Poll - What's Your Metal Halide Temp (K)?

llebcire · 01/02/2007, 07:28 PM

Just curious as to what everyone's using:

1. 6,500k
2. 10,000k
3. 14,000k
4. 20,000k

I realize I left out 13k and 15k (vote 14k if you would) but I was just looking for a general idea.

I'm thinking of changing from 10k and am deciding between 14k and 20k.

Thanks!

mpoletti · 01/02/2007, 08:01 PM

I use the 12.5 from Giesemann

mwood · 01/02/2007, 09:15 PM

I use EVC14k and XM10k mixed, but I am going to replace the 10k's with Ushio14k's after seeing them. Very nice!

phishcrazee · 01/02/2007, 10:30 PM

I have the 14k now.

cyberdude47 · 01/02/2007, 11:37 PM

XM 20K 400w All the way

JPA · 01/02/2007, 11:49 PM

Not all 14Ks are the same so I would find a bulb that you like and stick with it. I think my 12K reeflux is bluer than my 14K xm.

ReeferKeith · 01/02/2007, 11:57 PM

I have been happy with my 2EVC 14k's.

ACBlinky · 01/03/2007, 01:37 AM

10K XMs here, and very happy

llebcire · 01/03/2007, 06:59 PM

Looks like it's a toss-up between 10k and 14k so I think I'll try the 14's.

Thanks all!

BLKTANG · 01/03/2007, 07:38 PM

20k de

SuperNerd · 01/03/2007, 07:52 PM

Just bought some 10K XMs.

mwood · 01/03/2007, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by llebcire
Looks like it's a toss-up between 10k and 14k so I think I'll try the 14's.

Thanks all!

Which 14k's? 14k bulbs range from very white to as blue as a 20k. The label doesn't say much about the color of the bulb.

llebcire · 01/04/2007, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mwood
Which 14k's? 14k bulbs range from very white to as blue as a 20k. The label doesn't say much about the color of the bulb.

I've been using the Plus brand metal halides since 2004 without much incident, you hopefully remember my (your) frogspawn as well as the coloration of the green/orange/blue encrusting montis that I have so the corals must not mind the bulbs.

When I started in this hobby I qickly realized that with two similar products, the one marked "reef" was typically 2-5 times more money than the other, therefore I wanted an alternative for the halides. Inside Sun is a greenhouse supplier and sells the Plus 250w MH's for $35 shipped. I initially got the 250w ballast/reflector/light/etc. for $130 each.

If I knew the bulbs would work with my ballast, I would try the bulbs talked about on eBay
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZwhulljr in this thread

I have noticed in other threads that two bulbs marked "x" kelvin can be wildly different in actual output!

The 10k's that I have, possibly as much the brand as anything, are a little on the yellowish side for me and I am looking to try the 14's for a little more "pop" in the colors.

llebcire · 01/05/2007, 07:06 AM

Looks like a race between the 10's and 14's with the 20's starting to come out of nowhere!

dougchambers · 01/05/2007, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by llebcire
Looks like a race between the 10's and 14's with the 20's starting to come out of nowhere!

Don't forget, going from a 10,000K to 20,000K will drop your PAR significantly and from what most people say, shorten your bulb life. Are you planning to run any supplemental actinic?

-Doug

jskaras · 01/05/2007, 09:38 AM

XM 20K 175X3 with 4x110 dual actinics

llebcire · 01/05/2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dougchambers
Don't forget, going from a 10,000K to 20,000K will drop your PAR significantly and from what most people say, shorten your bulb life. Are you planning to run any supplemental actinic?

-Doug

I just ordered the 14k's but I run 4 x 65w Current Dual Actinic PC's along with the 2 x 250w MH's on a 75g.

I sometimes wonder if actinic is for our benefit, i.e. coloration, or if they are actually needed with the halides. With this in mind, I will add another 250w to my 180g (3 total) but I may stay with the current 4 x 65 PC's if they would be adequate.

Lighting period is PC from 7 am to 10 pm and MH from 12 pm - 8 pm.

MinibowMatt · 01/05/2007, 11:29 AM

just switched my XM15k for XM 10k... 15K= no par!

mwood · 01/05/2007, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MinibowMatt
just switched my XM15k for XM 10k... 15K= no par!

XM15k=no par, the 15k/14k/12k rating is irrelevant. 400w Ushio 14k bulbs have a very nice white look and a per around 160.

GSMguy · 01/05/2007, 01:08 PM

20k ushio i love it looks great no actinic needed

llebcire · 01/08/2007, 07:14 AM

Almost a split between the 10's and 14's!

llebcire · 01/10/2007, 07:34 AM

Selfish bump from page #10.

This forum moves almost as fast as the newbie forum!

llebcire · 01/15/2007, 06:12 AM

Thanks for all the votes!

Unfortunately, this poll keeps dropping out of sight with the activity in this forum.

brimil · 01/15/2007, 08:44 AM

I use 14K, i like the color

BrokeColoReefer · 01/15/2007, 08:53 AM

I use 4x250 14k HQI's No other supplement. I love the look and color of my tank. Im sticking with 14k's.

View Poll Results: What color are your halides?
6,500k	6	3.75%
10,000k	55	34.38%
14,000k	71	44.38%
20,000k	28	17.50%
Voters: 160. You may not vote on this poll

01/02/2007, 08:01 PM	#2
mpoletti You'll never walk alone Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 18,245	I use the 12.5 from Giesemann __________________ -Mark a.) I believe... The curse is a reality b.) Fish poop is your friend c.) Why chase numbers? #CoralsLiketoDisco #ReefSerenity

01/02/2007, 10:30 PM	#4
phishcrazee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Riverside, IA Posts: 833	I have the 14k now. __________________ Fawn Current Tank Info: Tearing down a 75g, setting up a 24g planted/reef and a 29g frag tank

01/02/2007, 11:57 PM	#7
ReeferKeith Premium Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Tulsa, Ok. Posts: 580	I have been happy with my 2EVC 14k's. __________________ Keith OMAS Member Current Tank Info: 90 reef, 12 gallon mantis

01/03/2007, 01:37 AM	#8
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	10K XMs here, and very happy __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

01/02/2007, 07:28 PM	#1
llebcire Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 1,210	Poll - What's Your Metal Halide Temp (K)? Just curious as to what everyone's using: 1. 6,500k 2. 10,000k 3. 14,000k 4. 20,000k I realize I left out 13k and 15k (vote 14k if you would) but I was just looking for a general idea. I'm thinking of changing from 10k and am deciding between 14k and 20k. Thanks!

01/02/2007, 09:15 PM	#3
mwood Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Winterset, IA 50273 Posts: 2,299	I use EVC14k and XM10k mixed, but I am going to replace the 10k's with Ushio14k's after seeing them. Very nice!

01/02/2007, 11:37 PM	#5
cyberdude47 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 154	XM 20K 400w All the way

01/02/2007, 11:49 PM	#6
JPA Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 217	Not all 14Ks are the same so I would find a bulb that you like and stick with it. I think my 12K reeflux is bluer than my 14K xm.

01/03/2007, 06:59 PM	#9
llebcire Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 1,210	Looks like it's a toss-up between 10k and 14k so I think I'll try the 14's. Thanks all!

01/03/2007, 07:38 PM	#10
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	20k de __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

01/03/2007, 07:52 PM	#11
SuperNerd Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: SoCal/Left Side- USA Posts: 4,572	Just bought some 10K XMs. __________________ I said fraggit! Current Tank Info: M-728 Combat Engineer (based on M60 hull). M-3 Lee Medium (British version with squatter).

01/05/2007, 07:06 AM	#14
llebcire Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 1,210	Looks like a race between the 10's and 14's with the 20's starting to come out of nowhere!

01/05/2007, 09:38 AM	#16
jskaras Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 66	XM 20K 175X3 with 4x110 dual actinics

01/05/2007, 11:29 AM	#18
MinibowMatt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In Another Times Forgotten Space Posts: 3,389	just switched my XM15k for XM 10k... 15K= no par! __________________ ----------------------- Matt Prop & Save! "Sure dont know what I'm going for, but I'm gonna go for it for sure!"

01/05/2007, 01:08 PM	#20
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	20k ushio i love it looks great no actinic needed __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

01/08/2007, 07:14 AM	#21
llebcire Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 1,210	Almost a split between the 10's and 14's!

01/10/2007, 07:34 AM	#22
llebcire Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 1,210	Selfish bump from page #10. This forum moves almost as fast as the newbie forum!

01/15/2007, 06:12 AM	#23
llebcire Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 1,210	Thanks for all the votes! Unfortunately, this poll keeps dropping out of sight with the activity in this forum.

01/15/2007, 08:44 AM	#24
brimil Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Gates, NY Posts: 209	I use 14K, i like the color

01/15/2007, 08:53 AM	#25
BrokeColoReefer Hermit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountains of Boulder County. Posts: 2,289	I use 4x250 14k HQI's No other supplement. I love the look and color of my tank. Im sticking with 14k's. __________________ Stay fishy my friends. Current Tank Info: 300 gallon built in plumbed to the basement. 30 gallon surge for flow, GEO protein skimmer, litermeter 3's for continuous water change (1 gallon per day), calc reactors, kalk reactors, 600w MHx2, 6" DSB, 1000 lbs of live rock (300 display, 700 sump)