what is the best 14k DE bulb

easye123 · #1 07/26/2006, 05:45 PM

I have a coralife 150w MH HQI fixture that i took apart to make it a retrofit in my canopy over my 29g

the 10k i have is two white and the 20k is two blue soo i wanted to go with a 14k

i also have 2x24 SLS tek light T5's actinic supp.

what is the best 150w 14k DE bulb

i was thinking the hamilton or coral life?

easye123 · #2 07/26/2006, 06:15 PM

bump

smatter · #3 07/26/2006, 07:05 PM

People really like the Phoenix, lots of PAR for a blue bulb. I think you will find your corals will respond better to 10K though. Be prepared for a slow down in growth and a little color loss. It's not about what we like, it's what the corals like.

pham411 · #4 07/26/2006, 07:07 PM

lots of people recomend pheonix, but no1 uses them, common lets hear some real feedback from users.

Yinger · #5 07/26/2006, 07:12 PM

i have them and i think they're awesome. I also supplement with VHOs as well. Good intensity with nice color.

pham411 · #6 07/26/2006, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Yinger
i have them and i think they're awesome. I also supplement with VHOs as well. Good intensity with nice color.

how has your growth and coloration been since your last bulb, assuming that your last bulb was a diff temp.

pix would be cool if you got em.

thanks

Yinger · #7 07/26/2006, 07:38 PM

here's a not so good pic. I'll take one later without the glare.

as far as growth and all that, i just setup the tank not too long ago. The tank before this i had 14k hamiltons SE and this is much brighter. In the pic, I also have two URI super actinics as well

Ti · #8 07/26/2006, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pham411
lots of people recomend pheonix, but no1 uses them, common lets hear some real feedback from users.

Quite a few people here use them, they just haven;t all chimed in yet.
Personally I use Hamilton 14K

Herbie · #9 07/26/2006, 08:11 PM

I use a phoenix 14K 150w. I like the color. 10k was too yellow for my tastes. I also supplement with 300w of VHO actinic, for a total of 450watts on a 37 gallon. Coral colors are great, and growth has been outstanding. I keep mostly LPS, so the lighting is a good match for the corals lighting requirements. I do not target feed, and all my lps are growing like crazy. The 14k phoenix is the best combo........for color and par you can get.....imo.
Here are some pictures with the lighting so you can get an idea of what it looks like.......150 DE Phoenix14k and 300w VHO actinic on a 37g oceanic.
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=887949

Later........Herbie

Stormtrker · #10 07/26/2006, 08:29 PM

I have a new Coralife Aqualife Pro retrofit with 2x150w HQI and 2x96w PC actinics. I just replaced the 10K HQI bulbs with Phoenix 14K tonight and love them. They look crisp white with just a hint of blue. Glad to do away with the yellow look of the 10K!

dots · #11 07/26/2006, 08:33 PM

The Phoenix was a little too blue for me, I thought I had the wrong bulb and changed out a PC to full daylight to balance it out. After that loved the coloration.

Has anyone used the Ushio 14K for a 250w DE?

easye123 · #12 07/26/2006, 09:30 PM

So would a 14k phoenix and 2x24w T5 one actinic plus and one super actinic look good

give a nice intensity?

not too blue but kinda blue?

good coloration in lps and sps?

Yinger · #13 07/26/2006, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by easye123
So would a 14k phoenix and 2x24w T5 one actinic plus and one super actinic look good

give a nice intensity?

not too blue but kinda blue?

good coloration in lps and sps?

IMO, just do the phoenix 14k and 2 super actinics and you'll be fine. You don't need the T5s, otherwise you will have to get more reflectors. The VHOs have built in 180 degree reflectors that work fine.

Ti · #14 07/26/2006, 10:08 PM

VHO actinics are prettty awesome.

easye123 · #15 07/26/2006, 10:46 PM

i will prob get the phoenix 14k

i already have the 2x24w t5 that are on seperate reflectors

and are bright has heck

ill post some picks when i recieve the 14k

Ti · #16 07/27/2006, 11:15 AM

According to Sanjay's data, the hamilton 14K is a VERY close second to the phoenix 14K.

NewSchool04 · #17 07/27/2006, 03:09 PM

Ti, do you have any tank pics of your 14K Hamiltons

LBCBJ · #18 07/27/2006, 04:06 PM

I love my Phoenix, and I'm a real user. Growth rates have been excellent as well as coloration.

NewSchool04 · #19 07/27/2006, 04:27 PM

I have heard the 12K Reeflux has a very nice look but I have no information on par.

antonsemrad · #20 07/28/2006, 04:57 PM

Phoenix 14k is my favorite bulb. It is awfully blue though. Mixed with an actinic white or 50-50 type would be nice. Actinic mix is my choice.

NewSchool04 · #21 07/28/2006, 05:22 PM

my 150W Phoenix 14K on a Coralife hang on pendant was much bluer than my 250W 14K Phoenix on a ROIII Balast and pendant. I'm shocked the difference, I love the new look, much more white with a blue tint instead of very blue.

Genin · #22 07/28/2006, 05:45 PM

My 150w DE Pheonix 14K bulb will be coming in on Monday hopefully. I'll let you know how it compares to my 20k Hamilton.

Ti · #23 07/28/2006, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by antonsemrad
Phoenix 14k is my favorite bulb. It is awfully blue though. Mixed with an actinic white or 50-50 type would be nice. Actinic mix is my choice.

I hear this alot.
If this is the case go Hamilton 14k.
The Hamilton is Crisp White with a hint of blue and the par is just a SMIDGE lower.
Sanjay has it listed at 69ppfd and the phoenix at 73ppfd on a ice cap ballast.

gizmo7718 · #24 07/28/2006, 05:57 PM

I use 2x150w Phoenix and 2x39w T5s. One T5 is 11,000K and the other is true actinic. I love the color of my tank. Growth is good IMO, although I don't have any other bulbs to compare it too. The color of my animals is awesome, compared to many other tanks I've seen using different color temps.
I think the growth depends on many other factors than color temp (ie flow, type of coral, etc). I've noticed my wild SPS grow immediately although they are more sensitive to subtle changes. My aquacultured SPS take a little longer to acclimate, but when they start growing they take off. They're seem to be much hardier as well.

mrkrispy · #25 07/28/2006, 06:05 PM

my hamilton 14k bulb faded after about 6 months. Colors were ok, but corals didn't flouresce well (i only run a single MH bulb).
I switched to a Pheonix bulb and the colors were a lot better, much much much more flourescence. The bulb is going on around 14 months and still looks great and it very bright.