sorry another mh beginner question

[runn3rb3an]

I posted this in another section but kinda need a speedy answer sooo...
hey guys Im getting the nano cube HQI and want to upgrade the bulb off the bat. whats the brightest/best overall bulb? I like blueish tint so i was thinking 20k? the tank has the 150w bulb but can you make it a 250w bulb with 20k? or do i need to upggrade the ballast or something? the tank is only 29 gallon.
also whats the difference between radium and regular bulbs?
thanks in advanced and sorry for all the noobish questions

 

[chrisnif]

The wattage you use is determined by the ballast, so you'd need a 250 ballast for a 250 bulb. Honestly in a 29 gallon you dont need more than 150 in my experience. I'd find a good 14K bulb and try that before going to a 20k, especially with the lower costs of a HQI bulb. I have a 175W 14K and its plenty blue for me. My 2 cents that's all

 

[runn3rb3an]

is there a big difference between the 20 and 14?
whats a good bulb? idk where to even start lol.
radiumm?

 

[chrisnif]

14 is less blue than 20. Color temp is like this, typical "parking lot" metal halide is 4.3k kelvin, "daylight" is 6.5k Kelvin (kelvin is the K you see on the ratings) "really white" is 10k K sometimes noted as 10000K or 10K but its "ten thousand Kelvin" next typical type is 14K and 20K the higher you go the bluer it is, but the less actual light you get. There are some places you can search where you can see comparisons bulb to bulb and color to color. Personally I'm using a dirt cheap yabe bulb and I'm happy and my corals are happy... but thats just me.

 

[btldreef]

20K is really, REALLY blue.
I would do a 14K Phoenix 150 watt. Besides, you loose coral growth rates with a 20K bulb.
14K bulbs usually give you a good mix of blue and white and you don't loose too much coral growth.
10K is best for coral growth, but most times it's very yellow, 14K is in the middle, a little white with a tint of blue, and then 20K makes the color of coral pop, but does little to help coral growth. In a small tank 20K may saturate the tank in a blue tint.

 

[cveverly]

Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3196803
20K is really, REALLY blue.
I would do a 14K Phoenix 150 watt. Besides, you loose coral growth rates with a 20K bulb.
14K bulbs usually give you a good mix of blue and white and you don't loose too much coral growth.
10K is best for coral growth, but most times it's very yellow, 14K is in the middle, a little white with a tint of blue, and then 20K makes the color of coral pop, but does little to help coral growth. In a small tank 20K may saturate the tank in a blue tint.
I agree with this. 14K is a nice blue and the Phoenix is one of the better lamps.

 

[runn3rb3an]

Cool thanks guys.
So is the phenoix a radium bulb or is radium specific to a brand? Can anyone explain what they are and pro cons? Thanks for all the help!

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by runn3rb3an
http:///forum/post/3196832
Cool thanks guys.
So is the phenoix a radium bulb or is radium specific to a brand? Can anyone explain what they are and pro cons? Thanks for all the help!
I believe radium is another brand. I actually have cheap off brand PulseRight (I think that's how it's spelt) 14K 150 watts and they're great. A nice crisp white light with a hint of blue. I can't go too blue with my lights because the person who owned the tank before me painted the background blue so it will be too blue with 20K halides.
Phoenix and Ushio are great halide bulbs. I know for a fact that AquaHut can get Phoenix bulbs for you if you don't want to order online. It takes them about a week.

 

[runn3rb3an]

Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3196837
I believe radium is another brand. I actually have cheap off brand PulseRight (I think that's how it's spelt) 14K 150 watts and they're great. A nice crisp white light with a hint of blue. I can't go too blue with my lights because the person who owned the tank before me painted the background blue so it will be too blue with 20K halides.
Phoenix and Ushio are great halide bulbs. I know for a fact that AquaHut can get Phoenix bulbs for you if you don't want to order online. It takes them about a week.
Sounds good lol. If you don't mind me asking how much do pulseright and pheonix usually run?
Btw I went to tht aquarium in deerpark and he had some amazing corals on that led tank!

 

[btldreef]

Yeah, his stuff is nice. I think pulserights are 45 and phoenix are 60. Phoenix will be just a tiny bit more blue.