question on 14k 150 hqi's color (pics?)

[Runfrumu]

I guess this would be the best place to ask.

I would like to get a more blue apperance to my tank and have been running 3 150 hqi's 10k with actinic PC's and was wondering if I switched to 14k if it would cause any major problems for clams and such on the bottom of my tank? They are doing good now, but I dont want to jepordize there health just to make my tank look more appealing.


Right now I'm using 420/460 dual output PC bulbs for the blue/actinic, but would like to use 14k on the HQI"s to get the bluer look and use 420's to get the color to really pop on the colors. I've read the 460 is basically just blue light and is more for looks.

Would the 14k hqi's and 420nm bulbs work good together and does anyone have any pics of this combo?

Sorry if I ramble a bit, I type like I think.

[t4zalews]

If you want a more blue look, try using only 460 bulbs, I did this and the blueness I was looking for shone threw. I also used 14k pheonix bulbs as well though. for 150W DE bulbs, those were my favorite

[Runfrumu]

I was wanting more blue, but was wanting to use to 420's to make all the the greens glow. The dual bulbs just dont put out enough of the 420 to really do it.

Does the 150 14k pheonix bulb keep your clams happy? Mine will be over a 6ft long 125 gallon. You think that would be enough for clams on the sand?

Thanks

Mark

[Skeptic_07]

I noticed alot of the 14k lamps either have lots of PAR and yucky color OR they have nice color and lower PAR. Many people like the phoenix lamps, i had one and liked the color and i think they have pretty decent PAR. I would buy again but i like to experiment.

[Runfrumu]

do you think 20k would put off enough light to keep clams on the bottom of a 6ft 125, its at 27 inches deep.

Im just trying to get a bluer halide because im tired of the yellowish white of a 10k and want to get the blue from the halide and use my pc's to get the pop of the 420.

Thanks

[DarG]

Originally posted by Runfrumu
do you think 20k would put off enough light to keep clams on the bottom of a 6ft 125, its at 27 inches deep.

Im just trying to get a bluer halide because im tired of the yellowish white of a 10k and want to get the blue from the halide and use my pc's to get the pop of the 420.

Thanks

Unfotunately, none of the 150 watt 20K's have much par. Not all 14K's are blue. The Ushio 14K is closer to a 10K. I assume you are using the Current USA 10K's. They are pretty bright lamps. Going with a AB 10000 will whiten things up a little bit but not blue. Same with the Ushio 14K, it may be a bit whiter than the 10K but it isnt blue. The Phoenix 14K will give you signifigantly more blue but you will lose some par. You are going to lose a some par going to a blue lamp.
The Radium 20K has pretty good par for a bluer lamp in the 150 watt category but again, you will lose par compared to your 10K's.
The Bluer lamps dont have much energy in the 420nm range so supplementing with 420nm actinic PC's is a logical choice if you like the look.
There is also the Iwasaki 50000K which is a unique bulb. It isnt "blue" like the other bluer lamps, although it has a large blue spike in the output. It also has some actinic energy. The Overall look is a crisp white with more of an actinic-violet/blue tint rather than a typical 460nm blue look. The lamp also has decent par but again, less than the 10K's. The PC actinics will add some more of a violet hue to the color which you may or may not like. The Iwasaki can also be supplemented with blue lamps or with the combo lamps you now use. Depending on the color you like. Personally, the Iwasaki 50000K is my favorite or atleast one of my favorite lamps. But again, it isnt a typical "blue" looking halide and for the record, the 50000K rating is misleading.

The Phoenix, Radium and Iwasaki are probably the 3 I would look at in trying to get more of a blue or bluer look while losing as little par as possible but again, you will lose par compared to the 10K's you have now. The Phoenix is probably the bluest, then the Radium and then the Iwasaki but again, the Iwasaki is unique in that more of an actinic tint than a typical blue. The Radium is a beautiful lamp so is the Ushio 20K for that matter but the Ushio has less par still.

Those are my thoughts anyway ...

[t4zalews]

it really depends on what reflectors you have and the clam placement. I used the 150's with 460 actinics T5 and I had success keeping squamosa and derasas on the sand bed and I put maximas in the rockwork.

this is the blue you would be seeing-->


I've since moved to a 400w radium-->

[arthurlo]

Just a thought, but since you do have three MH bulbs in your system, you could change just one of the bulbs to see how significant of an effect it has on your system.

That would give you the best option of testing out the new bulb, to see if you like the color, if the clams like the bulb, and all without making a huge change to all the lighting at once.

By mixing the bulbs, you may be able to also have areas in your tank that will have higher PAR for growth using the 10K bulbs, and areas where you will have a little lower PAR but more blue.

[marc nichols]

I have 4 clams in our 75 G system under 2 x 150W Phoenix 14K plus 2 x 96W pc actinics. Color is a preference. What I can tell you is that the clams in my tank under these lights over the past 16 months have put on good growth, maintain excellent color and are...well, happy as a clam.

Maximas are in the rocks 14-16" below the halides. The sand lovers are 24".