Could any one recommend a good 250 watt de bulb for a reef tank?

[JLAudio]

Im looking for a nice bluer look! I bought a failry cheap ebay brand of lamp and it came with a light thats very yellowish white without the actinic PC's. Ive seen some tanks run with just MH and its blue. Ive been told higher kelvin temperature will give me bluer color, but I also want effective lighting as well

Any reccomendations?

 

[House of Laughter]

When you say "on a reef tank" I am going to assume you mean you want good color and decent growth.

Ushio 14k on an IceCap Ballast or Phoenix 14k on a Blue Wave 3 (HQI) ballast.

Bulb color is largely dependent on the ballast that drives them, so, be careful and match them well.

Good luck with it.

House

 

[prattreef]

I prefer the Ushio 14K , but the Phoenix is bluer and if that is your desire this a good choice. As Jim stated, the ballast makes a big difference too.

 

[JLAudio]

my ballast comes from the aquatraders HOMBBY brand. It says HQI (not sure if that answers the type of ballast question), any suggestions based on that info

 

[lfsmarineguy]

HQI is the double ended. HQI is going to give you a more concentrated point of light than a single ended or mogul. Mogul bulbs will give you more spread but as with the ballasts, the spread is largely dependent on your reflectors.

 

[JLAudio]

So if I get the Phoenix 14k, 250 de bulbs, am I wasting my time, being the fact that I have a HOMBBY ebay brand light (work'n damn good, if I say so my self) and the basic HQI ballasts it comes with. The light is very yellow with out actinic, and I want to "turn it up a notch"

 

[masterswimmer]

I'm not familiar with the Hombby brand of ballasts. But since you already own it, then the next step would be to try a new brand of bulb. I agree with both Randy and Jim, the Ushio 250w DE 14K or the Phoenix 250w DE 14K are both viable options. Not sure how your ballast will drive them though. At this point it'll be trial and error. Both are excellent bulbs.

Russ