New to mh lighting. ?'s

celtic_Dude · 08/10/2008, 05:25 AM

Hello. Recently I acquired a used fish tank setup and it came with a custom hood with 2 250 mh retrofits built in. The set up also came with 3 15k reef grow bulbs and 2 10k xm bulbs. I am planning on setting up a new talk to host an anemone, some polyps and maybe some other various softies including some torch or hammer coral. What would the better bulbs of choice. My tank also has a built in tray on both sides that fit my 30" corallife t-5 fixtures which I may pick up longer ones if I need to supplement. Any thoughts on the bulbs as to what would be best for my needs in terms of growth and which would make the corals look best. Thanks

Mariner · 08/10/2008, 05:34 AM

Either set of bulbs will be fine. The 15k's will appear bluer than the 10ks, and that would be my personal choice. The age of the bulbs is important too, because they are subject to spectral shift over time (i.e. the light they put out isn't as good after awhile); most people replace MH bulbs every year or so.
Hope this helps,
Mariner

celtic_Dude · 08/10/2008, 05:42 AM

In terms of age of the bulbs, the 10k's have about 100 hours clocked or so and the 15k's have about 30 hours clocked so not very old. Is there a difference in growth rate between the 15k and the 10k.

Mariner · 08/10/2008, 06:59 AM

Everything else being equal, you'd probably get a little better growth from most corals with the 10k bulbs, but there are several variables. To me, 10k's always make everything look too yellow, especially without good actinic supplemental lighting.
HTH,
Mariner

crvz · 08/10/2008, 07:14 AM

I agree with Mariner. The 10000Ks may result in faster growth, but they're not as visually appealing in my opinion. I'd stick with the 15000K bulbs.

celtic_Dude · 08/10/2008, 08:08 AM

Is it possible for the 15k to be too blue?

Mariner · 08/10/2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by celtic_Dude
Is it possible for the 15k to be too blue?

It really is a matter of YOUR preference. 15k will not be too blue for the corals (I run 20k's on my 135 and the corals look great). Corals will be fine with Kelvin anywhere between 5,000 and 20,000; choose what is most pleasing to your eye.
FWIW,
Mariner

Matt Wilkie · 08/10/2008, 06:42 PM

I just switched from 10k XM to 15k Iwasaki. I love the color way better, even with my PC actinics. I did have good growth with the 10K but after about 10 months It just looked so dull to me.

08/10/2008, 05:25 AM	#1
celtic_Dude Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: blue bell, pa Posts: 55	New to mh lighting. ?'s Hello. Recently I acquired a used fish tank setup and it came with a custom hood with 2 250 mh retrofits built in. The set up also came with 3 15k reef grow bulbs and 2 10k xm bulbs. I am planning on setting up a new talk to host an anemone, some polyps and maybe some other various softies including some torch or hammer coral. What would the better bulbs of choice. My tank also has a built in tray on both sides that fit my 30" corallife t-5 fixtures which I may pick up longer ones if I need to supplement. Any thoughts on the bulbs as to what would be best for my needs in terms of growth and which would make the corals look best. Thanks

08/10/2008, 05:34 AM	#2
Mariner Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,952	Either set of bulbs will be fine. The 15k's will appear bluer than the 10ks, and that would be my personal choice. The age of the bulbs is important too, because they are subject to spectral shift over time (i.e. the light they put out isn't as good after awhile); most people replace MH bulbs every year or so. Hope this helps, Mariner __________________ DESIGN DEMANDS A DESIGNER. ~The perception is that perception is reality, but the reality is that it isn't. Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef; 135g mixed reef

08/10/2008, 06:59 AM	#4
Mariner Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,952	Everything else being equal, you'd probably get a little better growth from most corals with the 10k bulbs, but there are several variables. To me, 10k's always make everything look too yellow, especially without good actinic supplemental lighting. HTH, Mariner __________________ DESIGN DEMANDS A DESIGNER. ~The perception is that perception is reality, but the reality is that it isn't. Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef; 135g mixed reef

08/10/2008, 07:14 AM	#5
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	I agree with Mariner. The 10000Ks may result in faster growth, but they're not as visually appealing in my opinion. I'd stick with the 15000K bulbs. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

08/10/2008, 05:42 AM	#3
celtic_Dude Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: blue bell, pa Posts: 55	In terms of age of the bulbs, the 10k's have about 100 hours clocked or so and the 15k's have about 30 hours clocked so not very old. Is there a difference in growth rate between the 15k and the 10k.

08/10/2008, 08:08 AM	#6
celtic_Dude Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: blue bell, pa Posts: 55	Is it possible for the 15k to be too blue?

08/10/2008, 06:42 PM	#8
Matt Wilkie Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 117	I just switched from 10k XM to 15k Iwasaki. I love the color way better, even with my PC actinics. I did have good growth with the 10K but after about 10 months It just looked so dull to me.