Help pick new bulb

[fenderguy1]

I have a 29 gal biocube with a 150 watt clip on viper light. I need to replace the bulb and was looking for any suggestion's on which to buy/ which to stay away from. Tank is only lps/softies and i would like something in the 20 k range, something that will make what little corals i have left pop).
I appreciate any help.

 

[Loki]

This would be the absolute best in my opinion Radium 150 Watt HQI 20K Metal Halide Bulb - English

 

[dougers31]

Yup, radiums are nice.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I used 10k Ushios, 10 and 12k XM, 12 and 20k Coralvue and finally settled on XM 15k. The coloration was awesome, not too white and not too blue and did not require any supplementation.

 

[ritter6788]

The 150w Radium would be fine for LPS/softies. It is my favorite COLOR 150w bulb I've ever used. Not too white, not too blue. The Phoenix 150w is by far the BEST mix of color and par that I've ever used. Slightly bluer than the Radium. All this depends on your ballast though so the colors I get from HQI ballast may not be the same as what you get. If you plan on adding any sps later down the road I'd go with the Phoenix. The 150w Radium is a terrible bulb for sps growth. Softies and LPS only it will be a great bulb.

Want some color examples?

Here's my tank back in the day when I had 150w MH. These pics are with PC actinics also.

Phoenix

Radium

 

[fenderguy1]

Thanks Ritter for the pics. I would lean more to a blue bulb if anything. I would like it to be as blue as possible while still having enough par to grow my lps and softies.
Im not really into sps, maybe i would add a birdsnest or something like that but acros/montis are outta the question.

 

[FaviaFreak]

150w 20K Radium all day long

 

[kmaintl]

+1 on Radium

 

[ritter6788]

I would like to add. You're getting a lot of votes for Radium but it is really a low par bulb in the 150w version. 250 or 400w radiums are the way to go but I'm telling you I have actually used this bulb and it has great color but very low par. Not to mention, last I looked 150w radiums were $89 and Phoenix were $39.