt see above post.

[ryshark]

Originally Posted by schoolisbad1

I had a 250w SE radium on ice caps, then a 12k reeflux, then a 10k reeflux. Pretty much all sps. For me, radiums were to dim/blue, I am going to go with Phoenix next time around. I hear all good things. If you get one make sure to post, i'll do the same

I'm probably going to order them later today. I'll let you know.

[ryshark]

Originally Posted by john90009

i remember seeing a thread on here about a phoenix 14k bulb being so different from the other that it scared me away from them and figure id give them more time-

Not sure what you mean by different. Than the DE version? If you find the thread please post it.

[ryshark]

Originally Posted by sirreal63

I have run both, but in DE form, a 250 watt Phoenix and a 150 watt Radium. One thing about the Phoenix, it is an overpowering blue and tends to wash out reds and greens. The Radium is better at showing the reds and greens. I prefer the Radium any day over the Phoenix. One thing to note about the Phoenix, after about 6 months the colors do improve and it has less of a tidy bowl look and I have run them for about 16 months with no noticeable decline in strength. (yes they do lose some par but that happens about the 3 month mark) The Radium is also a higher par 20K bulb than most. You could always order one Phoenix and try it out next to the Radiums.

To check the par and color charts, go here. http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

Thanks for posting your experience. I do like that it has lots of blue because I don't run actinics. But I don't like reds and green washed out, obviously.
Hmmm decisions decisions.

[ryshark]

Originally Posted by nanojg

here ya go:

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

Oops, didnt see above post.

This site hasn't worked on my computer in months. I click on the Lamp & Ballast, and I get an error code. Is it working for everybody else?

[john90009]

one guy orders two 250 watt pheonix single ended bulbs ran them on the same type of ballast and one was crazy pink while the other was a nice white ill try finding it.

[sirreal63]

I have used many bulbs over the past 9 years, no single bulb is as colorful and renders all colors nicely as well as the Phoenix. My second choice was the Hamilton 14k but the par is pathetically low. a 150 watt 10K has considerably more par than a 250 way Hamilton 14K. I do like the Phoenix 14K DE, it is just painful in the beginning, way too much of a nuclear blue. The Radium does not have that issue.

As far as Sanjays site...I sometimes get the wrong xml error too.

[john90009]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...fferent+colors

[ryshark]

Originally Posted by john90009

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...fferent+colors

Thanks for finding that. I hope premium took care of the issue for that guy. I'm not going to let that incidence deter my decision though. That was probably a rare occasion....hopefully.

[ryshark]

Originally Posted by sirreal63

I have used many bulbs over the past 9 years, no single bulb is as colorful and renders all colors nicely as well as the Phoenix. My second choice was the Hamilton 14k but the par is pathetically low. a 150 watt 10K has considerably more par than a 250 way Hamilton 14K. I do like the Phoenix 14K DE, it is just painful in the beginning, way too much of a nuclear blue. The Radium does not have that issue.

As far as Sanjays site...I sometimes get the wrong xml error too.

Have you ever tried the SE version of the Phoenix? I wonder if it is basically the same thing with the "bulb" around it.
How long does it have that nuclear blue?

[dzhuo]

Originally Posted by ryshark

This site hasn't worked on my computer in months. I click on the Lamp & Ballast, and I get an error code. Is it working for everybody else?

Have you try this with PAR and color comparison?

[ryshark]

Originally Posted by dzhuo

Have you try this with PAR and color comparison?

That is a sweet site, I wish they had the Phoenix on there.

[mdt178]

Have you tried the AquaConnect 14K?

[ryshark]

I have not. I have a gallaxy e-ballast, so I don't think I can anyway.

[Nanook]

I have four of the Phoenix 14K 250 watt SE bulbs over my 375g tank along with four VHO super actinics. I think they look fantastic and actually like them more than the Radiums. They are a bit bluer than the 20K Radiums and less gray in color. Corals are growing just fine and colors do not appear to be "Washed Out" like so many said. I am running them to spec on the dual SLS HQI ballast.

[sirreal63]

I think the HQI helps a lot Dave, on electronic they seem to start out very blue, like windex but IME after several months they lighten up a little.

I am really liking the 150 watt Radium on HQI, much better than on 175 watt electronic, it seems less than a 20K bulb, more like 15K.

[Nanook]

Cool, glad to hear it. I liked the Phoenix so much after a month or two that I got two of them for my 30x30x12 frag tank as well. I will run them off of the SLS Bluewave VII HQI ballast.