Time for new bulbs and thinking of a change

[spazthecat]

Hi,

It's time for me to replace the light bulbs over my tank and I was interested in going with something that is a little bluer and was looking for opinions on what I think I might do.

Currently, I have 2 x 175 Watt 10K aqualine bulbs. Supposedly they are 13k but I honestly have not noticed any blue tinge to them at all. I also have 2 x 96 watt PC bulbs (1 actinic and 1 10k). I don't run them both at the same time. The PCs come on first and the switch off when the MH come on. The PCs then come back on when the MH go off. Halides go for 8 hours and the PCs for 2 hours before and after.

Anyways, I was thinking of doing the following:

PC - 1 actinic + 1 50/50
MH - 14k hamilton bulbs.

Opinions? Will the PC lighting still be more white than blue? How blue are the 14K hamilton bulbs?

Thanks,

Andy

 

[brandonberry]

Personally I would go with 2 actinic PCs and Iwasaki Aqua2 15k halides. These have the highest PAR of all the 175w bulbs. I use them on my frag tanks and they grow corals well. I would also run the actinics at the same time as the halides, but maybe let them start a little earlier and go off a little later.

 

[spazthecat]

Thanks for the reply. What kind of corals are you growing in your frag tank?

I've heard good things about the those bulbs but I'm a little leary of frying the softies in my tank. I currently have mostly mushrooms, misc polyps, zoas, and Xenia but I'm moving toward some lower light SPS.

I think Iwasakis would be great for the SPS but maybe not so much so for the others.

Andy

 

[brandonberry]

Almost everything seems to grow well under them, IMO. They aren't quite enough to make some acros color up fully and some Palythoas seem to draw up a little under them. This probably wouldn't be a problem if they were placed in a lower light area. Xenia, mushrooms, Euphyllias, montiporas, leathers, and most zoanthids grow like weeds under them. I'll never use any of the other 175w bulbs currently on the market again.

 

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with Brandon, Iwasakis, especially the Aqua2, are great for all photosynthetic reef animals

 

[spazthecat]

I got the Iwaski's on Monday. It's only been a few days but things look great. I really like the color. Glad I went with it.

Thanks for the recommendation!

Andy

 

[brandonberry]

Good deal. I hope your corals do well.