Phoenix vs Ushio[pics]14K,DE,250W,IceCap

I just got the Phoenix 14K DE 250W Metal Halide bulbs. I got these because i hate the yellow color of the Ushio bulbs. These bulbs are on IceCap electronic ballasts.

I took some before and after pictures for comparison. These pictures were taken with Actinics OFF. I have 4 x Actinics. I don't think i'll be using Actinics anymore, except for sunrise and sunset effect for 2 hours a day. Eventhough the Ushio's are 5 months old, they were not nearly as bright when i first got them and the color was a little on the yellow side. Not as yellow as they are now.

Im just gona change Metal Halides every 7 months. I'll try the 14K Blue Life SPS ones for Christmas ;D. I'll post pics of them aswell.

I'm very happy with the performance and the color. They are a little blue for my taste but are supposed to turn a whiter color eventually. The pictures here did not come out well, they're a bit too bright. Tank looks 100x better in person but you can clearly see the difference.

What do you guys think?

 

Thaks a lot. I have Coralife 10Ks now, and want Phoenix 14Ks. The pics did a lot for me. I love my halides and the 10k is like the sun. At first it is cool because it is so bright. Then the yellow starts to wear on me. I don't want blue (20K) I just want less yellow. Those Phoenix pics did it for me.

those Ushio 14k look like my coralife 10Ks.

 

I know, the Ushio bulbs are ok at first but they quickly turn yellow. Those Phoenix pictures look a little bluer than they really are.

It has a really cool light blue that i wanted, just perfect and unusually bright.
I was thinking about gettting the 20K's at first but those are way too blue and distort all the colors just like the Ushio's or the 10K bulbs.

I would love for someone to post before and after pictures of the Blue Life (SPS) bulbs. I heard good things about them.

I still cant belive i don't need my actinics anymore

 

Thanks for the post. What a difference a bulb makes

 

Usually photos look a little bluer. I figured it was just what I wanted taking that into account. So You don't have your actinics on? I need to replace mine soon. If I get the Phoenix, I can at least decide if I want 03s again, or regular.

 

That pic of the phoenix 14ks is pretty accurate.

I currently run XM SE 10ks with 2x54 of ati B+, but the look is too yellow/ white for my tastes.

On my next tank I will run 250w DE phoenix 14k's. I have seen these bulbs on several local tanks, and I like them a lot.

 

No more actinic, only during sunrise and sunset.

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM...2 x Rear Actinics (UVL Actinic, Giesemann Actinic Plus)

11:00 AM - 8:00 PM...2 x Phoenix 14k

7:45 PM - 8:45 PM...2 x Rear Actinics (Giesemann Pure Actinic, Super Actinic)

 

That's cool, I might do the same. .