Should I switch from 20000K to 10000K?

whalloper · 11/06/2006, 07:09 PM

Hello all...

On my 72 I have 2x250W 20000K Aqualine HQI (PAR is 45). I love the colors and growth seems ok. I am curious to see what everything would look like if I switched to 10000K (PAR of XM's is 109). I just dont want the tank to look yellow. I have 2 96W PC's and only one is currently actinic...if I made them both actinic, would that help the color at all???

Suggestions wellcome!!

Yinger · 11/06/2006, 07:51 PM

hey whalloper, i've running 250 watt XM 10ks and i love the color. With the actinics, it gives me a nice crisp color. Not yellow at all IMO.

leeweber85 · 11/06/2006, 08:21 PM

after going from the 20k to the xm10k you are probably gonna think it seems yellow. IMO corals look better under the 20k an d fish look much better under 10k. If you are happy with what you have now, you might as well stay with it.

whalloper · 11/06/2006, 08:40 PM

Many of my corals which were very blue when I first bought them have gotten "bluer" when I switched to the Aqualine bulbs. I had cheap 20000K bulbs before and anything blue faded completely. Im just looking for corals to return to the bold colors they were when I got them. Will 10000K help with color?

usmcsgt · 11/06/2006, 08:46 PM

10000k will help with growth

whalloper · 11/06/2006, 08:53 PM

growth, but not color? How is it that I got an acro once that was entirely deep blue and now just the tips are light blue? My nitrates and phosphates are undetectable

11/06/2006, 07:09 PM	#1
whalloper Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 317	Should I switch from 20000K to 10000K? Hello all... On my 72 I have 2x250W 20000K Aqualine HQI (PAR is 45). I love the colors and growth seems ok. I am curious to see what everything would look like if I switched to 10000K (PAR of XM's is 109). I just dont want the tank to look yellow. I have 2 96W PC's and only one is currently actinic...if I made them both actinic, would that help the color at all??? Suggestions wellcome!! __________________ Please let me know when they invent the device which makes water changes unnecessary and foolish... I cant wait Current Tank Info: 72 gal mixed reef (SPS acros montis stylo miles, LPS, zoos, shrooms, clams, xenia, chili) 26 gal zoo/softies/LPS reef

11/06/2006, 08:21 PM	#3
leeweber85 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 2,482	after going from the 20k to the xm10k you are probably gonna think it seems yellow. IMO corals look better under the 20k an d fish look much better under 10k. If you are happy with what you have now, you might as well stay with it. __________________ -Lee Current Tank Info: 120g reef, 20g reef

11/06/2006, 08:40 PM	#4
whalloper Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 317	Many of my corals which were very blue when I first bought them have gotten "bluer" when I switched to the Aqualine bulbs. I had cheap 20000K bulbs before and anything blue faded completely. Im just looking for corals to return to the bold colors they were when I got them. Will 10000K help with color? __________________ Please let me know when they invent the device which makes water changes unnecessary and foolish... I cant wait Current Tank Info: 72 gal mixed reef (SPS acros montis stylo miles, LPS, zoos, shrooms, clams, xenia, chili) 26 gal zoo/softies/LPS reef

11/06/2006, 08:46 PM	#5
usmcsgt Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Pensacola Fl. Posts: 999	10000k will help with growth __________________ There are no such things as limits to growth, because there are no limits on the human capacity for intelligence, imagination and wonder. -- Ronald Reagan Current Tank Info: 100 Gal Mixed reef Cube.

11/06/2006, 08:53 PM	#6
whalloper Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 317	growth, but not color? How is it that I got an acro once that was entirely deep blue and now just the tips are light blue? My nitrates and phosphates are undetectable __________________ Please let me know when they invent the device which makes water changes unnecessary and foolish... I cant wait Current Tank Info: 72 gal mixed reef (SPS acros montis stylo miles, LPS, zoos, shrooms, clams, xenia, chili) 26 gal zoo/softies/LPS reef

11/06/2006, 07:51 PM	#2
Yinger Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Yorba Linda Posts: 3,657	hey whalloper, i've running 250 watt XM 10ks and i love the color. With the actinics, it gives me a nice crisp color. Not yellow at all IMO.