Help on new bulb purchase? 10k vs 14k vs 20k

MikeD88 · Nov 29, 2009

I have 10k bulbs right now and I can't stand the white yellowish look any longer. I'm going to buy new bulbs and I was thinking about XM 20k's. Will I get the same growth rate out of these? My lighting now is 2 x 250w Halides with current 10k bulbs and 4 x 54w T5's with current 460 and 420 bulbs. What should I go with on my new bulbs. I'm thinking 2 20k XM's and 2 460 geismann and 2 420 geismann T5's. What are your opinions for the best growth and best look? (I like bluer lights) Thanks for any help!

Cuda · Nov 29, 2009

Hamilton 14 ks Blue w/ growth

JR's Reef · Nov 29, 2009

We would need to know what kind of ballast you have and is it SE or DE bulbs.

MikeD88 · Nov 29, 2009

Joey08 said:
We would need to know what kind of ballast you have and is it SE or DE bulbs.

It a current outer orbit fixture, so I'm not sure about the ballasts. The bulbs I believe are DE.

JR's Reef · Nov 29, 2009

IF its a fixture it should be DE I would do phoenix 14k. XM bulbs are very dim expect for the 10k

Cuda · Nov 29, 2009

Hamilton 250w DE 14 ks are Blue and give ok growth .

MikeD88 said:
It a current outer orbit fixture, so I'm not sure about the ballasts. The bulbs I believe are DE.

J&O'sdad · Nov 29, 2009

With DE I would go pheonix 14k.

nayrgaijin · Nov 29, 2009

oscarsdad said:
With DE I would go pheonix 14k.

That's what I was going to say, but I wasn't sure if they made 250w bulbs or not.

Dylan · Nov 29, 2009

I have heard tons of good things about the Phoenix 14k.

J&O'sdad · Nov 29, 2009

I just switched from reeflux 10k to pheonix 14k on my lps/frag tank and I can't believe how much better everything looks.

Cuda · Nov 29, 2009

They are good but I have them on one of my tanks and Hamilton 14 ks on the other and Hamilton blows the Pheonix away with crisper color and better growth.Just my first hand personal veiw others might see different.