New 250w DE bulb help

[g0tmc]

I need to pick out a new bulb to match my hamilton hqi ballast. Ive read a little about how some ballasts and bulbs perform better than others. So what i would like to know is which bulb would be best with my setup.

Im looking for a 20k because i recently caught the SPS bug and i want those colors to pop! I have been running the 15k Phoenix and the colors sorta look washed out (except for greens).

Also, what is the process to switching bulbs? I heard egg crate over the top until the bulb is burned in? Or am i trippin. Well Thanks.

-Matt

[Mchava]

well if you are looking into some 20k the best I've seen have been the Helio 20k or the ushios neptunrian. The helio are realy hard to find but you can get the others at reefgeek.com . Since you are going from 14k to a lower 20k bulb you will not have any issues with brightness since your loosing par value. I think all the hqi ballast are the same unless its the IC HQI ballast.