250w DE Recommendations

[gnoles]

My bulbs aren't old by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm looking for something a little less white. Right now I have (2) 10k bulbs in it with actinic supplementation (2) 420 nm and (2) 460 nm. I'm leaning towards a look with more blue, but don't think I want to go all the way to 20k. Suggestions are welcome, pictures are appreciated! :bigsmile:

 

[bkv1997]

Pheonix 14k.... I tried them all before eventually switching to SE radiums. I think many of us that ended up going back to SE would recommend the same.

Brandon

 

[gilmour01]

phoenix 14k are the best looking 14k bulb i've found. here's where i get my bulbs. this guy is great to deal with and much cheaper than most should you decide to give them a try.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Phoenix-250W-14K-HQI-Bulb_W0QQitemZ250399013296QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a4cf1b9b0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

 

[gnoles]

Anyone currently running these that might have a tank shot? I'd like to see what they look like live before I order. Of course, those are much cheaper than Geismann bulbs I was looking at.

 

[Poseidon]

I'll +1 The Phoenix. Here is a whole gallery of images from a friends tank that used solely the 14K Phoenix bulbs to light it.

http://perfectpix.smugmug.com/gallery/3455685_x8YTZ#194140153_PRPVB

This is one of my ALL TIME favorite tanks!

 

[Poseidon]

Just for fun:

 

[gilmour01]

i've always wanted to try the giesemann bulbs, but just cant stomach the price.

 

[gnoles]

I can't either, that's why I'm asking.... I've seen a couple of tank shots around with the Giesemann bulbs and think... Wow! That's nice.... but then again, I said that with Poseidon's picture above. I guess if I go that route, I could turn off the Actinics except during the sunset, sunrise periods.... I could save over the course of one year... about $114 bucks (if my math is right.... 260w an hour/10 hours a day/365 x .12 a kwh)

Will an outer orbit fixture burn itself up if I run the HQI without the T5 fans running?

 

[acronautical]

I just fired up Phoenix 14Ks with my Current hqi/T5 unit. I am sold on these bulbs. They have a nice blue hue compared to my prior 14K Powerpaq's.

 

[brianx45]

+1 on the Pheonix 14k's

 

[xiongaquatics]

i use to have a pheonix 14k and i think it's just to white, but if your changing from a 10K. i think you might like it.

 

[gilmour01]

I can't either, that's why I'm asking.... I've seen a couple of tank shots around with the Giesemann bulbs and think... Wow! That's nice.... but then again, I said that with Poseidon's picture above. I guess if I go that route, I could turn off the Actinics except during the sunset, sunrise periods.... I could save over the course of one year... about $114 bucks (if my math is right.... 260w an hour/10 hours a day/365 x .12 a kwh)

Will an outer orbit fixture burn itself up if I run the HQI without the T5 fans running?

i thought the fans were wired to the halide switch. if not, you could just rewire them...should be pretty simple. you could even just run the fans on their own plug...thats what i did with my outer orbit.

 

[dknuckles]

I love my Phoenix 14k!!!!

 

[gnoles]

I just fired up Phoenix 14Ks with my Current hqi/T5 unit. I am sold on these bulbs. They have a nice blue hue compared to my prior 14K Powerpaq's.

acronautical: Any chance you might have a full tank shot? :bigsmile:

brianx45 & xiongaquatics - appreciate the vote of confidence for the bulb. It seems that I already know what I need to be ordering, but I would like to see it on the Outer Orbit ballasts.

Thanks everyone for the advice and the pictures.

 

[icedgxe]

Here is a full tank shot of my 125 with phoenix 14ks (fixture is a current sunpod) with no supplementation.

Canon slr w/flash:

Panasonic p&s w/out flash:

 

[Sikryd]

Phoenix 14k