what's a good DE 250w bulb to buy?

dannieboiz · #1 01/21/2006, 08:03 PM

I'm about to order some 250w HQI bulbs.... what are some good choices?

moonpod · #2 01/21/2006, 08:35 PM

If you like the "white" look with just a tinge of blue the Ushio 14k. If you like the "blue" look I recommend the Phoenix. If you want PAR at all cost, damn the yellow, use the XM or EVC 10k.

Ti · #3 01/21/2006, 08:41 PM

hamilton

want2reef · #4 01/21/2006, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by moonpod
If you like the "white" look with just a tinge of blue the Ushio 14k. If you like the "blue" look I recommend the Phoenix. If you want PAR at all cost, damn the yellow, use the XM or EVC 10k.

Moonpod,

Have you seen any par numbers for the Ushio 14K's?

Thanks

moonpod · #5 01/21/2006, 09:42 PM

I have not seen the actual data. The rumour is very close to maybe even slightly better than the BLV 10k. Spectrally also quite close. It's a "true" 14k bulb.

OCDep · #6 01/21/2006, 09:46 PM

I love my 14k Hamiltons....cant go wrong there, IMO

dannieboiz · #7 01/22/2006, 12:41 AM

right now my favorite is 2x 10k 175w hamilton SE with 1 T5 actinic.

I just got a pair of 250w HQI but 1 bulb came damage. ALl of these are going into a larger tank.... I test the HQI in the current tank whichi s a 60 instead of the 100g that's being set up. The single T5 actinic is invisble under these HQI 250. The bulbs that came with the setup are XM 10k extremely bright slightly yellow. I have 14k coralvue 175 which I don't like since they're too blue for my taste. But I know I'm comparing ables to oranges since they're different bulbs and different wattage.... What's the best bulbs in between...

I'll add a 2nd T5 actinic for sure... I wonder if that's enough to give it a more blue ish look but not glow my entire tank blue.

Konadog · #8 01/22/2006, 12:43 AM

I still love my Aqua Connect 14k's, not to much blue.