Bulb change time What should I get

[Jason McK]

So Early Feb is bulb change time. I'm currently running 14K EVC Tech bulbs I got from a US supplier. Nothing wrong with the bulbs just wondering if anyone has any wonder bulb that they feel is the best bang for the buck right now.
I'll likely go back to 10K is that helps

J

[Whatigot]

those mogul or de?

I have had a variable rainbow of de bulbs and all of them needed actinic supplementation other than the phoenixes.
I'm sure you've tried these or the aquaconnects before, but my 2 cents is they are all about bang for the buck.

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by Jason McK

So Early Feb is bulb change time. I'm currently running 14K EVC Tech bulbs I got from a US supplier. Nothing wrong with the bulbs just wondering if anyone has any wonder bulb that they feel is the best bang for the buck right now.
I'll likely go back to 10K is that helps

J

Were you SE or DE? I don't recall.

If it's SE, then hands down the best bang for buck 10K bulb is the XM10K.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by fkshiu

Were you SE or DE? I don't recall.

If it's SE, then hands down the best bang for buck 10K bulb is the XM10K.

These are what I want to try but I don't have much actinic supplementation. Do you know how they look without actinics?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

These are what I want to try but I don't have much actinic supplementation. Do you know how they look without actinics?

The XM 10Ks would be my first choice too for a 10K bulb. I wouldn't run them without actinic, but that's just my personal preference as I like the light to have just a slight blue hue to make the corals look nicer.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Myka

The XM 10Ks would be my first choice too for a 10K bulb. I wouldn't run them without actinic, but that's just my personal preference as I like the light to have just a slight blue hue to make the corals look nicer.

Yeah me too which is why I have not bought them. I do have actinics but they are not really enough to make a huge difference if the lights is too white. I also prefer a slight blue.

I have been using Hamilton 14K's and don't like them. Maybe I should add some more actincs and go with the 10K XM's. Sounds like lots of people like them!

[Tangman]

Ok , I'll play along, the Hamilton 14K's are they too blue or too white ?

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

Yeah me too which is why I have not bought them. I do have actinics but they are not really enough to make a huge difference if the lights is too white. I also prefer a slight blue.

I have been using Hamilton 14K's and don't like them. Maybe I should add some more actincs and go with the 10K XM's. Sounds like lots of people like them!

[tang daddy]

xm 10000k's are almost like whitish yellow and even when used with t5 supps were a colour that I was not fond of. Maybe if you used this with vho it would be more blue but really 2 t5 didn't change the colour at all.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Tangman

Ok , I'll play along, the Hamilton 14K's are they too blue or too white ?

I just don't feel they put out a lot of par to be honest. BUT I have never checked them. They just do not LOOK as bright to me. Which means nothing. I just like bright lights

I love the color of the Hamilton 14K's though. Just wish they were a bit brighter and that could be my ballast.

[Tangman]

The reason I asked is/ I too am looking to get new bulbs in the 400W SE. 10 to 14 K range.