what lights will make corals really POP?

bnhd3 · 05/27/2007, 10:53 AM

i have 2 250w halides and I can't remember what K they are. Although i believe they are 15000k. They are the double ended style. I also have 4 96w power compacts. The compacts are 450nm. This whole setup does nothing to make the corals pop though. I need advice on a good combination to reallybring out the colors in the tank. To make the corals really glow. I have acropora, zoos, a big clam, shrooms, you name it, so i don't want to adversely affect any of their growth. would 20000k halides and 7100k blue compacts help bring out the colors for viewing. About the compacts, which is aesthetically better looking Actinic or like a 7100k blue? Here are some pics of the tank as of now:

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TIMMYE · 05/27/2007, 12:18 PM

I run 10K MH and and I run 4 80W T-5 VHO's. 3 are attnics and one is more pinkish I forgot the color spectrum on this. I get great colors with this.

I will also run a 6500K in my center 400MH for better growth is these bulbs are enough to offset the yellow from that bulb. HTH

NicoleRM · 05/27/2007, 06:13 PM

It's hard to beat 10k halides with supplemental URI super actinic VHOs for both par and color.

bnhd3 · 05/27/2007, 06:39 PM

but i already have a fixture set up for power compacts and halides. what is a good power compact and metal halide combo that really gives the display a good look. how does the Kelvin scale work? Is 10000k whiter than 20000k? suggestions please?

illcssd · 05/27/2007, 06:54 PM

The reeflux 12k bulbs i am running now are making my corals shine! They look amazing.

illcssd · 05/27/2007, 06:54 PM

Not sure if they make it for your setup though...

NicoleRM · 05/27/2007, 07:05 PM

Ahh, I see...

Yes, as far as the Kelvin scale, 10k is whiter than 20k.

I'm not so well versed in PCs so I can't help much there. Perhaps your halides are too bright and are sorta drowning out the PC actinics? In that case 20k halides might help, but it's going to be seriously blue.

funman1 · 05/27/2007, 07:15 PM

I love my 20Ks to bring out the color.

No offense though, I don't see a lot of corals in your tank that would "pop" even with the right color.

eidillitih · 05/27/2007, 07:21 PM

15k should be fine. I've seen great looking tank with 15k's. You know your corals might "POP" a little more if you can lower you phosphates. I see the HA, I'm guessing something is feeding it. Them are some big tangs, do you have a big skimmer?

But I like the look of 15k's, should be fine

Kennyboy1984 · 05/27/2007, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by funman1
I love my 20Ks to bring out the color.

No offense though, I don't see a lot of corals in your tank that would "pop" even with the right color.

True dat...

However for any future corals that you may get and want to look great go with pure actinic compacts and 6500k - 10,000 k MH. The actinics will make some corals fluoresce and the mh in those kelvins will help with growth and some other colors.

mcurl98 · 05/27/2007, 09:55 PM

with 250 watts, you're not going to get a lot of PAR with 20Ks. You could go with a phoenix 14K which basically looks lie a 20K. It is bluer than any 15k out there and has more PAR. You want 420nm which is a true actinic range. The 7100s will add more light but not make the corals fluoresce. The 14Ks will wash most of the actinics out while they are on together but will look nice when the halides are off. No real need to supplement the phoenix. I'd run 2 actinic bulbs in the front and a 50/50 in the rear. As stated, not all corals fluoresce either.

areze · 05/27/2007, 10:15 PM

yep, I look at your aquarium and I see alot of browns. looks to be mostly mushrooms, which dont really have any color. maybe some speckles or veins in them at best.

get some frogspawn or LPS if you want some great bright colors.

a clam can be a good option, but your gonna need alot of it before its going to draw attention; theres alot of green and grey which is making it a bit dreary, so any color that is there gets overwhelmed and lost. you need a few big colorful items to kind of change the perspective of the tank from being focused on the rocks to focusing on the corals.

Im not a big fan of mushrooms for that reason, they just blend too well.

05/27/2007, 10:53 AM	#1
bnhd3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: central georgia Posts: 210	what lights will make corals really POP? i have 2 250w halides and I can't remember what K they are. Although i believe they are 15000k. They are the double ended style. I also have 4 96w power compacts. The compacts are 450nm. This whole setup does nothing to make the corals pop though. I need advice on a good combination to reallybring out the colors in the tank. To make the corals really glow. I have acropora, zoos, a big clam, shrooms, you name it, so i don't want to adversely affect any of their growth. would 20000k halides and 7100k blue compacts help bring out the colors for viewing. About the compacts, which is aesthetically better looking Actinic or like a 7100k blue? Here are some pics of the tank as of now: __________________ "showing one's teeth is a submission signal in primates. When someone smiles at me all i see is a chimpanzee begging for it's life." -dwight schrute- Current Tank Info: 125g reef,20g frag tank, 200lbs. LR, 65g sump w/ fuge, mag 9.5 return pump, aqua c 240 ev skimmer w/ mag18, 2x250watt 15000k halides, 4x96watt pc's 420nm, 2 tunze 6000's w/ single controller, MRC CR-2 cal. reactor

05/27/2007, 12:18 PM	#2
TIMMYE Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Central Wisconsin Posts: 857	I run 10K MH and and I run 4 80W T-5 VHO's. 3 are attnics and one is more pinkish I forgot the color spectrum on this. I get great colors with this. I will also run a 6500K in my center 400MH for better growth is these bulbs are enough to offset the yellow from that bulb. HTH __________________ Honey, can I have a bigger one please? This is the last time I will upsize, I promise!

05/27/2007, 06:39 PM	#4
bnhd3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: central georgia Posts: 210	but i already have a fixture set up for power compacts and halides. what is a good power compact and metal halide combo that really gives the display a good look. how does the Kelvin scale work? Is 10000k whiter than 20000k? suggestions please? __________________ "showing one's teeth is a submission signal in primates. When someone smiles at me all i see is a chimpanzee begging for it's life." -dwight schrute- Current Tank Info: 125g reef,20g frag tank, 200lbs. LR, 65g sump w/ fuge, mag 9.5 return pump, aqua c 240 ev skimmer w/ mag18, 2x250watt 15000k halides, 4x96watt pc's 420nm, 2 tunze 6000's w/ single controller, MRC CR-2 cal. reactor

05/27/2007, 06:54 PM	#5
illcssd Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 1,295	The reeflux 12k bulbs i am running now are making my corals shine! They look amazing. __________________ --Austin 60g Ecotech anemone cube;

05/27/2007, 06:54 PM	#6
illcssd Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 1,295	Not sure if they make it for your setup though... __________________ --Austin 60g Ecotech anemone cube;

05/27/2007, 06:13 PM	#3
NicoleRM Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 221	It's hard to beat 10k halides with supplemental URI super actinic VHOs for both par and color.

05/27/2007, 07:05 PM	#7
NicoleRM Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 221	Ahh, I see... Yes, as far as the Kelvin scale, 10k is whiter than 20k. I'm not so well versed in PCs so I can't help much there. Perhaps your halides are too bright and are sorta drowning out the PC actinics? In that case 20k halides might help, but it's going to be seriously blue.

05/27/2007, 07:15 PM	#8
funman1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 4,898	I love my 20Ks to bring out the color. No offense though, I don't see a lot of corals in your tank that would "pop" even with the right color. __________________ Professional Pyro: NO REALLY; I get PAID to blow stuff up!! ~Steve~ Current Tank Info: 12G NANO

05/27/2007, 07:21 PM	#9
eidillitih Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Euless Tx. Posts: 1,160	15k should be fine. I've seen great looking tank with 15k's. You know your corals might "POP" a little more if you can lower you phosphates. I see the HA, I'm guessing something is feeding it. Them are some big tangs, do you have a big skimmer? But I like the look of 15k's, should be fine __________________ What you achieve or fail to achieve is directly related to what you do or fail to do It's the Journey that makes the Destination so sweet C. Taylor, M.Ed. Current Tank Info: 190g, 250lbs Live Rock, Vertex Alpha skimmer, 2x Tunze 6100's, Vortech 40mp, Queit one return, 220watts vho, 750MH, 60gal. Melev Sump, DIY Stand and Canopy, JBJ 1/4 Chiller, and other Man toys

05/27/2007, 09:55 PM	#11
mcurl98 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: san jose, ca Posts: 615	with 250 watts, you're not going to get a lot of PAR with 20Ks. You could go with a phoenix 14K which basically looks lie a 20K. It is bluer than any 15k out there and has more PAR. You want 420nm which is a true actinic range. The 7100s will add more light but not make the corals fluoresce. The 14Ks will wash most of the actinics out while they are on together but will look nice when the halides are off. No real need to supplement the phoenix. I'd run 2 actinic bulbs in the front and a 50/50 in the rear. As stated, not all corals fluoresce either. __________________ -Matt Current Tank Info: tankless

05/27/2007, 10:15 PM	#12
areze Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,048	yep, I look at your aquarium and I see alot of browns. looks to be mostly mushrooms, which dont really have any color. maybe some speckles or veins in them at best. get some frogspawn or LPS if you want some great bright colors. a clam can be a good option, but your gonna need alot of it before its going to draw attention; theres alot of green and grey which is making it a bit dreary, so any color that is there gets overwhelmed and lost. you need a few big colorful items to kind of change the perspective of the tank from being focused on the rocks to focusing on the corals. Im not a big fan of mushrooms for that reason, they just blend too well. __________________ current tanks:240g of wallet draining capacity.