10k or 14k bulbs

[Amstar]

I am looking to run (3) icecap ballast with 250 watt bulbs.

I will also have 440 watts of URI actinic vho lighting for supplemental.

would you go with XM 10k bulbs with the actinics

or 14k hamilton with the actinics

plan to keeps sps, lps, softies, and zoas

[jake]

14 w/ atinic will make it look 20k  but with more growth ,but a little bluer. 10k w/ atnics will look like 14kish,but bluer

I'd get the 10k

[micki]

I've ran both the 10K and 14K with actinics.  I didn't like the look of the 10K at all.  It was very yellow to me even with the actinics.  I run Hamilton 14K now.

[UDJustin]

I run 15K XM's and prefer the 15k-14k look to 10k

[Amstar]

I usually like my tanks to have a crisp white look with a touch of blue (to enhance the color of the corals)  so I was thinking the XM 10k with the actinics.. plus I have read that the XM bulbs have better par when ran on ice-cap ballasts

anyone have pics of their tank with the 14k and actinics on?  would love to see a pic of the tank with just the 14 k's on then on with the actinics if I could.

I just hate the idea of dropping money on some bulbs and not end up with the color I want

[Baggerhog]

I have 3 250 watt hqi blue wave ballast running 10k xms. I also have 4 48" T5 true actinics. I think my water looks yellow with this combo. I will be switching to 12k or 14k metal halides. Just my .02 cents.

[Amstar]

thanks that helps alot.  Do you know or have an idea of what 12k or 14k bulb you might go to?

I was thinking hamilton 14k with the 4 110 watt URI actinics and if its to blue then just change out one of the actinic bulbs with a 50/50 bulb until I get to the right "hue" of white/blue mixture that I want

[UDJustin]

I had the 14k hamilton bulbs on my tank and I like my XMs better

[Amstar]

LOL.  why?  better growth?  is the tank yellow or do you prefer the more natural look?  what type of ballast do you have?  do you have any supplemental lighting?

[Baggerhog]

thanks that helps alot.  Do you know or have an idea of what 12k or 14k bulb you might go to?

I was thinking hamilton 14k with the 4 110 watt URI actinics and if its to blue then just change out one of the actinic bulbs with a 50/50 bulb until I get to the right "hue" of white/blue mixture that I want

I was thinking of going back to the Reeflux 12ks.

[UDJustin]

I have two t5 atinics but I just think the XM bulbs were more crisp and I like a little more blue look so I thought the XM's gave me that.

[CoralBeauties]

I have read where the xm 15k's have a very short life before they start to change color more towards the 10k range.  The posts I read on rc said they loved the xm 10k and 20k but said to stay away from the 15s.
Jeff

[micki]

I started out with XM 10K and didn't like them. I then went to the XM 14 K and it was ok...  I then went to Hamilton 14K and love it!  I ran actinic with all of them.  In my tank the hamilton 14K look like a crisp white with a touch of blue.  I'll have to take some pics when I get home.  It's really all in what your prefer... 

[Midwest Express]

I have reflux 12k and no actinics yet, but my tank has a good color to it.  Hopefully I can bump down to a dual 250w setup and then if avail I will go with the 12k and add some actinics, or 14k w actinics. 

[CoralBeauties]

I know aquavista is using 14k icecaps.  Anyone else try these?
Jeff

[reeflover]

i have phoenix 14s and love them

[yinyang]

phoenix 14k all the way