Opinions on changing MH150 14k to MH150 20k

[DiazE]

My bulbs are due for a change next month. I plan on switching this april my mh150's 14k to mh150's 20k. I want more color without sacrificing growth. Any recomendations or opinions as to how I should go about acclimating the SPS to the change on bulbs from 14k to 20k?
:confused:

[rbnice1]

I cant comment on the 14k

When I set up my frag tank I had the club par meter and tried a 175watt SE 20k bulb and a 10k bulb.

The 20k bulb had half the par the 10k bulb had. I use the 10k bulb because of that. Not sure is 150watt bulbs would follow the same scale or not but it if did your looking at a 25% drop in par.

[DiazE]

Can you break down the PAR info? I am a not proficient in the science of lighting and just want more color on my SPS without sacrificing growth.

Thanks!

[The Grim Reefer]

The more blue halides have a lot less intensity than the more white lamps. Your best option is to stick with your 14K halides or even step up to the BLV 10K's which were the highest output 150's I know of and then add a couple of T5 lamps as suppliments. The ATI Blue Plus lamps will give you some good intensity plus make your corals pop. If you are using a canopy grab a 2 lamp retroit kit. If you have a halide fixture then grab one of current usa's 2 lamp T5 strip lights but ditch the lamps that come with it for the ATI's. Add the T5's before changing your halides. that way you can decide if the 10K's and T5's will be blue enough for you. If the 14K/Blue Plus looks good to you then just get good 14K halides as your replacement lamps.

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14549637#post14549637 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DiazE
Can you break down the PAR info? I am a not proficient in the science of lighting and just want more color on my SPS without sacrificing growth.

Thanks!

PAR measures the rate that light photons strike an object. The photon striking the plant is what they (and corals) use for photosynthesis. Higher PAR = better growth.

[DiazE]

Thanks!