New to MH Lighting: Bulb Selection

[gmpolan]

So i finally decided on my lighting set up for my new oceanic 150 and i went with three retro fitted 250 mh's and 4 t'5s. Set up is double ended HQI bulbs and im not positive on the ballast but one large one for two and a smaller for the remaining.

Ill prob end up adding some individual reflectors to the t'5s but my main questions is what is a good bulb for a first time user. I am looking for something to give off good par as this will be my first real attempt to support some SPS but i would like some blue in it ( which prob will be from the T5's but just noting)

Tank dimensions are 5 x 2 x 2.

I considering going with a phoenix 14k or a radium 20k.Thoughts?

 

[grouper therapy]

The ballast will type/brand has a lot to do with the bulb color and par. So most will need that info before you really could get advice on the bulb.Also I am pretty sure radium does not make a de bulb but you can switch the sockets out and rum the se radium. Really need the ballast info first though.

 

[gmpolan]

ill have to double check when i get home but they are decent sized silver ones with a red flippable on off switch...weigh alot too

 

[grouper therapy]

Sounds like PFO HQIs check this link out for performance http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting">http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting</a>
Then decide which group you want to ask about color rendered and you want get 100 different bulbs to sort through.

 

[weaglereefer]

Reeflux 20k in 250 de looks good, but might be too blue with your actinics also (could always put some Fiji Purple or ATI Aquablue Special in those to balance out the MH blueness).

 

[acroholic]

I would tell you Phoenix 14K. I have had them and the color is very pleasing and PAR is good as well.

Reeflux and Ushio would be the next choices. I have not owned Ushio, but they are german made and generaly respected for their quality. Reeflux are not bad bulbs, but the only thing I have heard about Reeflux 20K bulbs is that they are not as blue as you wold expect from a 20K bulb. Again, the Reeflux info was for their SE bulbs. Their DE bulbs may be a different story.

I would go to RC and do a search under the various bulb names to get other Reefer's experience as well.

 

[gmpolan]

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[mikesommers]

I am running Ushio 14k at the moment. If you want to be on the bluer side go with there 20k. IMO the 14k is extremely white. I am getting excellent coral growth with these though.

 

[gmpolan]

anyone have any thoughts on those ballasts?

 

[grouper therapy]

I'm gonna venture to say they are not electronic ballast ,based on the size of the housing. If I could see the inside or the label in a focused pic I could tell from that maybe. Either way if you got them as a setup with DE sockets then they are at least pulse start ballast which will run pretty much any bulb SE or DE.