Ugh... Its time to replace the bulbs, opinions wanted!
 

Hey everyone! My bulbs are rapidly approaching their 1 year life and it time for replacing them! Since ive been in the hobby (about 4 or 5 years) Ive always used 20k XM 250w SE. I'm starting to think they are too blue. Haveing said that the only reefs ive ever seen have used the same bubls! I was wondering what everyone else uses. I also supplement with fiji purple and blue+. Ive been thinking of going with 14 or 15k bulbs. Anyone with comparrison pictures or first hand advice would be greatly appreciated!

hey man you can try the 12k reef flux i love them.

I used to only run 20k with actinic supplementation. I switched over to cheap 14k bulbs (I don't even know what brand they are) and it seems so much brighter and all the corals have adapted well. I always liked the blue colour but the 14k gives more of a "white" light which I like. My friend who knows nothing about aquariums came by a couple of weeks after I switched to 14ks and he commented "Man, what did you do to your tank, it's so bright now and your sand is glowing, it's so bright"

I'm glad for the change. Sorry I can't tell you the brand as I bought them from my LFS in a white box - brandless but cheap....

Hope this helps your decision.

I would try the 14 or 15k ones from the e-bay vendor LSE Inc....here's a link http://stores.shop.ebay.ca/Trust-Dea...34Q2ec0Q2em322

They are usually Plus Rite bulbs and I've had great luck with them in DE form.

I went from 250 watt DE 10k with 216watts worth of actinics to now using 250 watt 14k DE ushios (galaxy ballasts) with 160 watts worth of 22k t5s from aquascience. The 14k ushios seem a lot brighter but I think that's because they run almost purely white which I'm loving because this allows the 22k HOT5s to add just the right amount of coulouring for my personal tastes. Any much more blue and I don't think I'd be as happy. When the halides go out the 22ks are quite blue and my neighbours are always commenting on how my house glows blue at night.

I switched to aquaconnects and love them, so do my corals