Best 250w SE bulb..

[MarvinsReef]

alright.. I need everyone's input on what you think is the best 250w SE bulb is... I have a 10k BlueLine bulb and 15k XM... my 10k BlueLine is nice crisp blue/white but kinda old.. the 15k XM seems like it's not enough for my tank coz some of my palys are getting long stolons...

btw.. here are the dimensions of my tank 24"L x 18"W x 18"H... I'm back with the 10k BlueLines for now coz I really think that the 15k XM is not cutting it.. is it true that the 20k has more PAR than the 15k's? I don't like the look of zoas/palys w/ long stolons...

I'm looking to try out 14k Hamiltons next.. watcha think? and I don't supplement with actinics.. all I have is T-12's for dawn and dusk effect... they turn off when the MH turns on...

 

[twon8]

what type of ballast do you have?

 

[twon8]

but my opinion is that the best se 250w mh is aquaconnect 14k, if you have electronic ballasts. i run them and one t5 11k aquablue on my 90 and i have great growth of sps and zoas and great color imo.

 

[MarvinsReef]

shoot.. sorry.. I have PFO magnetic ballast..

 

[twon8]

maybe an xm20k, they have more par than 15k's,

any other bulb over 10k will run better on electronics; ive run hamilton's on magnetics and they just are not bright enough imo.

 

[MarvinsReef]

maybe an xm20k, they have more par than 15k's,

any other bulb over 10k will run better on electronics; ive run hamilton's on magnetics and they just are not bright enough imo.

those are the two I need to test out.. 20k XM's and 14k Hamiltons... I'll order the 20k's first and see if I like them or if the stolons of my palys shrinks...

 

[twon8]

i was running 400w hamiltons on pfo magnetics and switched to 20kxm and they are brighter imo.

 

[Mr. Ugly]

those are the two I need to test out.. 20k XM's and 14k Hamiltons... I'll order the 20k's first and see if I like them or if the stolons of my palys shrinks...

I had 14k Hamiltons before, and 20k XM's now. Both on Blueline e-ballasts.

I think the Hamiltons made the zoas develop brighter colors than the XM. Particularly for AoG, Neon Sky, Emeralds on Fire, and the various orange skirted ones.

I picked up XM's to try for my SPS.

 

[MarvinsReef]

man.. decisions, decisions..

which one has better par ratings? 20k XM's or 14k Hamiltons?

 

[Mr. Ugly]

Dunno... I figured just drop them down close to the water enough for stuff to look happy

 

[twon8]

I had 14k Hamiltons before, and 20k XM's now. Both on Blueline e-ballasts.

I think the Hamiltons made the zoas develop brighter colors than the XM. Particularly for AoG, Neon Sky, Emeralds on Fire, and the various orange skirted ones.

I picked up XM's to try for my SPS.

but i guarantee you that if you ran both on magnetics you would like the xm's better.

ballast type is just as important as bulb imo.

 

[twon8]

xm20k halfway down the page:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/aug2004/review.htm

hamilton 14k near the bottom, ac 14k no 2
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/july2004/review.htm

 

[Stixbaraca]

Here is an amazing run down of a ton of bulb/ballast combos that Sanjay did...play around with plugging in some options.

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

 

[MarvinsReef]

I know guys.. I looked at those sites but they're all gibberish to me.. :lol:

 

[SaltyJeff]

bulbs

Why not try the 12K Reeflux bulbs? I am getting some soon - I have seen them and think they look great. I didn't like the 14K Hamiltons - a little too washed out blue for me.

 

[maroonytunes]

Hey saltyjeff, :welcome:

 

[twon8]

Why not try the 12K Reeflux bulbs? I am getting some soon - I have seen them and think they look great. I didn't like the 14K Hamiltons - a little too washed out blue for me.

the 12k reeflux are great bulbs on electronics, i have one myself, but on magnetics i doubt they run as well.

 

[MarvinsReef]

XM's seem to run good with magnetics so I will go ahead and try the 20k...

 

[twon8]

they are designed to run best on magnetics, so they are your most efficient blue bulb to run.

 

[surfn]

yeah, definitely go with XM 20k on a magnetic ballast. i dont think you can do any better.

i run a radium bulb on my 250w SE mogul. but i also run a magnetic HQI ballast. so it overdrives the bulb at about 330w.

if i try any other combination, it will be with an electronic ballast and an aquaconnect bulb like twon has. sweet colors.

still dont know a place that sells aquaconnects though.