What are the best MH bulbs?

What are the best MH bulbs for color and growth? I am currently running 250w CoralVue 20k's and I like the color and growth from them. I see good growth from all my corals....some slower than others.

I have a new set of 250w CoralVue 14k's waiting in the wings when these run out.

I was just wondering if there are better bulbs out there that I should use that will give me similar color to what I am using now but awesome growth.

 

Ive heard good things about phoenix prob be tryin them out next go around

 

It really depends on what Ballast you are running. Every Ballast will drive a bulb differently

It's very hard to say 1 bulb is better than another

J

 

+1..

 

I have a dual 250w PFO Ballast, its an older one!
What bulb is best with that ballast and do you think I just upgrade my ballast?

I would rather not buy a new ballast, this one is running fine.

 

here some info unless you use HQI use the standard.
PFO HQI
Lamp PAR Watts MaxWatts Amps MaxAmp
Iwasaki 950 355 384 3.02 4.79
XM10K 835 340 341 2.93 4.07
BLSW 702 349 359 3 5.72
EVC10K 700 345 350 2.99 3.87
SUN10K 699 342 346 2.95 3.36
AB13K 659 341 349 2.96 4.55
Ushio 617 349 360 3 7.42
CV10K 457 333 335 2.87 3.25
AC14K 453 311 313 2.85 4.74
HM14K 420 317 361 2.79 6.86
Radium 395 311 315 2.75 3.28
SBURST12K 378 311 698 2.79 14.27
AMX14K 366 322 400 2.89 11.34
CV20K 355 321 330 2.79 5.18
CV15K 336 317 322 2.76 4.55
CV12K 328 310 314 2.73 4.45
XM15K 318 312 847 2.79 16.33
SUN14K 314 327 490 2.92 8.69
XM20K 314 327 337 2.85 3.94
PFO 13K 308 311 418 2.76 8.08
BL10K 292 310 385 2.83 10.03
SUN20K 232 292 393 2.81 10.65
PFO Standard
Lamp PAR Watts MaxWatts Amps MaxAmp
Iwasaki 691 286 331 2.53 6.86
XM10K 600 268 269 2.47 3.39
AB13K 566 301 303 2.64 3.81
BLSW 514 273 274 2.49 5.47
EVC10K 512 271 278 2.5 3.12
SUN10K 510 270 277 2.51 2.69
Ushio 485 284 285 2.53 4.57
CV10K 324 231 233 2.32 4.03
SBURST12K 309 269 269 2.51 6.01
Radium 283 231 232 2.38 6.81
AMX14K 276 247 253 2.49 5.05
CV20K 275 226 261 2.3 7.93
XM15K 264 265 267 2.55 7.42
PFO 13K 248 257 258 2.5 6.8
CV15K 242 227 239 2.35 4.14
XM20K 242 285 285 2.57 3.75
AC14K 228 212 274 2.33 8.29
SUN14K 228 224 228 2.32 4.08
HM14K 214 219 220 2.3 7.12
CV12K 190 230 230 2.38 3.54
SUN20K 148 198 199 2.25 6.11

http://cnidarianreef.com/G180/lamps.php

seems to be the XM 10,000k is the best lamp for you, The iwasaki is 6500k probably to yellow for you.

 

Thanks for the info sostoudt!!!

 

I have Coralvue 10k 175 watt and I think they look perfect. They have the best spectrum, just enough blue and still bright. I have cool touch magnetic ballasts

 

Do you have any pics of your tank with the 20k. I can't image them not looking too blue for my taste. But just curious.

 

If you like the look of 10K then there is a very good chance that you will not like the looks of a 20K. In my opinion 20K looks MUCH better than 10K. But again, its all an opinion and what yo like or dislike.