New to HQI lighting..10000K to 20000k question

ncny21802 · 03/16/2006, 06:01 PM

I've had a 150 watt hqi 10,000k light along with 2 65 watt actinics for about 3 months now. The tank is doing great. 1 of my BTA's just split my hammer and frogspawn are growing new buds like crazy, I'm just starting to get the purple coralline algea on my glass it's been growing on my rocks and snails for a while. So everything is going fine. I decided to buy a 20,000K HQI 150w because I didn't really like the coloring with the 10,000K. Well I put the 20K in and absolutly love the coloring. IMO it makes the tank look much better. I'm just worried about my clams and corals. Will this switch effect there overall health and growth rate? I know the growth rate may slow down a little but what about the health and longevity of the clams and corals? Will it effect corralline growth? Any responses would be appreciated

Blown 346 · 03/16/2006, 06:12 PM

It wont affect health but growth will be cut back. Coralline doesnt usually like intense light anyway so it might help out.

PiNaPLeX · 03/16/2006, 06:32 PM

blown is right, higher kelvin rating looks better but corals do not grow as fast. you might want to try 14k or 15k bulbs next time, they have a decent mix of both growth and color.

ncny21802 · 03/16/2006, 08:17 PM

Thanks for the responses. As long as it doesn't effect their health I'll just keep the 20K. I don't really mind if it takes them longer to grow. You really can't beat the look. Maybe I will buy a 15K and see what that looks like in the tank. Thanks again

dannieboiz · 03/17/2006, 02:13 AM

I don't know but twice now, went from 10k to 14k then back to 10k. I don't think I'll ever buy anything other but 10k. Everything else just looks too dim to me.

ncny21802 · 03/17/2006, 05:27 PM

Yeh it does look dim but anytime you leave from 10K to a higher spectrum it will look dimmer that's kinda the point. To change the color from that bright yellow to a dimmer blueish color. I think it looks great but it does look alot darker but not dark enough for me to worry. I love the look and from what I hear it won't effect the corals health only it will slow down there growth rate which is fine for me

Ti · 03/17/2006, 05:56 PM

The eye percieves blue light as less bright.

dannieboiz · 03/17/2006, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ti
The eye percieves blue light as less bright.

that may be it.

u coming over today?

03/16/2006, 06:01 PM	#1
ncny21802 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Huntersville, NC Posts: 364	New to HQI lighting..10000K to 20000k question I've had a 150 watt hqi 10,000k light along with 2 65 watt actinics for about 3 months now. The tank is doing great. 1 of my BTA's just split my hammer and frogspawn are growing new buds like crazy, I'm just starting to get the purple coralline algea on my glass it's been growing on my rocks and snails for a while. So everything is going fine. I decided to buy a 20,000K HQI 150w because I didn't really like the coloring with the 10,000K. Well I put the 20K in and absolutly love the coloring. IMO it makes the tank look much better. I'm just worried about my clams and corals. Will this switch effect there overall health and growth rate? I know the growth rate may slow down a little but what about the health and longevity of the clams and corals? Will it effect corralline growth? Any responses would be appreciated

03/16/2006, 06:32 PM	#3
PiNaPLeX Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 439	blown is right, higher kelvin rating looks better but corals do not grow as fast. you might want to try 14k or 15k bulbs next time, they have a decent mix of both growth and color. __________________ PiNaPLe X - If fate really exsists, then it HATES my guts! Current Tank Info: 29g glass tank, Penguin 330 filter, AquaC Remora Skimmer, 2x65w PowerCompacts (10k & actinic), 90g RR AGA tank /w Megaflow(in progress), 40g Sump/Fuge, 2 x Seio 1500, Dolphin 800, 2x250W MH (XM 10k), 2x54W T5 (Actinic Plus + True Actinic)

03/16/2006, 08:17 PM	#4
ncny21802 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Huntersville, NC Posts: 364	Thanks for the responses. As long as it doesn't effect their health I'll just keep the 20K. I don't really mind if it takes them longer to grow. You really can't beat the look. Maybe I will buy a 15K and see what that looks like in the tank. Thanks again __________________ "The democracy will cease to exist if we take from those who are willing to work and give to those who are not." -Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 46 gallon bow. 20L sump. Vortech MP10, Tunze 6045, Koralia nano, SWC Extreme 160 skimmer, ATI Sunpower, Reefkeeper Elite, etc, etc

03/17/2006, 05:27 PM	#6
ncny21802 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Huntersville, NC Posts: 364	Yeh it does look dim but anytime you leave from 10K to a higher spectrum it will look dimmer that's kinda the point. To change the color from that bright yellow to a dimmer blueish color. I think it looks great but it does look alot darker but not dark enough for me to worry. I love the look and from what I hear it won't effect the corals health only it will slow down there growth rate which is fine for me __________________ "The democracy will cease to exist if we take from those who are willing to work and give to those who are not." -Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 46 gallon bow. 20L sump. Vortech MP10, Tunze 6045, Koralia nano, SWC Extreme 160 skimmer, ATI Sunpower, Reefkeeper Elite, etc, etc

03/17/2006, 05:56 PM	#7
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	The eye percieves blue light as less bright. __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

03/16/2006, 06:12 PM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	It wont affect health but growth will be cut back. Coralline doesnt usually like intense light anyway so it might help out.

03/17/2006, 02:13 AM	#5
dannieboiz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,514	I don't know but twice now, went from 10k to 14k then back to 10k. I don't think I'll ever buy anything other but 10k. Everything else just looks too dim to me.