Currently I'm running 250W Ushio 10K. Previously I have had Iwasaki 6.5K (very yellow but not so bad when supplemented with actinics) and I've tried the Reeflux 10K (made the tank look pink, it was very weird, they lasted 5 minutes on the tank) and XM 10K (not as white as the ushios so I sold them, again they didn't last long as I didn't like the color).

I'd like to try something more blue eventually but haven't found anything that has decent par in that department. I may just take the plunge anyways. I'll look for some photos if you'd like.

Thanks for all the opinions. It seems like several people really like the phoenix. Is it blue enough to run without supplemental actinic? I'd like the option of not having to do the actinic, so I am looking for something that doesn't run yellow but doesn't run ridiculously blue. Something in the middle to slightly bluer I guess.


kronk, what ballast are you running?

Is anyone running a phoenix on the galaxy?

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Who sells the pheonix bulbs?

I'm using Christy's old XM 10Ks. They appear whiter using an HQI ballast than a stardard magnetic. However, I do supplement with both VHO and T5HO actinics.

Personally, I'd consider both Radium 20Ks and Iwasaki 175W 15Ks revolutionary for separate reasons. When they came out, Radiums were the very first to give that actinic pop with just a MH bulb. The Iwasaki has PAR that rivals many 250W bulbs without looking yellow at all.

I run the Phoenix and Aquaconnects 14000k bulbs without actinics. I find that with these bulbs, actinics don't really do much for the colour. I only use actinics when the MH are off. Nice blue-white light, but not too blue. Still very bright over my tanks, I find. The AC are over a year old now too and going strong.

I'm running Ushio 250W DE 10k with T5 actinics and am very happy with the blend of the two.

I run an Aromat electronic ballast. I personally dont think you need actinics on a 14k bulb if you want more blue go with 20k (20k is a little too blue for my liking). As my bulb is getting a little older now about 13months it is more white than blue. The whites in the tank "pop" way more than when i had PC with actinics though.

one SE xm 400 watt, 20k. although it seems that xm's run at a lighter blue than persay radiums? it ain't no iwasaki, but the colors i'm getting are top notch so can't complain.

picsssssssss

i'll try to get one up soon