Time for a new bulb!

[Flightdeck]

Well I have had a 14k hamilton 400 watt on a magnetic ballest for about 6 months now. I do very much like the color of the bulb and some of the corals really seem to pop under it, while others seem a little on the dull end. Also it seems like growth is pretty stagnet. Has any one had great success with these bulbs or should I switch. My main focus is on growth rate's of the coral right now. My water peramaters are very consistant and almost on target. The halide is on for about 8 hour's a day with not atinic's. Could any body chime in with a better bulb combo with the magnetic ballest I have or make some recomendations.
90 cube
luminarc reflector
magnetic ballest 400 watt
alk 9-11
cal 390-425
temp 80.5 night 81.5 day
nitrate 1-2.5 ppm
phosphate undetecable wtih the test kit I have, using a reactor with rowaphos
???

 

[Apon]

nope haven't use that bulb yet, but I do like the Hamilton 175 mh bulbs. Ushio is good too.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Well the problem with those bulbs that have that bluish tint to make colors pop (12k to 20k) is that they really do take a hit on the intensity. If you don't use actinics then that really leaves you on the short end of the yellow colored water for 10000k bulbs as well.

I personally like 12k reeflux bulbs, but I run them on an electronic ballast, I have tried their 10k bulbs too and while not as yellow as most 10k bulbs, they don't get that 'pop' from fluorescing colors, but are about 50% brighter. If you could fit some small t5 or PC actinic bulbs next to your reflector that'd probably be the best bet mixed with a 10k bulb, however if not, stick with a bulb you like in color, and dont worry so much about growth rates.

 

[Raddogz]

If you are looking for coral growth rate more than color then why not a 10K bulb?

 

[Flightdeck]

Well 10k I was affraid of shocking the coral in the tank causing rtn. I do have atiinics I could throw over the tank but just trying to save power.

 

[sfsuphysics]

the color spectrum switch won't shock the coral too much however you're correct that the added intensity will probably do that, hell reeflux 10k bulbs are almost 50% brighter than 12k bulbs, but you can always adjust for this by putting sheets of screen material over the tank and slowly removing one at a time to let them adjust.

 

[Steve Ruddy]

Try discontinuing the Rowaphos and use a high quality activated carbon to keep the water void of any light robbing tints.