best 12-14k single ended bulb

[azaintcold]

I've read sanji's website information, and I'm still having a hard time figuring out which bulb I want to replace my current ones with, mainly because some of the bulbs im considering aren't on there.

I am looking for the best 12-14k 250w single ended bulb I can find with three things in mind:

par for growth, price, and color.

I have coralvue 14ks right now, look great but horrible growth.

I can't run actinics because of a space issue, and I'm running an icecap electronic ballasts.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[hahnmeister]

Radium 250wattSE would be my pick. They are a HQI rated bulb (normally reserved for DE socket) in a SE format. Long life, great output.

Ushio/BLV nepturion 14,000K (make sure its not CWA) is another consideration... more white (some who dont have clear water claim its too yellow), byt loads of output.

[curthendrix]

I would place much faith in the "K" rating of a particular bulb being the actual color. A 20k radium on a HQI ballast is more of a 12k-14k imo. Some 14k bulbs run much bluer than a true 14k color.

[kdblove_99]

I love the Radium on a HQI ballast

[raddogz]

I like my Reeflux 12k for color, but may try the AquaConnects since they are closer to color and par of the DE Phoenix.

[azaintcold]

I've been leaning towards the radiums. I have heard many good things about them. I hear what your saying about the kelvin, I make sure I look up the true color on the spectrums before I get serious about the bulb, I'm' just throwing the 12-14k out there so most people have an idea of what color I'm looking for.

[twon8]

i like the aquaconnect 14k

[kdblove_99]

I have heard good things about the helio 20k also and its $20 cheaper than the radium.

think fragfarmer uses the helio's

[mg426]

Hamilton 14ks here.

[bhdmc]

I use Hamilton 14K as well.

[azaintcold]

My concern on the hamiltons is the par. It doesn't seem to be where others are in that catagory.