Best Mh bulb for coral growth and color.

Scudd · 05/11/2006, 11:05 PM

I woulf like to change the bulb in my Mh light. I'm currently using a 250 watt HQI double-ended 10k bulb from aqualine, with NO actinics. I think its a little too yellow for my tastes, but I've read that I will loose coral growth by going to a higher K rating? Whats a good balance....14k,15K?

mg426 · 05/12/2006, 01:56 AM

Hear lots of good things about the Pheonix 14 ks. I use XM 10ks for the par along with actinics for the color.

Blown 346 · 05/12/2006, 03:12 AM

You will loose a very samll amount of coral growth from the higher Kelvin bulbs since they are further away from being as close to natural sunlight as they can.

I have 14 K bulbs and they have been working great, both with the right color and growth.

Don Berry · 05/12/2006, 06:48 AM

The Phoenix 14K is one of the only bluer bulbs that also has PAR as high as some 10K's like Ushio and BLV.

want2reef · 05/12/2006, 06:55 AM

Phoenix 14K.

twon8 · 05/12/2006, 07:18 AM

I have se and use and recommend aquaconnects 14k, and from what i understand the pheonix is the same bulb

pavster · 05/12/2006, 09:43 AM

if you want very blue, go with the phoenix; it's more like a 20k bulb; if you want white without yellow, go with Ushio 14k. they have about the same PAR.

-pavel.

Scudd · 05/12/2006, 09:52 AM

What is PAR?

pavster · 05/12/2006, 09:56 AM

BTW, looking at the spectrum charts, SE and DE Aquaconnect 14k are two very different bulbs. The DE AQ and Phoenix do in fact seem to be the same bulb.

The SE Aqauconnect has a very balanced spectrum -- it is really the closest bulb to natural light underwater. The DE is spiky, and so is Phoenix.

-pavel.

pavster · 05/12/2006, 09:57 AM

PAR = Photosynthetically Available Radiation, a common metric for light output in this hobby.

Ti · 05/12/2006, 10:04 AM

XM 10K with Actinics is a nice combo

Scudd · 05/12/2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pavster
BTW, looking at the spectrum charts, SE and DE Aquaconnect 14k are two very different bulbs. The DE AQ and Phoenix do in fact seem to be the same bulb.

The SE Aqauconnect has a very balanced spectrum -- it is really the closest bulb to natural light underwater. The DE is spiky, and so is Phoenix.

-pavel.

So,... are you saying the Phoenix is the same bulb that I have?

pavster · 05/12/2006, 10:41 AM

not of you have SE Aquaconnects.

05/11/2006, 11:05 PM	#1
Scudd Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Largo, Florida Posts: 504	Best Mh bulb for coral growth and color. I woulf like to change the bulb in my Mh light. I'm currently using a 250 watt HQI double-ended 10k bulb from aqualine, with NO actinics. I think its a little too yellow for my tastes, but I've read that I will loose coral growth by going to a higher K rating? Whats a good balance....14k,15K?

05/12/2006, 01:56 AM	#2
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Hear lots of good things about the Pheonix 14 ks. I use XM 10ks for the par along with actinics for the color. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

05/12/2006, 06:55 AM	#5
want2reef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tracy CA. Posts: 1,353	Phoenix 14K. __________________ Kevin The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. Current Tank Info: CADlights Artison II 165g, 50g sump,Aquamaxx Q-3 Skimmer, AI Hydra 26 HD.

05/12/2006, 07:18 AM	#6
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	I have se and use and recommend aquaconnects 14k, and from what i understand the pheonix is the same bulb __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

05/12/2006, 10:04 AM	#11
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	XM 10K with Actinics is a nice combo __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

05/12/2006, 03:12 AM	#3
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	You will loose a very samll amount of coral growth from the higher Kelvin bulbs since they are further away from being as close to natural sunlight as they can. I have 14 K bulbs and they have been working great, both with the right color and growth.

05/12/2006, 06:48 AM	#4
Don Berry Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oswego, IL Posts: 950	The Phoenix 14K is one of the only bluer bulbs that also has PAR as high as some 10K's like Ushio and BLV.

05/12/2006, 09:43 AM	#7
pavster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 189	if you want very blue, go with the phoenix; it's more like a 20k bulb; if you want white without yellow, go with Ushio 14k. they have about the same PAR. -pavel.

05/12/2006, 09:52 AM	#8
Scudd Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Largo, Florida Posts: 504	What is PAR?

05/12/2006, 09:56 AM	#9
pavster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 189	BTW, looking at the spectrum charts, SE and DE Aquaconnect 14k are two very different bulbs. The DE AQ and Phoenix do in fact seem to be the same bulb. The SE Aqauconnect has a very balanced spectrum -- it is really the closest bulb to natural light underwater. The DE is spiky, and so is Phoenix. -pavel.

05/12/2006, 09:57 AM	#10
pavster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 189	PAR = Photosynthetically Available Radiation, a common metric for light output in this hobby.

05/12/2006, 10:41 AM	#13
pavster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 189	not of you have SE Aquaconnects.