20K MH bulb only, anybody have a picture?

sparkiesford · 09/10/2007, 08:33 AM

I am trying to decide what lights to use on my 65g reef. someone suggested using 20K bulbs on my 2 250 watt MH and not needing any actinic light. I have 4 65watt PCs if I need them. I would just like to see what it would look like.

Anybody running just 20K MH's?
Pictures would be appreciated.
Thanks

der_wille_zur_macht · 09/10/2007, 09:43 AM

Got any local fish stores or LFS's? It's extremely hard to convey this sort of things with photographs, since a camera's white balance can totally change the look of lighting.

papagimp · 09/10/2007, 09:56 AM

Here ya go, check out this Blog, the fixture on the right side of the screen shows a 20,000k doubled ended MH bulb, the other side is plain ol' PC's (10,000k + actinics) YOu'll notice the actinic PC bulbs on that MH fixture are not going at this time. No need for em, got more than enough blue hue to the tank. Don't ya think?

http://www.reefcentral.com/wp/?p=230

Keep in mind Der's previous comment, computer screen color and camera can all effect color, but on the PC i"m using now, it's pretty accurate.

sparkiesford · 09/10/2007, 09:56 AM

I have a very small LFS and he isn't running any MH at all i don't think.
well you(der_wille_zur_macht) would probably know better then me anyways. Would just 20K bulbs look good? I want the colors to really pop if possible. I am looking at XM 20K bulbs. I don't know any reefers anywhere close to me so it is a little challenging at times. Thanks for any help.

sparkiesford · 09/10/2007, 09:58 AM

thanks for the pictures, I think I will be just fine with 20K's

papagimp · 09/10/2007, 10:02 AM

I've used the XM 20,000k for a little while before getting rid of that retrofit kit (was happy with it, just decided on T5's for that project) The coloring looked extremely similar to if you had just actinics going, they definatly pop but it makes taken photo's a little difficult and you have to really like alot of blue coloring. I"m running 2 x 250's on my 75g, just set em up last night, using 14,000k hamilton bulbs, The color without any actinics looks very white with a slight blue hue, colors seem very nice as well, I"m happy with this and will probaby swap out the 250w on that 55g in my last link to a 14,000k color instead.

Heres a quick photo of those:

der_wille_zur_macht · 09/10/2007, 11:07 AM

I like 20kk XM bulbs quite a bit myself. Like many other high-k bulbs, their output is much lower than most whiter bulbs (10k) so keep that in mind.

Another thing to keep in mind is where in the color spectrum a bulb is getting it's coloration from. Two "20kk" bulbs might have very different spectral profiles, which basically means that though the blended color looks the same to your eye, the coral's reaction may be different.

If you're going to use MH only with no supplementation, then 20kk is undoubtedly the way to go. Radiums would probably be my second choice behind XM.

der_wille_zur_macht · 09/10/2007, 11:16 AM

Ok - I hesitated from posting these at first because IMHO they are somewhat misleading, but here's a coral in an old tank of mine under "white" MH light (honestly, I can't remember what bulb it was, but it was probably a 10kk):

Here's the same coral, same camera setup, same tripod position, same day, but under the 20kk XM:

Gives you a rough idea. In "real life" the XM didn't look so washed out, and the colors actually looked a little more glowing and fluorescent, but there was a difference for sure. The whiter bulb gave a truer rendition of colors, but the 20kk made things "pop" a little more. Often reefers associate "pop" with good coloration, but IMHO there's a difference between good coloration and perceived "pop" or fluorescence - the trick is to get lighting that'll give you both.

sparkiesford · 09/10/2007, 12:17 PM

well I have both MH and PC lighting, it is going over a 65g tank 36x18x 25 so I was just afraid to have too much light (and heat). I have the stuff so its not like I am buying anything except bulbs. i am still not sure. Because i am trying to have a mixed reef, so I need lots of light. But if I go with 20k bulbs like you said i will loose some intensity. So maybe I should go with 2x55 actinic PC's and 2 250 MH 10k. Sound like an OK setup? Or will 2 250 MH with 20K bulbs be enough?

der_wille_zur_macht · 09/10/2007, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sparkiesford
So maybe I should go with 2x55 actinic PC's and 2 250 MH 10k.

That is what I would do. Or maybe even 1x55w PC if you can pull it off, to reduce overall heat and energy consumption.

Without a doubt, using supplemental to get your blues will give you more freedom and more intensity.

sparkiesford · 09/10/2007, 12:46 PM

OK I think that is what i will do. What 10K bulb is the best for a Probe start MH Ballast? Also do you need to replace actinics like MH and other lights? Or because they are mainly for our eyes they last a lot longer?

der_wille_zur_macht · 09/10/2007, 12:49 PM

I'm a big fan of the XM brand in general, I'd recommend their 10kk bulb. It's cheap and pretty intense, and IMHO looks good.

You do need to replace actinic lighting, though you can probably be a little lax on the schedule if you feel like it.

sparkiesford · 09/10/2007, 12:55 PM

OK, thanks again for all your help.
I will post some pictures in the future, (when there is something to look at)
Thanks

aquarius77 · 09/10/2007, 02:18 PM

Both of these pictures are under a single 20k gman megachrome blue bulb, they were taken just a few mins apart. There is no other lighting on this tank.

This one is closer to what the tank looks like to the eye.

sparkiesford · 09/10/2007, 02:21 PM

thanks for the pics

09/10/2007, 08:33 AM	#1
sparkiesford Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 109	20K MH bulb only, anybody have a picture? I am trying to decide what lights to use on my 65g reef. someone suggested using 20K bulbs on my 2 250 watt MH and not needing any actinic light. I have 4 65watt PCs if I need them. I would just like to see what it would look like. Anybody running just 20K MH's? Pictures would be appreciated. Thanks

09/10/2007, 09:43 AM	#2
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Got any local fish stores or LFS's? It's extremely hard to convey this sort of things with photographs, since a camera's white balance can totally change the look of lighting. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

09/10/2007, 09:56 AM	#3
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Here ya go, check out this Blog, the fixture on the right side of the screen shows a 20,000k doubled ended MH bulb, the other side is plain ol' PC's (10,000k + actinics) YOu'll notice the actinic PC bulbs on that MH fixture are not going at this time. No need for em, got more than enough blue hue to the tank. Don't ya think? http://www.reefcentral.com/wp/?p=230 Keep in mind Der's previous comment, computer screen color and camera can all effect color, but on the PC i"m using now, it's pretty accurate. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

09/10/2007, 10:02 AM	#6
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	I've used the XM 20,000k for a little while before getting rid of that retrofit kit (was happy with it, just decided on T5's for that project) The coloring looked extremely similar to if you had just actinics going, they definatly pop but it makes taken photo's a little difficult and you have to really like alot of blue coloring. I"m running 2 x 250's on my 75g, just set em up last night, using 14,000k hamilton bulbs, The color without any actinics looks very white with a slight blue hue, colors seem very nice as well, I"m happy with this and will probaby swap out the 250w on that 55g in my last link to a 14,000k color instead. Heres a quick photo of those: __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

09/10/2007, 11:07 AM	#7
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	I like 20kk XM bulbs quite a bit myself. Like many other high-k bulbs, their output is much lower than most whiter bulbs (10k) so keep that in mind. Another thing to keep in mind is where in the color spectrum a bulb is getting it's coloration from. Two "20kk" bulbs might have very different spectral profiles, which basically means that though the blended color looks the same to your eye, the coral's reaction may be different. If you're going to use MH only with no supplementation, then 20kk is undoubtedly the way to go. Radiums would probably be my second choice behind XM. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

09/10/2007, 09:58 AM	#5
sparkiesford Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 109	thanks for the pictures, I think I will be just fine with 20K's

09/10/2007, 11:16 AM	#8
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Ok - I hesitated from posting these at first because IMHO they are somewhat misleading, but here's a coral in an old tank of mine under "white" MH light (honestly, I can't remember what bulb it was, but it was probably a 10kk): Here's the same coral, same camera setup, same tripod position, same day, but under the 20kk XM: Gives you a rough idea. In "real life" the XM didn't look so washed out, and the colors actually looked a little more glowing and fluorescent, but there was a difference for sure. The whiter bulb gave a truer rendition of colors, but the 20kk made things "pop" a little more. Often reefers associate "pop" with good coloration, but IMHO there's a difference between good coloration and perceived "pop" or fluorescence - the trick is to get lighting that'll give you both. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

09/10/2007, 12:17 PM	#9
sparkiesford Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 109	well I have both MH and PC lighting, it is going over a 65g tank 36x18x 25 so I was just afraid to have too much light (and heat). I have the stuff so its not like I am buying anything except bulbs. i am still not sure. Because i am trying to have a mixed reef, so I need lots of light. But if I go with 20k bulbs like you said i will loose some intensity. So maybe I should go with 2x55 actinic PC's and 2 250 MH 10k. Sound like an OK setup? Or will 2 250 MH with 20K bulbs be enough?

09/10/2007, 12:46 PM	#11
sparkiesford Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 109	OK I think that is what i will do. What 10K bulb is the best for a Probe start MH Ballast? Also do you need to replace actinics like MH and other lights? Or because they are mainly for our eyes they last a lot longer?

09/10/2007, 12:49 PM	#12
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	I'm a big fan of the XM brand in general, I'd recommend their 10kk bulb. It's cheap and pretty intense, and IMHO looks good. You do need to replace actinic lighting, though you can probably be a little lax on the schedule if you feel like it. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

09/10/2007, 12:55 PM	#13
sparkiesford Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 109	OK, thanks again for all your help. I will post some pictures in the future, (when there is something to look at) Thanks

09/10/2007, 02:18 PM	#14
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	Both of these pictures are under a single 20k gman megachrome blue bulb, they were taken just a few mins apart. There is no other lighting on this tank. This one is closer to what the tank looks like to the eye.

09/10/2007, 02:21 PM	#15
sparkiesford Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 109	thanks for the pics