250Watt MH bulb question

[delsol650]

I posted this on my local board but wanted to get feedback here as well

MH bulb question


I just got my Current HQI Pro 250watt w/ 4 T5's (24" FIXTURE ) in and it comes with a 10K, I heard that these are yellowish in color ? It also comes with 12 LED's ( 6white and 6blue )

I was thinking about going 12K, 14K or even 20K but don't want too much deep blue, too yellow or bleached out white look from the MH. I am not planning to keep the 420 or 460 attinics. maybe 1, but will exchance it for a 3500K RED , a fuji purple or sort. to get a mixed match nice looking color.

What Brand bulb is the be DE type bulb to go with and what K rating ?

BTW this is going to be used in my 37cube thats replacing my 100gal currently.

Charles-

[oct2274]

14k phoenix would be a good bulb you will have to keep the pc's cause the phoenix washes out some colors.

[delsol650]

Oh yeah, I'm using the 4 T5's

[oct2274]

the phoenix bulb would be a good choice with T5HO supplimentation, That is what i'm using now and there are plenty of T5 bulbs that can be used to get just the right colors depending on your taste

[champscorner]

i'm running phoenix 14k supplimented with 2x54 fiji purples and 2x54 460nm(the ones that came i the fixture) on my 48" current outer orbit and like the color but is still a little "washed out" for me. I've tried a few different combos of t5 but just can't seem to get that perfect color i'm looking for.

[drives300]

If the 4 t5s are actincs I think you will be fine and better off. With 4 actinics and a 10k your tank shold have a ble tint to it

[drives300]

If the 4 t5s are actincs I think you will be fine and better off. With 4 actinics and a 10k your tank shold have a ble tint to it

[trwells]

Pictures say 1000 words. First picture is under the stock 10k bulbs, and the second picture is under 14k pheonix. Actinics are the stock tubes and are on in both pictures. The only difference is I have the 2 x 250 watts 36 inch fixture.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z99/trwells/P1010068.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z99/trwells/Reef001.jpg

[delsol650]

Your LPS seems to look better in the first pic>

[kdblove_99]

Really? I thought they looked yellow and brown in the first pic!

Phoenix is a nice bulb

[trwells]

I'm not sure. I think both setups wash out some colors. I am considering changing one of my t5's to a daylight bulb of some sort. The first setup is too yellow. This one is a little too blue. I like a really crisp white that is just on a the blue side.

That pheonix picture was taking shortly after getting the bulbs. After they burned in the color is alittle more white and I want to say they have a little bit of a purple tinge to them. .. maybe its the coraline..

[trwells]

Here is a side by side comparison of the 14k's with and without the t5's on. Taken today.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z99/trwells/combine.png

My camera brings out more blue then there really is.

[DarG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11245224#post11245224 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trwells
I'm not sure. I think both setups wash out some colors. I am considering changing one of my t5's to a daylight bulb of some sort. The first setup is too yellow. This one is a little too blue. I like a really crisp white that is just on a the blue side.

That pheonix picture was taking shortly after getting the bulbs. After they burned in the color is alittle more white and I want to say they have a little bit of a purple tinge to them. .. maybe its the coraline..

I will admit first that I do not like the color of the Phoenix bulbs. Something about the blue that they produce just looks artifical and washed out to me. Not talking about your tank specifically, I tried the Phoenix bulbs for a short while. 250 watt, both on magnetic HQI and electronic ballast.

That said, I would go with a white bulb, no yellow, and then do whatever you want to to color up with the 4 T5's. Maybe the new Iwasaki 14000K . It's a bright, white bulb with just a slight hint of blue. That would give you plenty of par and a neutral very crisp white color to work with. Then you can use the T5's to supplement to more of a true blue, actinic, or a warmer color. Whatever suits you. Just my opinion, but I think it's easier to start with neutral color in you main lighting and crisp white is about as neutral as you can get. The Iwasaki is a great bulb for that.

Of course, you could always just go to some warmer T5's with the phoenix. I always thought that the new ATI Pro Colors would be good for warming up blue halides.

BTW ... I think the corals look better under the 10K too in your pictures. They have an unnatural, washed out blue tint to them under the phoenix. Just my opinion.

This should also apply to the OP's, DelSol's question.

[delsol650]

Well, I eneded up getting the 14K phoenix just to try em out.. worst case if I don't like it, just sell it and get other bulbs... but I won't be using a lot of atinic since I'm going to try the KZ fiji purples and probly their coral light bulb.. and use the 3500K reds too. Just wondering how that would look..