• Folks, if you've recently upgraded or renewed your annual club membership but it's still not active, please reach out to the BOD or a moderator. The PayPal system has a slight bug which it doesn't allow it to activate the account on it's own.

trying new bulbs?

P

Patriot76

well, since the AO bulb group buy is underway, i figured i'd start a thread for us to discuss what type of bulbs we are all currently using and if anyone is considering using a different bulb.

i am currently using 250w DE Reeflux 12k's, considering Ushio 14k's- any thoughts? or possibly even reeflux 20k's. just wondering if that would be overkill on the blue since i do run 8x39w T5 420/460 (4 each)
 
M

mnat

Officer Emeritus
Staff member
Moderator
I was actually thinking of starting something similiar. I am running 14k right now but looking to move up to 20k (250w de). Which of the bulbs in the buy would you guys recommend? I believe the choices are XM, Ushio, and Reeflux.
 
P

Patriot76

mnat said:
I was actually thinking of starting something similiar. I am running 14k right now but looking to move up to 20k (250w de). Which of the bulbs in the buy would you guys recommend? I believe the choices are XM, Ushio, and Reeflux.
Click to expand...

are you running any T5's also or just your MH's?
 
M

mnat

Officer Emeritus
Staff member
Moderator
Patriot76 said:
mnat said:
I was actually thinking of starting something similiar. I am running 14k right now but looking to move up to 20k (250w de). Which of the bulbs in the buy would you guys recommend? I believe the choices are XM, Ushio, and Reeflux.
Click to expand...

are you running any T5's also or just your MH's?
Click to expand...

Just MH, I think I have a bit too much wattage (250w for a 30g cube) so I want to experiment with higher K bulbs to see if that helps.
 
Nickjr000

Nickjr000

I run 2- 10k reeflux and 2- 12k reeflux both 250w se and supplement with 2- 6' vho actinic. I would like a bit more blue and might look into some led down the road. 20k bulbs do have a nice color to them but keep in mind they aren't very bright , they weren't bright enough for me anyway. Maybe if you go with 20k you can supplement with white actinics or led to brighten it up? . The xm 20 seems more popular than the reeflux20. Radium is a nice 20 but i don't think it comes in de
 
M

mnat

Officer Emeritus
Staff member
Moderator
I am probably going to order another pheonix 14k (which I have in there right now, which was installed in June) and then I guess the XM 20k and just see the difference. Back in June I went from a 10k bulb to a 14k, so I have seen the difference there.
 
P

Patriot76

mnat said:
I am probably going to order another pheonix 14k (which I have in there right now, which was installed in June) and then I guess the XM 20k and just see the difference. Back in June I went from a 10k bulb to a 14k, so I have seen the difference there.
Click to expand...
i went from 10k to 12k and could believe less bright the 12k were. i am happy with the 12k, but i def saw more growth with 10k.
 
Nickjr000

Nickjr000

Pheonix 14k is a nice all around bulb. IMO. it's very blue and still very bright. Think it's the brighter of the 14k's
 
D

Dave

For those that are running a T5/MH combo, I would love to hear some of the combinations.

Currently I am running a phoenix 14k and 4 t5 - 2 420nm and 2 460nm.

considering a change on the t5s
 
P

Patriot76

Dave said:
For those that are running a T5/MH combo, I would love to hear some of the combinations.

Currently I am running a phoenix 14k and 4 t5 - 2 420nm and 2 460nm.

considering a change on the t5s
Click to expand...

I am running 4x39w 420's & 4x39w 460's with 3x250w DE Reeflux 12k MH's. I am happy with the T5's and probably not going to change. My T5's come on a couple hours before the MH's and run for a couple hours after the MH's shut off. I would only consider using all atinics for T5's if I were going to use 10k MH's. I think the 420/460 combo is a good mix alone when the MH's are off as well as supplimenting the 12k MH's. I am considering using 14k MH's, but I dont want to overdue it with the blue coloration.
 
M

mr_X

Patriot76 said:
well, since the AO bulb group buy is underway, i figured i'd start a thread for us to discuss what type of bulbs we are all currently using and if anyone is considering using a different bulb.

i am currently using 250w DE Reeflux 12k's, considering Ushio 14k's- any thoughts? or possibly even reeflux 20k's. just wondering if that would be overkill on the blue since i do run 8x39w T5 420/460 (4 each)
Click to expand...
i've used them both in SE lamps, and have found the reeflux 12k to be much more blue than the ushio 14k. the ushio 14k is what you would think a 10k lamp is supposed to look like. it's white to the naked eye.
i haven't seen the reeflux 20k.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top