Opinions: HQI DE or Mogul base?

[wbrown]

I'm wondering if I'm cursed, but I cannot seem to get the color of a DE lamp to last for more than a couple weeks before they wash out.
Trying to decide if it'd be worth the time and effort to convert to mogul bases in my fixture, or to try yet another pair of DE's.
Currently running two 250W 14K Phoenix DE's, and within 3 weeks they look as yellow as the 10K's I replaced them with. I actually swapped one 14K for the 10K, and could barely determine a blue shift.
$150 +/- for a months use is getting old.
Are the moguls any better? Should I step up in price to a more expensive bulb?
I've been given advice to try XM 20K's, but can't find them in stock in a DE lamp where I've been looking.

 

[smoothie]

First what ballast are you running?

 

[wbrown]

HQI Electronic ballast.
I have a couple options on ballasts, I think I know which drive what type lamp.. but I've been wrong before.

 

[grouper therapy]

 

[mufret]

Which electronic ballast? Some of the "off brand" ballasts underpower the bulb which can cause what you are describing.

 

[wbrown]

I have the original Corallife ballasts, that came with this fixture:http://reefwarehouse.com/coralife-aqualight-inch-metal-halide-aquarium-fixture-2x250w-2x96w-lunar-leds-p-1471.html">http://reefwarehouse.com/coralife-aqualight-inch-metal-halide-aquarium-fixture-2x250w-2x96w-lunar-leds-p-1471.html</a>

I have this dual ballast also: [IMG]http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Metal-Halide-and-T5-Lighting-Metal-Halide-Lighting-Metal-Halide-Ballasts/c57_73_81/p399/BLUE-WAVE-7-REMOTE-DUAL-HQI-BALLAST-(250-watt)/product_info.html">http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Metal-Halide-and-T5-Lighting-Metal-Halide-Lighting-Metal-Halide-Ballasts/c57_73_81/p399/BLUE-WAVE-7-REMOTE-DUAL-HQI-BALLAST-(250-watt)/product_info.html</a>
Fixture was a $1000 mistake already, now I'm trying to make it work..
The light spectrum link is totally lost on me, I have no idea what does what, but I want good color for my corals. ATM most everything sps is browning out again like the 10K's did.