drock59 Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 Currently running DE phoenix 14k and things are doing really well.... Anybody have thoughts on what you think might be a better bulb around the same spectrum? I was thinking maybe the Ushio 14K or possibly a 20K. Let me know what you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 15k XM is what I run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nu2reef-n Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 I'm running Ushio 10K. I'm getting real good growth with my current set up. I was thinking of changing to XM 15 K, but why fix what isn't broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonv6974 Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 reply i currently have xm 10k and they are great for growth but i want to get xm 15k to get more blues into the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted October 15, 2006 Author Share Posted October 15, 2006 how many of you are running actinics? I currently run two 110w VHO actinics along with the Phoenix 14k and the color is perfect. Ive run Ushio 10k's in the past, but they are pretty darn yellow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefin' Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 might as well stick to them if u like them..check out these prices....under $100 shipped for 2 14k DE phoenix....HTH http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=948236 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 how many of you are running actinics? I currently run two 110w VHO actinics along with the Phoenix 14k and the color is perfect. Ive run Ushio 10k's in the past, but they are pretty darn yellow. Dan, if you think the color is perfect and you are getting decent growth I see no reason to change. If you were to change who knows if you will like the looks as well. I say stay with the Phenoix if you are happy with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowman Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 Dan try this site for a comparison http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted October 15, 2006 Author Share Posted October 15, 2006 Lowman, I think that is my favorite website of all time. I know i should stick with the phoenix bulbs but I guess what I am wondering is if there is a bulb out there with better "performance" at around the same Kelvin look. I will probably end up getting the phoenix again, but I want to take a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Popeil Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 dan "mr upgrade" rothwell, keep your hands out of the cookie jar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 From what I have read the xm 15k is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly guy Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 The XM 15k sucks for its par reading. Ive been having this conversation with a couple of people lately and there is no doubt they are right. The XM 10k is a standout but even the xm 20k has better par than the 15. What does this mean??? I dont know. I LOVE my xm 15k's. I like the color they put off and i have had great growth with them. I run 3 of them over my 225 with no supplementation and the 90 i just started up i am going ot do a little experiment.....im running a 15k xm on one side and a 10k xm on the other. Going to frag up a few corals and put them in similar parts of the tank and see if that extra light can really even be used. I must say it is truly amazing how much brighter the 10k is..........i hd no idea that a bulb could be 3 times as bright as my 15k running off of the same ballast. Too bad its kinda yellow...but again...im not so sure that extra light can really even be used.....ill let you know how the test turns out though. ; ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Very interesting... I would be placing my money on not much difference.. But thats just a hunch. Keep me posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nu2reef-n Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 I have a set of XM 20 K's, to blue for my taste. I wasn't getting near the growth as I am from the 10 K's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 I use a 150W DE Phoneix and think its a great bulb. Good color and great par value. Ill be switching back to t5's on my 90 though. Later Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly guy Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 I have a set of XM 20 K's' date=' to blue for my taste. I wasn't getting near the growth as I am from the 10 K's.[/quote'] check this out.....this is no supplementation 10k xm next to a 15 k xm. The picture cant really tell how much brighter that 10k really is. This is true color, i have my nikon custom white balance set pretty much perfect......... You can tell how much the 10k overpowers the 15k though by looking in between the output nozzles top center.....theres the center line....... The rock isnt yellow even a little bit.....it sure looks that way though on the 10k side. This rock is cooked pretty thouroughly.....not much left on it...... the second pic is the 15k alone on the right side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blown65 Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 I had XM 10ks SE before and they also looked slightly yellow to me. My EVC 10ks DE were more white, and the EVC 14K DE were super super blue. (even more blue than my 20k DE I have now.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 My XM sucked!!! i added the same bulb you are using and growth took off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 So the more i think about it I am considering something a pinch more blue than the Phoenix 14ks DE. Any other ideas? Sounds like the XM 15K sucks but the DE 20K may be too blue? Hmmm, i hate making lighting decisions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAVES Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 stick with Phoenix, if you want more blue add actinics or T5 IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted October 26, 2006 Author Share Posted October 26, 2006 already have actinics but I think you are still correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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