250w Pheonix 14K DE Question

brewandreef · Mar 29, 2019

Hi all,

I'm switching my AI Hydra26HD LEDs for a MH. I recently bought a Lumen Bright Mini DE Pendant and 250w Vue Technology dimmable E-ballast from a fellow reefer (plus a spare non-dimmable E-ballast) for $80, and plan to set it up this weekend over my 30 gallon rimless cube (probably overkill). I ordered a Pheonix 14K bulb from BRS, but didn't know it was spec'd to run on an M80 ballast until I got the bulb today. Will it still be OK to run it, or is it going to give me that Windex look? (I prefer whiter tanks with a hint of blue).

Thanks in advance.

Crabs McJones · Mar 29, 2019

jda · Mar 29, 2019

It will be a bit bluer, but nothing like a 20k bulb or LED tanks with lots of blues on.

brewandreef · Mar 29, 2019

jda said:
It will be a bit bluer, but nothing like a 20k bulb or LED tanks with lots of blues on.

Thanks @jda . Should I expect bulb life to be shortened as well?

jda · Mar 29, 2019

No. Overdriving shortens life, not under driving.

brewandreef · Mar 29, 2019

That only makes sense. Thank you again.

3mm3 · Mar 29, 2019

What @jda said. It will be a bit more blue. Not too bad though. If you can ever get your hands on reeflex cube do it. They push the Phoenix bulb very nicely.

jda · Mar 29, 2019

If you under drive a bulb with a 150 or 175w ballast, then I would worry, but so many people have had great success with 14k Phoenix on electronic and m58 that it is still a good combo.

It is nice to know that if you ever need more PAR, then a m80 will bring in about 30% more.

leepink23 · Mar 29, 2019

This is 250 watt Phoenix 14k with icecap ballast, they run them at about 265 watts. I purchased m80 but they were to large to fit behind my aquarium so I settled for the icecap. My coral are responding well to the Phoenix bulbs.

brewandreef · Mar 29, 2019

I set it up today. Really love the color of the bulb, it's exactly what I was looking for. And to be honest it's not too hot at all. My fan was able to keep the temp stable. She's a keeper!

jda · Mar 30, 2019

You can now join the club of people who roll their eyes when people post that heat is such a huge issue with MH. Sure, it can be in places like South Florida or the Mojave, but for most of the people on this board, it is an easily solveable issue if you WANT to solve it.

I glad that you like the bulb. It is rare that the best solution is also the least expensive... but this is true for the 14k Phoenix bulbs and also Instant Ocean salt.

brewandreef · Mar 30, 2019

To be honest, I wish I would've gone this route in the first place, I just didn't know any better. I was sold on LEDs because that's what everyone is moving to now, and because metal halides were said to be too hot and T5s have too many bulbs to replace yearly and look flat.

But I can see now why there was so much success in the past with MH. That's really all I want, because to me if I'm using something sub-par, I'm just wasting time and money to get sub-par results. I'd rather start with a superior lighting source and focus on water quality.

Hopefully this will help me to be more successful. So far the corals are enjoying it.

DesertReefT4r · Mar 31, 2019

I have ran 250w Phoenix on a several different ballasts and the color shift is not huge. Imo Icecap runs them the bluest which I like and HQI ballasts run them more of a chrisp white with a hint of blue.

brewandreef · Mar 31, 2019

DesertReefT4r said:
I have ran 250w Phoenix on a several different ballasts and the color shift is not huge. Imo Icecap runs them the bluest which I like and HQI ballasts run them more of a chrisp white with a hint of blue.

It's kind of neat how different ballasts can give different looks to the same bulb, but it still looks so natural. I'm curious to see all how different they all look.