Switching Over to MH [Update]

How much is this going to cost you and do you have the plans or the website where you are getting this idea from? I have 8 bulb t5 now on my 90g and would like to add the shiimmer effect as well.

 

lmao priceless

 

I just kicked my LEDs to the curb and installed 2 250 watt MH with lumenmax 3 reflectors and lumatek ballast on my 90. I am running the 14k Aquamexx bulbs and so far love the color and pop they give to my tank. I am also running 2 t5s with super actinic bulbs but there is not much of a difference with the t5s on or off. I get a bit mor pop with the t5s on.

 

I considered the XM 20K, but it was bluer than what I wanted. Actually I thought Phoenix 14Ks were too blue in the beginning. But they really grew on me. When I looked into replacing them, I was looking at XM, Ushios, couple others... But it is really hard to beat the color/growth/par balance of Phoenix 14Ks. So I stuck with them. I even thought about trying the XM 20K and 15K but figured my ballast would not give the color I wanted.

However, in my quest, it was very apparent that when people talked about color and life of bulb, there was a big difference in ballast used. P14Ks on a HQI ballast are very nice in color, cost is not too high, and P14K have very good bulb life and stable out put over that life. So hard to beat.

Look at the XM s and other and you will find they are speced for HQI ballast. All I would suggest is while e-ballast will save a bit of money on power, they are not what most makers design their bulbs around. If I did run the 20K XMs, I would not need to run actinic supplementation. Something that was not separate on my fixture... long story. And the Radium 400w SE 20Ks don't need supplementation either.

So if you really want to go to 20Ks... then start considering if you need to run your actinics at the same time. I ran dual actinics with my P14Ks.

 

I actually wasn't planning on running actinics with the MH bulbs. I was going to use the actinics for morning/dusk then have them go off and run just the MH.

 

In general, XM bulbs are good... but none of them actually have the stuff behind them that i feel other bulbs do.
Phoenix 14k is pretty blue until they break in, then they are a nice color that shows off almost all hues well.
Since you are using electronic ballasts, i will recommend the radium 20k. electronic ballasts will make them run less blue than a magnetic ballast, however they will still have all the pop and growth they are famous for
I cannot comment on the aquamaxx bulbs because i have no experience with them, sorry

 

I'm running XM 14Ks on a Galaxy dual 250. I'm happy with them. I might try 20Ks next from Dingo's remark. I had 20K lights before, but they were SPS Blue Life, and they were run off a magnetic ballast. They were blue, but not as rich as I thought they'd be.

 

In general once the MH bulbs kick on should the actinics shut off? If the actinics stay on with the MH bulbs will the tank be too blue?

 

Just depends on what you want and what the bulbs put out. Personal preference. There is no "general" thought.

I heard there same about P!14Ks being blue until.... but I took plenty of pics and never could tell a difference.

The 250w DE Radium 20K are a totally different bulb from the SE 400. Many folks say that at least. They are not like the 20K 400s. I have never seen a tank with 250w DE Radiums so I don't know what they look like.

 

lol so such thing as to blue in my eyes;D