14K Phoenix or Ushio?

[sf_ramsden]

I am trying to figure out which 150watt MH I want to buy... Went to Hellolights site and saw they have free shipping on MH lights! SWEET!!!! Now, I am trying to decide what I want. Hopefully someone here can help me who has experience with different MH bulbs. I was deciding between the phoenix and Ushio. Which is the best out of these two, or is there even a better one?

 

[Zoanuts]

14 k Phoenix. We have a 14k Pheonix over my son's cube and it is crisp blue. We enjoy the colorations of the corals in his tank. JMO

 

[sf_ramsden]

Thanks Dustin! That was what I have been planning on forever... Have seen local reefers' tanks with Phoenix's and loved it! Just wondering hoiw the Ushios looked, if they were the same amount of blue, better PAR, etc?

 

[Zoanuts]

Where are the experts when you need them? The ushio to me hade more of a crisp white with hit of blue. As far as par I am not sure. I was looking for more aesthetic purposes than par.

 

[coralreefaddict]

I believe there was a thread on reefcentral that someone had come up with or one of the reef magazines and they had put up the pars and everything on it. I just had rescently looked this up because I am in the same position. I believe the two that you mentioned came up to be one of the few good ones with good par and half life. Ushio just recently started making them from what I heard and phoenix has been dependable.

 

[cobraz]

I had XM 250 10ks and just switched over to Phoenix 250 14ks..

They are a little more blue and makes the tank more easier on the eyes.. I love the color.

I have heard the growth will slow a little - that is to be seen... so far my montis are growing as before... time will tell.

 

[I-K@ndY]

Ushio = Good growth on SPS but LPS kinda washed out unless its being supplemented with Heavy Actinics

Phx - Slow growth on SPS but coloration on SPS and LPS are great ..

I uses to run them both but now I am currently running Reeflux 12k and I love it!

 

[cobraz]

Ushio = Good growth on SPS but LPS kinda washed out unless its being supplemented with Heavy Actinics

Phx - Slow growth on SPS but coloration on SPS and LPS are great ..

I uses to run them both but now I am currently running Reeflux 12k and I love it!

How long hav you ran them an what is your growth rate...

 

[FateX8]

im running the 14k ushio right now and i hate it, its more of a crisp white than buish. Maybe a HINT of blue? I even supplement with 75w vho actinic and its still not that great. I'm planning on switching to phoenix soon. On Sanjay's page, it also states that the Phoenix bulb is one of the highest par rated bulbs, not the highest, but it is the highest par rated for it's price. I did a lot of research on bulbs and the only reason I went with Ushio was because of their reliability but now I'd rather have more color than growth.

 

[Hypertek99]

14K Phoenix all the way!!!!!

 

[Chong]

I just switched to phoenix 14k and i'm loving it.

 

[Kigs!]

phnx 14k

 

[sf_ramsden]

Wow... Looks like Phoenix wins by a landslide.. I know what I will be investing in for sure. Hellolights here I come (Gotta love free shipping!)

 

[mvite]

It looks like you are making a good decision. I have both the Ushio and Phoenix 14K's in service right now.

The Ushio is waaaaaaay yellow, IMO--I dounble and triple checked to see if I got a lower Kelvin from the seller by accident.

The Phoenix is pretty blue--but not as bad as a 20K. I have it over my micros and LPS and they seem to like it. I have bought a lot of SPS from people who use Phoenix over SPS--and they say they grow like a weed.

My Phoenix bulb doesn't have a 14K designation---it just says "BLUE" on the bulb!! lol!

I really like it a lot though.

 

[Mr.Firemouth]

Here's the deal.
SE MH lamps I would use 6500K if growth was issue for prop system, aesthetics don't matter here.

For display w/SE I would use reeflux 12K. Awesome lamp! Growth and color!

For DE Reeflux are not as good.
For DE I use the Pheonix also.

For 10K I use XM.

For durability the Giessman bulbs are longer lasting but cost twice as much so nothing saved.

HTH, Rich

 

[naldopr]

hi what about coralvue bulbs?
are they any good?