I had to order some aquarium supplies last week and decided to order a new metal halide bulb. I’m really happy with the Reeflux 12K, but hey, why not? I like trying new bulbs, you never know if something else is out there that you may like better. The Phoenix 14K looked way too blue on 150w electronic ballast, very monotone, resulting in drab colors in some of coral after ~3 months
The Phoenix 14,000K is a pretty popular bulb, but many who seem to love it either, A: run it on an HQI ballast, or B: really like blue. Having been an avid SCUBA diver for the last 13 or so years, I have yet to see a reef that looks like that blue cast from a Phoenix halide on an electronic ballast. It’s just not natural. I did like the Reeflux 10K, which is brighter than the 12K, but it just isn’t as pleasing to look at. I may order the Iwasaki 50K, I’ve heard it is a nice look as well. But so far, out of the 6 bulbs I’ve tried out, Reeflux 12K is hands down the winner. It may not be super bright, but my colors really look good under it.
So on to the Ushio 14K - bulbs require a burn in time, usually 100 hours or so, and I will give it that. But damn is it ugly now. I read somewhere that it’s the same bulb as the Geisemann 14.5K, and that just can’t be possible. The Geisemann is a very nice white, little blue, but not much, and it looked nothing like this on burn-in. This Ushio is yellow - my reef tank almost looks like my planted freshwater aquarium!
I’ll give Ushio the 100 hours and maybe a little past, but wow, as of now, this bulb sucks.
