MH Bulbs (Color Temp)

[Brian]

Hey everyone..

It's almost time for me to change out my MH Bulbs. I want to try and go with a bulb that is a little more blue. Right now I have 250 watt 10k Aqualine Buske bulbs which are supposed to be 14k. I would like something a little more on the blue side.

I kind of think that this is as blue as I am going to get without jumping up to 20k. Am I right?

If I am.. does anyone have any experience with 20k bulbs. I had one flourescent 20k bulb about 5 years ago and remember that it was a sort of turqoise (sp?)  looking.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[steve68]

go with the 14k IME 20k are 2 blue.
14 k look nicer a little white & a little bue.

 

[nagel]

SE or DE? if DE I hear the Phoenix 14k are pretty sweet..

 

[concept3]

I had all color temperature bulbs at one point. The AB's are marked as 13000 on the box, but they are still white IMO (that's why they are probably sold as 10K's). I had a 20,000K Coralvue bulb that I loaned to Bob for his halide setup, that was WAAAY too blue for my liking. It made watching fish and corals a chore. I also have EVC TECH 14K's now, I just yanked it out of the frag tank because the Iwasaki 6500K provided more growth, but was yellowish.

I have XM 10,000K's now in the display, but I also have 220 VHO's, so it provides a decent balance that I like.

 

[Brian]

I forgot to mention that they are SE not double ended.
How are those EVC Tech bulbs? and where can I look for them?
I am also running two 96watt pc atinic bulbs (03)

I just need a little more blue and I think I will be happy.

Do you like the XM's?

 

[concept3]

The EVC bulbs are not bad at all, It's slightly bluer than my 10,000K + actinics on.
I guess it would look similar to a pair of 10,000K's and FOUR 4-foot acinic 03 VHO's. www.oceanencounter.com is the only place you can get them, they are Vince's Brand. Good price too. I think Sanjay did a spectral analysis somewhere on them, the results came out pretty good too.

I'm pretty happy with the XM's....even happier with the price VS the AB's, I believe it is also one of the higher PAR rated bulb out there in that temperature range. Like I mentioned, I only use 2 X 110 watt VHO's for dusk/dawn and for that little extra flourescence in the tank.

 

[Brian]

Thanks for the help! ;D