Metal halide hqi replacement bulb question

[anonome]

Hello all, I would like to hear from people that have switched from 150w 10,000k hqi bulbs to something else. I ordered and received XM 150w 15,000k hqi replacement bulbs. I have been running 10,000k bulbs, pleased, but want something more natural looking. 10,000k bulbs just look too bright, too much white. What are the pro's and cons to going with a 15,000k bulb, what about a 14,000k? Is there much difference?
I am running mostly softies, LPS, with 2 crocea clams, 1 RBTA reef tank. Everything is growing great.
Any comments, or pics would be better. I don't want to install them if something is better. I am starting to doubt myself now. Thanks as always.

 

[cedarreef]

They say that 20k looks the best, but 10k has the most benefits so I think 15k would be a good balance of the two. I have 20k's n i think they look great...never really seen 10 but ive seen 14k n they are really nice...i wouldnt think 15 would be much different...good choice on switching tho

 

[anonome]

Thanks for the answer. I was also thinking that there can't be much difference between the 14k and the 15k.
Anybody else have other comments?

 

[jsl]

Originally Posted by Anonome
http:///forum/post/2765773
Thanks for the answer. I was also thinking that there can't be much difference between the 14k and the 15k.
Anybody else have other comments?
I used to use 10k bulbs until someone recommended me a Phoenix 14k bulb. The Phoenix bulb is just amazing. The colors "pop" out and the growth rate was there. After your 15k bulb, try a Phoenix bulb.

 

[dennis210]

Been running 10K for 3 years. When I set up a frag tank ordered MH with 14K. Colors do show up better so just ordered 14K replacements for main tank.
Dennis

 

[anonome]

Thanks all!! I'll try the 15k bulbs.

 

[maxalmon]

I've tried just about every bulb on the market and find the Phoenix 14k bulb's offer the best mix of growth vs color.

 

[gasguzzler]

Agreed. I use 2 14K Phoenix bulbs in my fixture. Looked better than Hamilton 20K's!!!

 

[anonome]

Ok, I haven't opened the bulbs yet but was thinking.....(this always gets me in trouble!!)...Has anyone ever put a 20,000k bulb in the middle and a 15,000k bulb on either side? My lights hold 3 halides.
Would this look weird? Or would it off set each other since light travels about 1 foot on either side of the direct output area? I am still debating this issue, I can still return the bulbs at this point.

 

[a sea k]

I don't know how deep your tank is but I would be carefull about switching to 14/15K bulbs with your clams. The LPS, softies and GBTA will probably be fine but clams are pretty high light demand animals. I switched from AB 10K to the Pheonix 14K (150HQI) and found my tank was too dim for my taste. My 1-1/2 year old H. crispa that has never moved from the time I placed him in the tank promptly made his way to the top of the tank directly under the 14K bulb. I have since switched that bulb to a ReefFlux 12K and it is visually more appealling to me but the nem is still on top of the rock.

 

[anonome]

Interesting A sea K. My tank is 24" deep. My RBTA is way up top now, and like yours hasn't moved in 2 yrs. My clams are also up top. I will do some more research on this, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the insight.
Sometimes what ain't broke we shouldn't fix, just for our tastes. The tank has been doing fine with the 10,000k bulbs. Now, I am really confused.

 

[anonome]

I am doing the bump to see if anyone can answer my question on two different kinds of bulbs in the same tank.

 

[anonome]

Bumpidy, bumpidy......Anyone ever put two different kelvin lights in the same tank?

 

[mr_x]

i have 2 different k lamps on my tank now. i have a 12k reeflux in the center, and 14k hamiltons on the outer reflectors. i tried 3 different bulbs at first to see which look i liked best.
to answer your question, if you like the end result, then it works.
btw- don't go with the 14k hamiltons.
here was a shot i took of my tank about a year ago, with 3 lamps on it.....

 

[mr_x]

here is the tank a year later...sorry about the crappy pic.

 

[msch1999]

I am running 3 250 watt Hqi with the 14k Pheonix, and I like them.

 

[darren0311]

I am Running (2) 250 watt MH 14000K, It has a blueish tint to it, and Def. more Natural looking! I started out with 10000K bulbs, they were wey too bright.

 

[gatorwpb]

I switched from 2x150w Aqualine ABs to 2x150w Phoenix 14ks and am really happy with them. I have mostly SPS and the colors are great. Still getting great growth, although probably a bit less than with the 10k ABs.

 

[b0b82]

Two 250 HQI Phoenix 14k bulbs.Two 96 pc daylight 10k/470nm and two 420nm/460 pc blues. Whih a bunch of moonson a 125.

 

[coral keeper]

I am hearing alot of great things about the 14k Pheonix bulbs and I'm considering buying one soon.