12k vs 14k

Windirmere · 02/05/2014, 09:27 PM

Im looking at lighting for my new tank build coming up and ran into a problem. With the lack of other reefers in the area and me still being a noob what are the merits of both of these spectrum's, they seem to be the most popular. If you have any insights on either (pictures are a big plus) i would love to hear it! Ill be searching my the web eagerly waiting your replies!

So far all I have come up with is that higher the K the more blue the tanks looks?

Duvallj · 02/05/2014, 11:44 PM

Unfortunately photos only go so far. With white balance a 14k could look like a 10k. The best methods is to have the whitebalance set and use the same setting across different spectrums. Again the pictures still may not reflect the true spectrum. Other factors like your computer screen can also make this harder.

If that wasn't a pain it then matters what kind of light source you are trying to photograph. Leds are notoriously known to look much more blue in pictures. I've personally have found this hard to correct for.

And then, even then once you get past just taking a photo, manufacturer A may say thier bulb is a 14 k while manufactuer B may call the same bulb a 12k. A good example is my 150hqi. A radium 20k is said to be whiter than a phoenix 14k. One would think the 20k should be alot more blue. Then at 250watt the radium 20k looks more blue than the 150watt radium 20k...

So pretty much its more of an estimate than a good measure. If you are looking to new lighting I would first choose what kind of lighting you want.
If you go t5 get a recommended combo to start. If you want more blue, swap in more blue lights.
If you go metal halide, add actinic suppliments. Leds are good for this. This way you can just get a 10k bulb and adjust the leds to add in more blue
If you go led, easy. Just adjust the fixture to your preference.

Its really just that easy. Just plan ahead and you can adjust the color to your liking.

Windirmere · 02/06/2014, 03:45 PM

I have been stuck deciding what lights i want, I have been set on hydra 52's but then saw a few videos on an apex controlled Build my Led lights. I have a 50g 36x18x18 and was planning for 2 Ai Hydra's but after seeing a Apex unit in action and the Build my Led fixtures i was going to go with 3 36 inch fixtures and the apex for about the same price of 2x hydra's :S. I just dont know enough about custom lay outs but I liked the Look of both the 12k and 14k fixtures. But since i was planning on 3 fixtures im a bit confused maybe 2x 12k fixtures and 1x super actinic or 2x 14k and 1x12k or 3x14k or 2x12k and 1x 14k :S I have no idea what it would look like.

02/05/2014, 09:27 PM	#1
Windirmere Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Courteny BC Canada Posts: 452	12k vs 14k Im looking at lighting for my new tank build coming up and ran into a problem. With the lack of other reefers in the area and me still being a noob what are the merits of both of these spectrum's, they seem to be the most popular. If you have any insights on either (pictures are a big plus) i would love to hear it! Ill be searching my the web eagerly waiting your replies! So far all I have come up with is that higher the K the more blue the tanks looks?

02/05/2014, 11:44 PM	#2
Duvallj Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 379	Unfortunately photos only go so far. With white balance a 14k could look like a 10k. The best methods is to have the whitebalance set and use the same setting across different spectrums. Again the pictures still may not reflect the true spectrum. Other factors like your computer screen can also make this harder. If that wasn't a pain it then matters what kind of light source you are trying to photograph. Leds are notoriously known to look much more blue in pictures. I've personally have found this hard to correct for. And then, even then once you get past just taking a photo, manufacturer A may say thier bulb is a 14 k while manufactuer B may call the same bulb a 12k. A good example is my 150hqi. A radium 20k is said to be whiter than a phoenix 14k. One would think the 20k should be alot more blue. Then at 250watt the radium 20k looks more blue than the 150watt radium 20k... So pretty much its more of an estimate than a good measure. If you are looking to new lighting I would first choose what kind of lighting you want. If you go t5 get a recommended combo to start. If you want more blue, swap in more blue lights. If you go metal halide, add actinic suppliments. Leds are good for this. This way you can just get a 10k bulb and adjust the leds to add in more blue If you go led, easy. Just adjust the fixture to your preference. Its really just that easy. Just plan ahead and you can adjust the color to your liking. __________________ If it's not broke, fix it til it does. -Managment proverb Current Tank Info: 180gal softie reef

02/06/2014, 03:45 PM	#3
Windirmere Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Courteny BC Canada Posts: 452	I have been stuck deciding what lights i want, I have been set on hydra 52's but then saw a few videos on an apex controlled Build my Led lights. I have a 50g 36x18x18 and was planning for 2 Ai Hydra's but after seeing a Apex unit in action and the Build my Led fixtures i was going to go with 3 36 inch fixtures and the apex for about the same price of 2x hydra's :S. I just dont know enough about custom lay outs but I liked the Look of both the 12k and 14k fixtures. But since i was planning on 3 fixtures im a bit confused maybe 2x 12k fixtures and 1x super actinic or 2x 14k and 1x12k or 3x14k or 2x12k and 1x 14k :S I have no idea what it would look like.