Reeflux 12k Help

[Jasontkd]

Hey all,
I have a 29 gallon SPS reef that I have been running a 150 w PFO mini pendant with PFO HQI ballast. I have been running a Phoenix 14k bulb, and was pretty happy with it. However, I was looking to get more color out of my corals. After looking around at a lot of pictures and reading a lot of opinions of the reeflux 12k bulbs, I decided to order one.
anyway, I got it yesterday at put it in, and it is a lot less blue than I thought it would be. The colors on my corals don't seem to pop like I thought they would. Actually, a lot of them look paler than they did before the switch. Some of the blues on my SPS pop a lot, while others are more washed out looking than they were under the phoenix bulb. Anyhow, I have my hood raised up for light acclimation purposes, so I am not sure that my 2 x 24 watt t5 actinics are making any impact on color.
Well, what I am wondering is how will the color change as it burns in over the next few days? Also, can I change the orientation of the bulb to make it more blue? and if I do so, will that cause the PAR to drop significantly?
Any thoughts would be great.
thanks all

[Jflip2002]

You went more white, of course they wont look like they pop as much. Raise the hood up a little to acclimate. First, you have new brighter bulbs. Two, you went with a more powerful/higher par Kelvin typically. Also, wait for your corals to adjust. Mine looked like crap when I Went from 14k to 10k. But now they look better... though they dont pop like many peoples under 14k bulbs do.

[Wiskey]

I think you should leave it alone for now,.. see what happens as it burns in,.. and see how the coral color up when they are under the whiter light.

For now don't panic

There is really no way to make MH bulbs bluer by changing there orentation.

Whiskey

[Fly Guy]

give it time. It takes a couple months minimum for bulb changes to truly start to be noticable, and although I dont have experience with either of those bulbs, from what i have gathered, Im willing ot bet the TRUE color of your corals will be better than under those hammies ......in time

I will aslo offer dont let your eprception of brightness play a role in how you acclimate. Cut your photoperiod in half........then add 5 minutes a day to get back tow here you and your corals want to be

DO NOT take this for granted. trust me. I recently did and am paying for it and I even switched to a bulb with less par......but signifigantly increased my reflector output.......regardless of the my details, be careful