6500k Odyssey or 10,000k Hamilton

[VR28man]

I almost asked this on the lighting sub forum, but decided to do it here since acro growth is my final intended purpose.

I am thinking of using an HQI MH fixture (got it for $40) on a nano tank.

YOUR VOTE WANTED: Deep or Shallow Acropora Reef Slope Nano?

So for the next few months the only tank I'll be able to keep is a nano. Based on my defunct tank (sold the tank, kept a lot of the equipment), I've come up with two plans which interest me. After maybe six months or so i will get a bigger tank, and either keep the nano or use the nano as the...

www.reef2reef.com

Since sentiment seemed to be overwhelmingly we are in favor of the red planet and Walt Disney shallow reef flat proposal, I'm trying to pick a shallow water bulb to run 6-10 hours (with the remainder of the time using actinics).

my default was a 10,000 K Hamilton hqi bulb, but some people say that 6500 K will grow Acros the best, and I do see there is a 6500k Odyssey HQI bulb.


But I'm a bit concerned, the quality of the Odyssey buln might not be as good as Hamilton? I'm also not so sure that the difference in spectrum is marginal for acros of this type?

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I am not experienced with the hqi bulbs but I know the colors vary a lot even in the lower kelvins. My ushio 14k look more like 10k to me. I would try and look up some pics of tanks running the two bulbs and see which you like most, or buy both and use your favorite? What watt are you using?

 

[VR28man]

yeah, pictures are hard to fine. It's worth checking again though

i will be using 150w bulbs on a 12 inch deep tank.

 

[HeyJay]

Maybe things have changed, but Odyssea was bottom of the barrel for MH lighting quality.

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I would go with a 10k personally. 12” deep is enough that that bulb should look decent and work well. I just haven’t used anything less than 250w so I am not familiar with how good they are. I would always choose Hamilton over odyssea.

 

[X-37B]

Here is my old nano cube with 17.5k geisemann.
It is more white than my hamilton 14k was imo.
150 watt de bulb.
Tank is 18" cubed.

 

[HeyJay]

I'm reaching deep into the memory bank here, but I think iwasaki is the 6500k bulb you'd want.

 

[VR28man]

thanks all. I will avoid the odyssey.

yes, I was thinking Iwasaki, but they don't have it apparently in HQI.

@90's reefer so you like for Gieseman bulbs better than the Hamilton?

 

[TDEcoral]

For 150w, the Phoenix 14k is the gold standard. It's actually fairly white for a 14k bulb, but I think that'll vary a bit based on the ballast. I'm using one on a storage bin that's holding live rock and some coral.

 

[X-37B]

thanks all. I will avoid the odyssey.

yes, I was thinking Iwasaki, but they don't have it apparently in HQI.

@90's reefer so you like for Gieseman bulbs better than the Hamilton?

I am going to be running 2 14k phoenix on my 120 replacing 8 T5's.
I have had the whole setup for 1.5 years and just went with T5' when I put my 120 together 14 months ago.
Time to fire up the MH.
Will be interesting to see what results and colors look like.
I like the T5's but the unit is old and rusting.
Plus the lumen brights, ballasts, and bulbs are new.
I would have no problem running the 17.5K.
I have 4 14K phoenix so I will use them first.

 

[VR28man]

Aha, the famous phoenix. I forgot that people thought this is the HQI gold standard. I'll go with that.

 

[BAUCE]

Aha, the famous phoenix. I forgot that people thought this is the HQI gold standard. I'll go with that.

wise decision. Loved that bulb when I ran it.