Replacing MH Bulbs

[mudplayerx]

I need to replace my MH bulbs soon and this next paycheck is completely dispensible so I need some advice. Right now I have two 150watt 10k HQI bulbs in the Coralife Aqualife Pendants.
I have been toying with the notion of changing my spectrum from 10k to 14k or even 20k. If I decided to get 14k, is it necessary to supplement the lighting with actinic bulbs? The reason I ask is because I have the MH pendants and not only would it be difficult to supplement actinic with that configuration, one of the main reasons I got the pendants in the 1st place was to get rid of the clutter.
I'm pretty sure that I would have to supplement actinic if I decided to get 20k bulbs, right?
How would my corals tolerate such a change in spectrum? I know their growth would slow somewhat, but would their health decline?
How much money am I looking at spending for the two bulbs? A good price range would be great. I'm not sure if this is allowed on swf.com.... but if a moderator could chime in... am I allowed to ask for sites that sell MH bulbs and only MH bulbs since swf.com doesn't sell them?

 

[buzzword]

Mudplayer, I am in the same boat, ready to change but undecided as to what spectrum. I have a canopy with PC's already in place so I am leaning to getting 13-14K and supplementing with actinics. My other thought would be to get 20K and to offset those with 10K PC's to lighten the blue tint of the 20K.
As to your question, I would not supplement 20K with actinics, but that is jmo.
Price depends on double or single ended and what brand. Google metal halide bulbs and you will find tons of sites that sell em. My LFS is going to order mine for me at close to their price. I love my LFS!

 

[viper_930]

The higher the K rating, the bluer the bulb is. I can use 14kk without actinics, and 20kk are pretty blue already. Coral health wouldn't decline, but changing bulbs have resulted in some bleaching with SPS corals, but since you're getting higher K bulb (less PAR) it's likely not going to happen.
Price range could be anywhere from $100-200 for two bulbs, depending on brand. If you can find them, I'd definitely say to go with Phoenix 14kk bulbs. Phoenixes are tied with the top-of-the-line Aquaconnects but at half the cost. I use a 150w Phoenix on my 36g and paid $55 for one bulb. They're only available in 150 or 250w, DE style, and 14kk.
Other sites are not allowed to be named.

 

[mudplayerx]

Thanks guys. I'm a little slow... I was thinking higher K MH needed actinic supplementation, not the lower K ones. Guess I got that part backwards.
So if I buy 150watt double-ended bulbs, then any brand name would fit inside of my pendant sockets?
Will coral growth slow tremendously with a change from 10k to 14k? The reason I ask is that I'm making a good $60 a month in store credit by trading my xenia frags in. It would be a real shame to slow this down by a large margin.
Here are the pendants I have if it helps with the bulb questions:

 

[buzzword]

Sorry mud I am not familiar with those lights. I don't think the xenia will be as affected by the light change as SPS will be. Move em up if you can if their growth slows.

 

[viper_930]

Any brand 150w DE bulb should fit.
The coral growth will not always slow because of a higher K, it's just a general statement that a higher K rated bulb has lower PAR, and in most cases that's true.
But in my case my corals have grown even faster after switching from a Hamilton 10kk to a Phoenix 14kk. That's because the Hamilton was so cheap that it had even less PAR than the Phoenix. Some brands are just better than others.

 

[mudplayerx]

HQI is the same thing as DE, right?

 

[buzzword]

Mud I don't think it is the same thing. I think HQI has to do with the ballast and DE is just for double ended. But I am not sure. Sorry I know that was not a lot of help.

 

[mudplayerx]

I have HQI and DE then heh. Darn lighting jargon

 

[escape2thewater]

My 250w - 20k radiums look amazing in person its just when you take a picture they look VERY blue. Good growth on SPS, etc. I would go with 14k though if I could do it again.
Escape

 

[kdfrosty]

It really all depends exactly what color you want. Personally I use a 400w XM 20K SE bulb supplemented with 110w 50/50 PCs.

 

[mudplayerx]

Do you recommend Coralife bulbs? I have found them for $49 each. I have coralife pendants, and it seems to me like a good idea to get the same brand bulbs. Any pros/cons on coralife bulbs.
ps- the old bulbs I am replacing were coralife.
Also
I foudn some phoenix bulbs for $60 each. I want the 14k bulbs, and found one listed as 14k, but it had this underneathe the listing:
14K 150watt HQI Double End Halide Bulb – Phoenix Brand
This bulb is listed as 10K, but looks more like a 14K bulb, has a nice blue tint. Looks like a 10K halide with VHO actinics.
Runs on hqi halide ballast only, or PFO Electronic, IceCap New Generation Ballast, or LN ballast.
So is it a 14k or a 10k lol?
Also
Have you any opinions on the Coralvue brand?

 

[viper_930]

No experience with Coralife or Coralvue.
Phoenix for just 10 bucks more is well worth it IMO. There are none made in 10kk version, all are 14kk. I use it and it is indeed 14kk. Honestly, I doubt I'll be using anything but Phoenix bulbs for a while.

 

[mudplayerx]

Gimme some pics of your tank with just the 14k's running please.... no supplemental bulbs running.

 

[viper_930]

Sure thing, I'll get the pic tomorrow when the halide comes back on.

 

[viper_930]

Here they are with only the single 14kk Phoenix bulb. The color, at least on my monitor, is true to life. No full tank shots, I have an ugly coral rack at the top of the water for now.

 

[viper_930]

Here's two pics. No full tank shots, I have an ugly coral rack hanging at the top of the tank.

 

[mudplayerx]

Thanks for the pic. Looks really nice, but may be too drastic a change for me since I'm coming from 10k's. ARG! I think I'm going to order the 14k's and just be done with it.