Reeflux 12k MH

[schigara]

Does anyone here use the Coralvue Reeflux 12k 250w MH bulb?

I just purchased two of them to replace my 2 XM 15k's which I found out way too late have horrible PAR output.

I have spent the past 4 hours reading through RC about the pros and cons of the Reeflux 12k bulb but the main thing that made up my mind was a tank of the month that was SPS and started with Reeflux 10k's and had incredible growth and then switched to the Reeflux 12k's for a more blue tint and retained the same growth.

I can't wait for them to get here so I can change out one and see the visual difference. Without the Actinic T5's, the XM15's totally suck. Not so much yellowish but brownish in color. The best growth I have seen with the 15k's, is the nice GREEN rocks. Not slimey, just green. And almost no coraline.

It still amazes me how the best LFS in my city still carries the XM 15k! A very washed out and drab looking bulb with very low PAR on Blueline E Ballasts and not much better on IceCaps. Doesn't really matter what ballast fires it.........still sucks!

Bit of advice, don't buy a bulb if it's the last one in stock because their is probably a good reason that it is the last one in stock!

[mandy21]

Is this the way with all XM bulbs? I have 20k XM bulbs that I adore. my zoas are finally growing. I had them in my tank for a few months with zero growth under old bulbs and within a week of bulb change they're growing like crazy.

But, it worries me that there is such a huge difference in brands of bulbs with all other things being the same.

[schigara]

No, just with the 15K. The Par output of the 20K XM was much higher than the 15K.


Is this the way with all XM bulbs? I have 20k XM bulbs that I adore. my zoas are finally growing. I had them in my tank for a few months with zero growth under old bulbs and within a week of bulb change they're growing like crazy.

But, it worries me that there is such a huge difference in brands of bulbs with all other things being the same.

[Mr.Firemouth]

Are your bulbs DE or SE?
SE are superior bulbs.
DE are lacking IMO.

[schigara]

They are DE. Are they lacking because of the actual design or because they have to be shielded?

[Fishieness]

No, just with the 15K. The Par output of the 20K XM was much higher than the 15K.
where did you hear this? For the most part, as long as the setups are the same (same ballast, reflecttor, etc), a 15K is going to be greater in PAR than a 20 K assuming they are the same bulb...
ALso, sorry to burst your bubble, but the Reeflux have great color, but that is about it. They have pretty darn low PAR, especialy for a 12K. Search online. I know with ice caps, SE xm 10Ks have more par than a reeflux. That may not be true with all ballasts, but i do know that reeflux have a pretty darn low PAR, just amazing color...
also, SE bulbs also have to be sheilded. It is jsut that the shield is built around the bulb. Coralife DE bulbs are also sheilded, which is why their HOB MH fixture doesnt have a UV shield. It has been my experience that SE is much better for color. But it is hard to compare as far as growth because i have never used the same bulbs on the same type of ballast. However an HQI runs more than the number of watts it says it does.