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2K views 32 replies 5 participants last post by  MatroxD 
#1 ·
What Kelvin are your bulbs?
Why did you choose that rating?

I need to get new bulbs for my HQI ballast. What Kelvin would you recommend for a mixed reef? My ballast is for 250 watts.

What brand HQI bulbs do you use?

Just looking for some input and guidance on what bulbs to start looking at.
 
#3 ·
I can't find anything on the amps that it puts out. I have currently (2) 250 watt 20k South Pacific Sunlight bulbs in that helps any?

I also have a a 48" 4 bulbs T5 fixture with (2) full actinics and (2) 10k's.

I don't really have a preference on 10k vs 20k as all i've ever ran are 20k's & they really don't seem that Blue.
 
#4 ·
what i used to use and worked great is for halides 10k ushio bulbs but you need a ballast that runs at 3 amps to burn them correctly and use your t5 for atinic (blue light) and thats it. if you run a ushio under 3 amps it bill burn more yellow instead of crisp white and a big lose of par hope this helps.
since u have 4 ts going with them maybe to blue 2 purple ati bulbs
 
#7 ·
sounds like your 20k you had were crap. I have used hamilton 20k, reeflux 14k, coralvue 20k, hamilton 12k, ushio 10k, and XM 20k.... XM are VERY BLUE, Ushio was more of a natural light with yellows and crisp white. reeflux and coral vue bulbs tend to explode in my experiance.... (sales rep is an A-HOLE too) I was a fan of Hamilton. I have heard great things about phoenix bulbs but I have not tried them yet. Really depends on your budget. The majority of the really good bulbs are more expensive unfortunetly.

For some good research look at the past issues of reefkeeping.com in their tank of the month thread. There are some UBER good tanks in there that you know have insanely good things going on, including lighting.
 
#8 ·
sounds like your 20k you had were crap. I have used hamilton 20k, reeflux 14k, coralvue 20k, hamilton 12k, ushio 10k, and XM 20k.... XM are VERY BLUE, Ushio was more of a natural light with yellows and crisp white. reeflux and coral vue bulbs tend to explode in my experiance.... (sales rep is an A-HOLE too) I was a fan of Hamilton. I have heard great things about phoenix bulbs but I have not tried them yet. Really depends on your budget. The majority of the really good bulbs are more expensive unfortunetly.

For some good research look at the past issues of reefkeeping.com in their tank of the month thread. There are some UBER good tanks in there that you know have insanely good things going on, including lighting.
From your experience what bulbs gave the best color as well as good growth wtih SPS?
 
#9 ·
What looks good to us is 20k-50k with mad actinics.. what grows corals fastest is 6500k-8000k...... but the corals grown into brownish green butt ugly beasts.

It has been that way since the late 80s.... MANY MANY companies have claimed their lights grow the best and look the best, but it is all BS, I could grow some MAD acros with my good old 175 watt 6500k globe Hamilton hallides with a TAR ballast that would hum like and air compressor, but they did not look like anything you would want these days.
 
#11 ·
I am facing the same quandary. Mine grow well, but I can't get color. I thought it was po4 but now it's low, so I am confused also.

R7S fixture:
(2) 10K aquatic life 150's
(4) 420/460nm aquatic t5's

I also have Hamilton 14K 150's, but haven't used them a lot, as they seem a lot dimmer than the 10K? I also have another ati blue plus, ati blue special and I believe (2) aquatic life 10k bulbs that I haven't used since the halides are more white in color, but I could also switch them out?

I'm following this one also as it's very informative and I also appreciate any help. :thumbup:

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#12 ·
From what I have been hearing. 10k's will grow coral better, but they will be lighter in color because the light is more intense. With the 14k it will be dimmer because it is more blue than the 10k but that will also bring out the color more, with a bit slower growth.

Anyone can correct me if i'm wrong, but that seems to be the jist of it.
 
#13 ·
From what I have been hearing. 10k's will grow coral better, but they will be lighter in color because the light is more intense. With the 14k it will be dimmer because it is more blue than the 10k but that will also bring out the color more, with a bit slower growth.

Anyone can correct me if i'm wrong, but that seems to be the jist of it.
I actually did a bit of a switch up after writing the above:

Put in the Hamilton 14k's
Added the ati bulbs and the one 10k aquaticlife.

I have the bulbs basically in a white, blue, white, blue configuration going from back to front. I will try and pick up a purple soon also.

I wonder though, how long it will take for the animals color to change. That is the next question.

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#14 ·
when it comes to halides the bluer the bulb the less par in most cases.

max 150w what size tank myseld i wouldnt use anything under 250w unless its a nano

i have always used 10k ushio when i ran halides with other atinic suplament lighting as you can see in above lighting color was great.

give me a few i know there is a par chart testing many ballast and bulbs that show all the par readings
 
#15 ·
ok i found it but ushio demands 3 amps to burn proper and now that pfo is out of buisness there is like no one that makes a 3 am ballast you kinda of need the old style tar style but this list compares many bulbs and ballast and is pretty good

ARO (Hellolights) Electronic Ballast
Lamp PAR Watts MaxWatts Amps MaxAmp
Iwasaki 605 250 253 2.11 2.19
XM10K 526 250 251 2.16 2.37
BLSW 465 250 254 2.16 2.2
EVC10K 463 249 256 2.16 2.19
SUN10K 461 248 256 2.14 2.23
AB13K 434 252 254 2.15 2.51
Ushio 408 251 269 2.14 2.61
AC14K 391 253 258 2.23 2.33
CV10K 360 249 251 2.11 2.15
HM14K 338 249 253 2.17 2.63
Radium 327 249 252 2.18 2.23
AMX14K 310 252 277 2.19 2.49
SBURST12K 302 250 270 2.18 2.5
CV20K 286 249 265 2.16 2.55
XM20K 270 250 253 2.16 2.41
SUN14K 259 249 255 2.15 2.37
CV12K 258 250 273 2.17 2.48
BL10K 253 246 250 2.14 2.19
CV15K 243 250 252 2.16 2.22
SUN20K 227 246 278 2.17 2.53
PFO 13K 206 251 252 2.16 2.19
XM15K 171 252 256 2.2 2.27
CoralVue Electronic Ballast
Lamp PAR Watts MaxWatts Amps MaxAmp
Iwasaki 569 247 266 2 2.36
XM10K 541 257 270 2.12 2.5
BLSW 480 252 270 2.02 2.2
CV10K 430 262 265 2.1 2.13
AB13K 368 224 268 1.8 2.39
HM14K 363 258 268 2.09 2.49
Ushio 363 255 265 2.08 2.38
Radium 337 260 269 2.13 2.89
CV20K 316 260 265 2.09 2.22
CV15K 311 260 265 2.1 2.16
BL10K 265 256 261 2.09 2.12
XM20K 257 248 269 2.01 2.19
PFO 13K 203 244 268 1.97 2.17
Blueline E-Ballast Electronic Ballast
Lamp PAR Watts MaxWatts Amps MaxAmp
Iwasaki 558 244 247 1.99 2.14
XM10K 521 243 244 2 2.03
BLSW 474 246 250 1.99 2.11
SUN10K 468 244 245 1.99 2
EVC10K 468 245 249 1.99 2.05
Ushio 430 245 247 2 2.03
AB13K 428 246 249 1.99 2.09
AC14K 390 246 247 2 2.03
Radium 343 243 244 1.98 2
CV10K 341 242 243 1.95 1.96
CV20K 340 242 244 1.93 2
HM14K 323 242 243 1.95 2.05
AMX14K 318 247 248 2 2.18
SUN14K 266 240 241 1.93 1.95
BL10K 261 240 242 1.93 2.71
CV12K 243 242 268 1.98 2.52
CV15K 238 242 243 1.95 2.21
SUN20K 234 240 240 1.92 2.64
XM20K 228 244 250 1.99 2.12
XM15K 194 248 249 2 2.24
PFO 13K 178 244 245 1.97 1.99
EVC Ballast
Lamp PAR Watts MaxWatts Amps MaxAmp
XM10K 559 246 249 2.03 2.8
Iwasaki 517 247 250 2.03 2.87
AC14K 438 250 254 2.03 2.1
SUN10K 425 247 248 2.01 3.29
BLSW 423 247 249 2 3.2
EVC10K 412 246 248 2.01 2.08
Ushio 394 247 248 2.02 3.65
HM14K 350 246 250 2.01 2.06
AMX14K 316 246 250 2.03 2.51
Radium 294 247 248 2.03 2.59
SBURST12K 291 246 251 2.01 3.66
BL10K 290 247 248 1.98 2.37
SUN14K 261 246 248 2 3.33
CV12K 257 246 294 1.97 2.02
XM20K 254 246 247 2 2.59
SUN20K 241 247 248 2.01 2.14
XM15K 211 252 256 2.07 2.12
PFO 13K 184 246 248 2 2.4
IceCap Electronic Ballast
Lamp PAR Watts MaxWatts Amps MaxAmp
Iwasaki 651 252 275 2.17 2.45
XM10K 530 252 254 2.2 2.82
SUN10K 494 252 255 2.14 3.86
BLSW 494 252 254 2.15 2.83
EVC10K 492 252 254 2.15 2.96
AB13K 422 254 257 2.17 2.3
Ushio 414 252 258 2.19 3.41
AC14K 406 252 264 2.17 2.32
CV10K 387 250 251 2.17 2.46
HM14K 352 251 252 2.17 2.29
Radium 330 252 275 2.19 3.56
AMX14K 308 252 275 2.19 2.5
CV20K 307 251 253 2.2 2.25
SBURST12K 304 253 284 2.17 2.61
XM20K 270 252 301 2.17 2.81
BL10K 263 248 250 2.18 3.68
CV12K 259 251 253 2.17 3.32
SUN14K 253 251 308 2.18 2.79
CV15K 242 251 252 2.2 3.85
PFO 13K 227 251 268 2.18 2.86
SUN20K 224 247 249 2.2 3
XM15K 187 252 254 2.17 2.83
PFO HQI
Lamp PAR Watts MaxWatts Amps MaxAmp
Iwasaki 950 355 384 3.02 4.79
XM10K 835 340 341 2.93 4.07
BLSW 702 349 359 3 5.72
EVC10K 700 345 350 2.99 3.87
SUN10K 699 342 346 2.95 3.36
AB13K 659 341 349 2.96 4.55
Ushio 617 349 360 3 7.42
CV10K 457 333 335 2.87 3.25
AC14K 453 311 313 2.85 4.74
HM14K 420 317 361 2.79 6.86
Radium 395 311 315 2.75 3.28
SBURST12K 378 311 698 2.79 14.27
AMX14K 366 322 400 2.89 11.34
CV20K 355 321 330 2.79 5.18
CV15K 336 317 322 2.76 4.55
CV12K 328 310 314 2.73 4.45
XM15K 318 312 847 2.79 16.33
SUN14K 314 327 490 2.92 8.69
XM20K 314 327 337 2.85 3.94
PFO 13K 308 311 418 2.76 8.08
BL10K 292 310 385 2.83 10.03
SUN20K 232 292 393 2.81 10.65
PFO Standard
Lamp PAR Watts MaxWatts Amps MaxAmp
Iwasaki 691 286 331 2.53 6.86
XM10K 600 268 269 2.47 3.39
AB13K 566 301 303 2.64 3.81
BLSW 514 273 274 2.49 5.47
EVC10K 512 271 278 2.5 3.12
SUN10K 510 270 277 2.51 2.69
Ushio 485 284 285 2.53 4.57
CV10K 324 231 233 2.32 4.03
SBURST12K 309 269 269 2.51 6.01
Radium 283 231 232 2.38 6.81
AMX14K 276 247 253 2.49 5.05
CV20K 275 226 261 2.3 7.93
XM15K 264 265 267 2.55 7.42
PFO 13K 248 257 258 2.5 6.8
CV15K 242 227 239 2.35 4.14
XM20K 242 285 285 2.57 3.75
AC14K 228 212 274 2.33 8.29
SUN14K 228 224 228 2.32 4.08
HM14K 214 219 220 2.3 7.12
CV12K 190 230 230 2.38 3.54
SUN20K 148 198 199 2.25 6.11
Reef Fanatic
Lamp PAR Watts MaxWatts Amps MaxAmp
XM10K 571 247 248 2.03 2.77
Iwasaki 523 247 248 2.03 3.3
BLSW 454 246 247 2 3.75
AC14K 441 247 249 2.03 2.62
SUN10K 420 246 249 1.98 3.68
EVC10K 417 247 248 2.01 3.44
Ushio 383 246 248 2.04 2.67
HM14K 350 247 248 2.03 2.6
AMX14K 315 247 248 2.04 2.64
BL10K 294 246 247 1.94 2.7
SBURST12K 283 247 250 2.01 2.21
SUN14K 257 246 247 2.01 2.15
CV12K 252 246 248 2 2.92
XM20K 246 246 334 2.03 3.31
SUN20K 239 246 247 2 2.02
XM15K 209 251 253 2.07 2.09
PFO 13K 185 246 248 2 3.35
 
#17 ·
Jim, I remember the table you're talking about and I was surprised how much of a difference in PAR there was between 10k, 14k, and 20k. You'll certainly get the best growth using 10k (of the 3 listed) but supplementing with blue and purple T5 would make for a nice color as well.
 
#19 ·
with 150's your stuff might stay alive but will never color all the way up i think i just know from when i ran halides what did what and 250's should be the starting point

good luck
That is terrible! Even with the t5's added in with the fixture?

So, what I read was true as far as the amount of light and the reflection from that light causing the colors. . I took pictures but I'm bummed.:( Is there anything that can be done such as adding say some led strips?

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#20 ·
McPuff correct as i would run nothing but a 10k halide on one hand and on the other hand i wouldnt run a 10k without suplamenting them as well and these days there is even a bigger choice if i have 4 bulb t5 to go with the halides i would do the folowing
2x true atinic or a super blue atinic bulbs
1x purple
1x ge 6500

to captur3 jsut about everything lol if you want bluer look dump the ge 6500 for another blue bulb

but thats just me
 
#22 ·
McPuff correct as i would run nothing but a 10k halide on one hand and on the other hand i wouldnt run a 10k without suplamenting them as well and these days there is even a bigger choice if i have 4 bulb t5 to go with the halides i would do the folowing
2x true atinic or a super blue atinic bulbs
1x purple
1x ge 6500

to captur3 jsut about everything lol if you want bluer look dump the ge 6500 for another blue bulb

but thats just me
That is what mine is. (2) ) 150's
(4) t5's

The above suggestion you stated, you think would be enough to get them to color?

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#21 ·
what is the lxw on your tank excatly this will help
but if money is a big problem as it is for many of us ajm leds were pretty cheap and i ran them for 3 months or so and they did the job

if u want to stay with halides i have seen some cheap fixtures her and there for sale
 
#23 ·
Damon (that's my name too),

I'd say to get some 10k bulbs for your 150W halides and put in those blue/purple T5s and see what you get. Your corals look pretty good now so I imagine that would help. If that doesn't appear to be enough then I would advise against adding LED strips. Then you end up with all sorts of lights all over the place and timers everywhere... a huge mess of cords and junk. It would be better to just try to find used 250W halides (should be easy) and try the same course of action (add 10k bulbs and stick with T5s to supplement).

Or you could sell the halides AND T5s and go all LED. You'd need two of the AJM fixtures or equivalent which would run you just over $300, depending on what you get. That will provide more than enough light for your 110 and save you a ton of money on energy bills/bulb replacements... a ton.
 
#25 ·
Damon (that's my name too),

I'd say to get some 10k bulbs for your 150W halides and put in those blue/purple T5s and see what you get. Your corals look pretty good now so I imagine that would help. If that doesn't appear to be enough then I would advise against adding LED strips. Then you end up with all sorts of lights all over the place and timers everywhere... a huge mess of cords and junk. It would be better to just try to find used 250W halides (should be easy) and try the same course of action (add 10k bulbs and stick with T5s to supplement).

Or you could sell the halides AND T5s and go all LED. You'd need two of the AJM fixtures or equivalent which would run you just over $300, depending on what you get. That will provide more than enough light for your 110 and save you a ton of money on energy bills/bulb replacements... a ton.
Hmmnnn Ok let me put the 10ks back in. Those are the 14k's I put in this morning(in the pictures). I probably will have to do something else then, as I had and have been running the 10k bulbs with the 460/420's as supplemental.

And hey Damon!

AJM fixtures?

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#26 ·
yeah I agree with McPuff put the 10k back in if that's all you have.
on my 120 temp tank here is what did a great job
currant nova extreme which there was one on another board for $200 shipped got good color and growth
ajm reef leds also did a nice job coarals colored up good

or 250w halides
your corals look OK I have seen worse sure hope this helps
 
#27 ·
yeah I agree with McPuff put the 10k back in if that's all you have.
on my 120 temp tank here is what did a great job
currant nova extreme which there was one on another board for $200 shipped got good color and growth
ajm reef leds also did a nice job coarals colored up good

or 250w halides
your corals look OK I have seen worse sure hope this helps
Yes it really does. Lol, the hard part is pitching this to the wife. I don't know if it's going to fly right now (and hey, no jokes... I like a happy home. .:D).

I looked up the AJM lights and they're pretty inexpensive(wish I would have known that before forking over the Grand for this thing six months ago)! So I may just run the halides, leave the Blues in, grab a purple and save up for the leds.

And yes, this helps tremendously. I've been trying and trying to figure it out. I got my phosphates down, so I was thinking it would be over a couple of days, but it doesn't seem like they are changing any longer, so I began to worry.

And thanks, heating they don't look horrible, horrible makes me feel a little better.

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