Question about metal halide and actinic's??

[lynn53]

Well I'm turning my 180 bowfront into a reef tank from a fish only and am putting 4 250w m/h 20k lights on it. What I need to know is how blue will the halides look? Will they look as blue as if I had 2 250 instead with some compac's in super actinic. I want lots of light and my feeling is to go with the 4 250's ??? I already have them sitting around here, so it's not a question of what to buy...just what to use.
thanks so much guys!

 

[Anonymous]

20K is blue IMO.

I like the 14K's better.

 

[IceMan0124]

I wouldnt use all 20k, way too much blue, if your using 4 I would try using a mix of 10k and 20 k and just play around with the arrangment till it suits you, or a mix of 10k and 15 k,

I was using a 15k bulb and found it a bit too blue, so I went with a 10k, and its not quite blue enough, even with about 200 watts of actnics

what "look" are you going after? Shallow reef front?, super deep water? the 20k's will give you the super deep, certain colors on corals will pop really bright, but lots other deatails in fish,rock etc will be lost in shadows

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldnt use all 20k, way too much blue, if your using 4 I would try using a mix of 10k and 20 k and just play around with the arrangment till it suits you

Agreed. You can get a -really- nice look by using a mix of 10k and 20k halides.

 

[mr_X]

i have 14k and it looks plenty blue

 

[lynn53]

Sounds like it might be enough blue! lol I have 20k's on my other 180 along with 2 super actinic VHO's...so I guess I love "the blue look".
thanks
Lynn

 

[cyro]

blue mh are looking ice blue ! i like them..

 

[mgranato]

I've just gone from 2x250 14K to 10k. It took a few days to adjust, but I like the "truer" look of a shallow reef (for my SPS).

 

[das75]

I've got 2-250W 14K Hamilton's on a 145g and it's a white light.

Something to consider though, see referenced often (no experience myself) 20K might be to blue if considering clams.

 

[lynn53]

Why? Do clam's not tolerate 20k lights? Haven't heard that before. Can you fill me in on it.

thanks
Lynn

 

[das75]

New to clams and all I can say from my own tank is my clam is okay under my 14Ks.

Was hesitant to mention the caution with 20K as might be re-enforcing a myth but when looking into what was required for lighting frequently seen 6.7-10K as ideal spectrum.

 

[Anonymous]

I like the blue. I switched from 20 k to 14 k and switched back. How much blue is really personal preference.

 

[S!mon]

My clams do fine under 20K. I felt it was really blue at first, but now I like it. Just takes some getting used to.