Metal Halide for Acans

[Psionicdragon]

Which would be the best for Acan and micro growth: a 20k XM or 14k Hamilton or a 10k bulb?

Also, do they like a lot of flow, medium flow, or low flow?

[Vamp75]

Had all three, stuck with the 14k Hamilton & 2 96w Actinic

Best color & growth, JMO

[GMAX]

I have always been told that the best coral growth comes form 6.5K bulbs. As you move up the spectrum the coral coloration gets better and the growth slows down. Now I am running 10K Reeflux bubls and I like the coloration better than 20K XMs so maybe there is an answer for you. Better color and higher growth.

[Vamp75]

10k produces far too much yellow for my taste

[GMAX]

Have you seen these bulbs. I would not use 10ks before this. You are correct they were all too yellow. Not these bulbs. You should see them.

[zoomfish1]

i run the coralvue reflux bulbs, best bulb on the market IMO. No yellow at all, just crisp white.

[RandyO]

I also run the 10K coralvue Reeflux on my tank. But I also run 2 coralvue 20K bulbs on either side of the 10K. I like the mix.

Here's a pic. I keep most of my Acans on the far left side. You can see it looks a little bluer than the middle since I have the 20K's on the ends.

http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/FulltankDec05.jpg

The tank is only 4 foot long and has the three halides squeezed together. The 20K's are 250watt overdriven by a PFO HQI ballast. The 10K Reeflux in a 400 watt bulb run on a Blueline E-ballast.

[Psionicdragon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6545586#post6545586 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GMAX
I have always been told that the best coral growth comes form 6.5K bulbs. As you move up the spectrum the coral coloration gets better and the growth slows down. Now I am running 10K Reeflux bubls and I like the coloration better than 20K XMs so maybe there is an answer for you. Better color and higher growth.

I always thought that was only for SPS. So this is also true for LPS?