What "k" power compacts should I use?

[dickhordishay]

I will be replacing my light bulbs soon. I currently have two 65 watt 12,000 k bulbs and two true actinic bulbs.

I'm under the impression that the actinics don't count towards lights levels, and want to start getting more corals.

I like the blue the actinics give, so should I go with four 12,000 k bulbs instead?

What are your opinions?

[JRechcygl]

Blue does count but the light levels break down faster(or at least thats what I've heard) Much of it has to do with the look of your tank and how YOU like it, unless you are a diehard and go off par values and the like

[dickhordishay]

Thanks. So what K should I go with?
I'll be changing all four 65 watt bulbs soon.

What K is actinic considered?

[Dark~Euphoria]

go with the 55/65k bulbs , 4 of them. it will look really yellow but thats best for growth most likely...

[dickhordishay]

Isn't that more suited for plants?
I don't want my tank looking yellow by any means.
I'd like it more blueish, but don't want actinics as they don't add to the total light as required by corals (I think).

[cnaegler]

you could try 20k's but i think your corals will need some sort of actinic supplements.

[NealNano]

Not with 20ks not actinics needed. The 20ks will slow growth down a bit.

[cnaegler]

True, true. Generally, the lower the kelvin the more growth you will see.

[dickhordishay]

So what do you guys reccommend?

[cnaegler]

Well, that depends on what corals you're planning to keep. I can tell you you probably won't ge able to do too much with only Pc's. Maybe some zoo's, mushrooms, some softies. Anything more and you'll have to step the lighting up to possibly T-5's or, dare i say it, MH's.

[RicksReefs]

ahhhh, no. PC's are HO T-5's. they're just bent in two.. ;)

I have a six foot 125 that's run with 6x65w PC's (and have run PC's on many tanks) and I'm getting great growth on neon frogspawn, torch, blasto's, micromussa, brains, etc.. along with green leathers, anthelia, kenya tree, ricordea, zoas, shrooms, etc.
I run halides for most of that stuff too on another tank (same sump), the branching growth on the frogspawn is nearly the same.

you need the actinic to keep the brighter colors in corals. the par is a bit lower, but until you hit the 14K-15K range, the tank is going to appear yellowish and help to encourage algae growth.

for a readily available bulb, I like the current 50/50's. good, even color. but I don't do sunrise/senset either.

[RicksReefs]

and as a side note, most K ratings the maker put's on the bulb are far different than the true K ratings. IIRC, my hamilton 14K's are really 17K halides.

[jmccomb420]

I use 4x55w pc's on my 29 (2x10k and 2x03actinic)get good growth out of everything and love the color

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/1/61528mini-IMG_1198.JPG

[dickhordishay]

thanks for all the replies

[downhillbiker]

i would say 12k would make you happiest. this is common k value in CF lights, and gives almost as much coral growth value as the 10k, but also has a bit more blue. i would just get them all 12k.