250w 14k hamiltons SE with 2x96w actinics?

[Gooli]

I'd like to know if anyone has had success in terms of satisfaction with color and with coral growth by having the following setup:

250w 14k hamiltons SE MH with 2x96w PC actinics - on a 48x18x24 tank.

(If you think there's a better alternative - let me know)

thanks
gooliver

[chadfarmer]

coral look great but growth is not fast

i just put 10k xm on the tank i cant wait to compair the difference

[Gooli]

chad...what's the difference as far as color with the 10k on now?

[jasonj90]

im using the 14k hamilton 250s on my 90 and im using 65x2 actinc supplementation. not that the actinics really add that much i was going more for watts per gallon than anything else. personally you cant beat the 14k color. my friend has the same light setup as i do, and he changed to the XM 10k bulbs which seemed very yellow to me. he has since replaced them with the 14ks again. unless your using it as a grow out tank, it shouldnt matter how fast things are growing. growth speed is all relative most times anyhow, all tanks are different and different corals grow at different rates relatively speaking.

[Blazer88]

I had a 14,000K that burnt out and was replaced by an XM 10,000K. The XM was returned the next day since I could not stand the yellow color. I ended up with a 14,000K 250W Hamilton and I really like the color. I can't comment on growth but I really love the color.

[Gooli]

thanks...i do like the 14k color as well but i do miss the actinic and the way it makes things POP....i wonder if I should consider VHO instead

[Blazer88]

I've had both PC and VHO actinics and won't ever go back to PC's. The color from the URI Super Actinic R's are far superior to the PC's I've owned.

[jasonj90]

VHO actinics ROCK!!! thats all i can say, they are extremely bright and are relatively inexpensive... you can find some great prices on ebay. im still running PCs cause im cheap!

[Gooli]

you guys got me all excited...cant wait to get my VHOs now.

[Reefer@1620]

What about t5's in comparison to VHO...im looking to get dual 250 HQI 14k Phoenix 2x39W T5,how do you think growth would be over a 40 breeder?

[jasonj90]

i personally wouldnt go with the T5s. there is a nice long thread about T5s on this forum, i just dont think that T5s are well understood as some things do great under them when others will bleach and die. search the thread for T5s and formulate your own opinion. im just going off what i read.

[Zoom]

After running XM 10K for three years was time to get the corals to stop growing.
I got three 250w Hamis 14K with two 96W pc actinic.
I like the color very much i see very little difference in growth so far but i run my !$K hamis on a Ice Cap ballast and that bulb is very bright on that ballast .
My next bulb combo will be the AC with VHO actinic. when this new bulbs need replace.

[Gooli]

will actinics help coral growth?

[argi]

I ran my 135 on 250 SE Hamilton 14K for a year and had excellent growth and color (tank was taken down due to move). I used three 250 watt MH and three 5 foot VHO (2 super actinic and 1 actinic white). You can check out my gallery for pictures of the tank when it was set up.

HTH,
Keith

[jda]

Hammy 14Ks are good bulbs. They grow coral well and illuminate them well too. There are bulbs that will grow coral faster, but they don't illuminate it worth a darn. If you want optimum growth, then XM10K are really good. If you want the best of both worlds, then hammy 14K are good IMO.

[Zoom]

Originally posted by jda
Hammy 14Ks are good bulbs. They grow coral well and illuminate them well too. There are bulbs that will grow coral faster, but they don't illuminate it worth a darn. If you want optimum growth, then XM10K are really good. If you want the best of both worlds, then hammy 14K are good IMO.
If you like a little more blue on the tank and you have IC ballast the 14K Hamis is the best chose for $ 59.99 a bulb. The par is just little under AC for $115 a bulb,:eek1: :eek1:

[jt_redmist]

Originally posted by Zoom
After running XM 10K for three years was time to get the corals to stop growing.
I got three 250w Hamis 14K with two 96W pc actinic.
I like the color very much i see very little difference in growth so far but i run my !$K hamis on a Ice Cap ballast and that bulb is very bright on that ballast .
My next bulb combo will be the AC with VHO actinic. when this new bulbs need replace.

Zoom,
Are the pictures in your gallery with the 14k Hamis? Does the picture represent the same color in person? If so, I like the color. Very nice tank by the way.

JT

[Gooli]

one thing i learned...you CANNOT tell the "upclose and personal" color of aquarium lights by looking at photos - you got to be there.

[jt_redmist]

Originally posted by gooliver
one thing i learned...you CANNOT tell the "upclose and personal" color of aquarium lights by looking at photos - you got to be there.

Very good point, Gooliver. That why it's so hard to try out a new bulb at $60 - $100 a bulb, and find out the color is not for you. Everyone's opinion on color, growth etc. are all subjective. I guess the best way to find out is to just bite the bullet and try it.

Thx,
JT

[Zoom]

Originally posted by jt_redmist
Zoom,
Are the pictures in your gallery with the 14k Hamis? Does the picture represent the same color in person? If so, I like the color. Very nice tank by the way.

JT
Some are most are not you can really tell from the color.
It is so hard to take pictures under blue lights. :mad:

[jda]

Also keep in mind that your bulb might look different depending on the ballast. ...so be sure and ask what kind of ballast people are running. DE and SE don't compare either.

[seminolecpa]

I run the 250W 14K Hamiltons on my 58 with 2 URI Super Actinic supplements and have been very happy the the growth and color. The PC Actinics don't seem to have the same effect as the VHO's IMHO.

[Zoom]

The 250W 14K Hamilton bulb will give you 69 PPFD on a Ice cap ballast but 53 with the M58 regular magnatic ballast.
So what type of ballast you running the bulbs is very inportant.

[Gooli]

Im getting the ARO electronic ballast to run 2x110w 46.5" VHOs
http://www.hellolights.com/2laaromo4lvb.html

[Psionicdragon]

Have any of you or do you currently use a PFO 250 Watt Ballast for the Metal Halide or ARO 250 Watt (M58)?

Is it whiter or more blue?

[Gooli]

i use the ARO with my 250w SE - i think it's more white than it is blue