metal halide question

brycerb · 01/31/2010, 06:23 PM

I just bought my first metal halide light for my 54 gallon corner bowfront. It is a 24" with 250 watt 20K metal halide and 2 65 watt actinic compact florecents. One of the compact florecents is burned out and needs replacement. Now the light is a little too blue for me. Should I replace the metal halide with a 10K and put in new actinics or should I leave the metal halide alone and make the actinics 10K's?

El Diablo · 01/31/2010, 07:24 PM

My personal preference would be 14k metal halide bulbs with the power compacts being your actinic.

sedor · 01/31/2010, 07:30 PM

I would leave the PCs as either actinic or 50/50s...preferably actinics and bump the halide down to either a 14 or a 10k. Personally, I would go the 14K route, but that's because I really like the color output they put out.

J.P.Reef · 01/31/2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedor

i would leave the pcs as either actinic or 50/50s...preferably actinics and bump the halide down to either a 14 or a 10k. Personally, i would go the 14k route, but that's because i really like the color output they put out.

+ 1

Misled · 01/31/2010, 08:51 PM

I have a 14k only on my tank. Let me see if I can get you a pic.

Misled · 01/31/2010, 09:29 PM

Ok, know I had to go on the other side of the room to get this, but it should show you some of the color.

vbsaltydog · 01/31/2010, 09:30 PM

I have a 250w MH/2x54w T5 actinics with my MH being a 14k so I know what you mean by the overabundance of blue but you need to figure out what you want from your lights first. 10k are whiter and cause corals to grow faster but with less color, 14k are bluer and cause OK coral growth but with brighter colors, 20k cause slower coral growth but with vibrant coloring. Some people grow corals under 10k and then "color them up" under 14k or 20k after they have gotten larger. It is up to you as to what you want. If you dont have corals or dont care about their growth rate/coloring then go to actinic fluorescent bulbs and a 10k MH to get the white shimmering light effect.

P.S. Your fluorescents are likely T5 and not Power Compacts if they are housed with MH and the fixture is recently manufactured.

brycerb · 02/01/2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbsaltydog

I have a 250w MH/2x54w T5 actinics with my MH being a 14k so I know what you mean by the overabundance of blue but you need to figure out what you want from your lights first. 10k are whiter and cause corals to grow faster but with less color, 14k are bluer and cause OK coral growth but with brighter colors, 20k cause slower coral growth but with vibrant coloring. Some people grow corals under 10k and then "color them up" under 14k or 20k after they have gotten larger. It is up to you as to what you want. If you dont have corals or dont care about their growth rate/coloring then go to actinic fluorescent bulbs and a 10k MH to get the white shimmering light effect.

P.S. Your fluorescents are likely T5 and not Power Compacts if they are housed with MH and the fixture is recently manufactured.

The actinics are PC's. I will probably go with a 14k metal halide and new actinics, thanks everyone. The picture really helped.

stingythingy45 · 02/01/2010, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Diablo

My personal preference would be 14k metal halide bulbs with the power compacts being your actinic.

+1

14 K Ushio bulb with the PC actinics left the way they are.(except for the burned on)
Look into Tru 03 actinics.

01/31/2010, 06:23 PM	#1
brycerb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Isle of wight, VA Posts: 541	metal halide question I just bought my first metal halide light for my 54 gallon corner bowfront. It is a 24" with 250 watt 20K metal halide and 2 65 watt actinic compact florecents. One of the compact florecents is burned out and needs replacement. Now the light is a little too blue for me. Should I replace the metal halide with a 10K and put in new actinics or should I leave the metal halide alone and make the actinics 10K's? __________________ -Luckily, my wife is reef safe so I can use my normal income for this hobby. -My cichlids love RO waste! Current Tank Info: 7.5 gallon box with water in it.

01/31/2010, 07:24 PM	#2
El Diablo Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sunset Hills Posts: 2,892	My personal preference would be 14k metal halide bulbs with the power compacts being your actinic. __________________ :) :) Hello Thanks Todd ___________________________________________

01/31/2010, 07:30 PM	#3
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	I would leave the PCs as either actinic or 50/50s...preferably actinics and bump the halide down to either a 14 or a 10k. Personally, I would go the 14K route, but that's because I really like the color output they put out. __________________ Ryan

01/31/2010, 08:51 PM	#5
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	I have a 14k only on my tank. Let me see if I can get you a pic. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

01/31/2010, 09:29 PM	#6
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Ok, know I had to go on the other side of the room to get this, but it should show you some of the color. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

01/31/2010, 09:30 PM	#7
vbsaltydog Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Beach, FL. Posts: 603	I have a 250w MH/2x54w T5 actinics with my MH being a 14k so I know what you mean by the overabundance of blue but you need to figure out what you want from your lights first. 10k are whiter and cause corals to grow faster but with less color, 14k are bluer and cause OK coral growth but with brighter colors, 20k cause slower coral growth but with vibrant coloring. Some people grow corals under 10k and then "color them up" under 14k or 20k after they have gotten larger. It is up to you as to what you want. If you dont have corals or dont care about their growth rate/coloring then go to actinic fluorescent bulbs and a 10k MH to get the white shimmering light effect. P.S. Your fluorescents are likely T5 and not Power Compacts if they are housed with MH and the fixture is recently manufactured.