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Paramedic728
03/09/2009, 10:27 AM
Im putting together a lighing sustem and wanted to know what was was the difference between a 10,000k and a 20,000k metal halide bulb? and what would be best for my tank. I want to have a varity of corals sps, clams, ricordia and such. I know the higher u go the bluer the light. any help would be great

PRDubois
03/09/2009, 10:47 AM
about 10,000k

faze07hd
03/09/2009, 10:55 AM
Its kind of personal preferance. Colors vary, but at the same time they say that the lower the k's the better the growth..

Even when you get the bulbs, each brand has different tints to them... a 20k XM will be much darker blue than an 20k radium...

Corals colors will pop out way more with a higher k. and if you go with 10,000k... i would get a supplement of actinics with t5's... 10,000k is way too white IMO...

Good luck.

tspors
03/09/2009, 11:44 AM
20K represents what the lighting would be at around 20' depth in the water. 10K aboit 5' give a or take, Therfore like Faze said the higher the number the more BLUE you will get. I run the Outer Orbit lighting 4-96w Dual Actinics @ 3-150w MH. All becomes a preference. I did try the 20K MH thought they were to blue so I am back to the 10K

Sugar Magnolia
03/09/2009, 11:58 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14570270#post14570270 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PRDubois
about 10,000k
http://thefurtiveglance.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/rim-shot-johnny-utah.jpg

You could always go for a 14K 15K middle of the spectrum bulb.

PRDubois
03/09/2009, 01:43 PM
Sorry, It was just too open to resist