14000 or 20000

stuccodude · 05/03/2007, 04:33 PM

i finally purchased some 250 wt metal halides from e bay and i have a choice of 14000 bulb or 20000 i have a basic 130 gallon i want your basic easy to care for(untill i learn more) corals, thanks

oct2274 · 05/03/2007, 04:57 PM

14k will be brighter and less blue than 20k. It really is all preference as far as looks beyond that. If you want to do SPS corals you might prefer the 14k just because it has more light output. Some 14k's are very blue and others are fairly white with a tint of blue. Check out the lighting section on the forums here.

Joshua1023 · 05/03/2007, 05:04 PM

I've heard that 14k will get the sps corals to grow faster if that is what your after.

Nano Chris · 05/03/2007, 05:14 PM

I am debating on getting 14k bulbs for my tank, i hear they look better, i would go for the 14k if i were you.

elegance coral · 05/03/2007, 05:15 PM

You will be able to keep a much wider varity of animals under the 14K. I wouldn't waist my money on a 20K bulb unless it was a 1000W or something.

stuccodude · 05/03/2007, 07:15 PM

thank you

Young Frankenstein · 05/03/2007, 07:18 PM

Nope they are not teling you all the story because they are using 14k with actinicks. Get 20 k so you dont have to get actinicks.

OmegaTassadar · 05/03/2007, 11:54 PM

I run one of each on my 75 gallon. 20k on the left and 14k on the right, both hamilton bulbs. Been about 3 months and I've noticed that the right side has slightly better growth. But water chemistry has to be added in to the factor. I have sps growing better with the 14k, but my zoas and rics are growing better on the left side with the 20k.
Like Joshua1023 said 14k would give you better growth.

fareforce · 05/04/2007, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by oct2274
14k will be brighter and less blue than 20k.

This is only partially true.. To the human eye, yes 14k will appear brighter, but both can give off the same amount of light.

IMO I light the appearance of 14k myself. 20k is a little to blue for me. I run a 14k by itself. No additional actinics.

bertoni · 05/04/2007, 01:34 AM

Without knowing the brand of the bulb, we can only guess as to what the difference will be. 20,000 K bulbs are usually more blue and truly dimmer (less energy-efficient) than 14,000 K bulb. Thus, you might see more coral growth with the 14,000 K bulb if the corals would be light-limited with the 20,000 K bulbs. I run tanks with 15,000 K bulbs and no actinics and like the looks, but a lot of people prefer a lot more blue.

Scuba_Steve · 05/04/2007, 04:15 AM

20k isnt only dimmer to the human eye. PAR analysis has show they have less photosynthetic wavelengths time and time again. Get the 14k, and supplement with actinics if you wish, not necessary.

elegance coral · 05/04/2007, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 0 Agios
Nope they are not teling you all the story because they are using 14k with actinicks. Get 20 k so you dont have to get actinicks.

Using 14k with actinics is not the same as running 20k with no actinics. 20k dosn't have the power to fuel photosynthesis like the 14K. In order to get the same PAR value out of a 20K light you would need to up the wattage quite a bit. Running 14k with actinics gives you much more control over photoperiod. Dusk and dawn, the duration of bright light it receives in the middle of the day. If you run 20k alone you have no control over these issues.

And now you have......The rest of the story.

whoopper · 05/04/2007, 09:37 PM

I am using 14k without actinics and it works great for me! If i were you would get 14k.

Southern Boy · 05/04/2007, 09:53 PM

I agree with elagence, They need a dawn to dusk set up.I am running 2 250 14k's and 320 watts of pc 03's. You can see the diference from when the actinics are on to the halides.It gives them a feeling of real nature. Sun braking the horizen, mid day ,and sun set. And don't forget night time. How would you feel if it just all the sudden got very bright?

05/03/2007, 04:33 PM	#1
stuccodude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: sanger Posts: 1,040	14000 or 20000 i finally purchased some 250 wt metal halides from e bay and i have a choice of 14000 bulb or 20000 i have a basic 130 gallon i want your basic easy to care for(untill i learn more) corals, thanks __________________ fear the wrath of patrick willis!!! no offense is safe. Current Tank Info: 240 all the goodies,hydra 26 led lights, chiller etc

05/03/2007, 05:04 PM	#3
Joshua1023 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reading PA Posts: 1,526	I've heard that 14k will get the sps corals to grow faster if that is what your after. __________________ Only bad things happen fast. Only bad thing happen fast. Only bad things happen fast. Man,I'm friggen hard-headed!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl tank,Coralife 14K MH lights,2 Current dual daylight/actinic 40 watt fixtures, tidepool sump,Coralife SS 220 protein skimmer,six inch sand bed w/ plenum, Current Prime Tower 1/3 hp Chiller,RedSea ozonizer w/ orp

05/03/2007, 05:14 PM	#4
Nano Chris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,758	I am debating on getting 14k bulbs for my tank, i hear they look better, i would go for the 14k if i were you. __________________ Chris ------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 130! Setup (Just got back into the hobby) Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon RedSeaMax!

05/03/2007, 05:15 PM	#5
elegance coral They call me EC Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: central Florida Posts: 6,208	You will be able to keep a much wider varity of animals under the 14K. I wouldn't waist my money on a 20K bulb unless it was a 1000W or something. __________________ "Most of the failures with marine aquaria are due to lack of knowledge of the biological processes that occur in the aquarium." Martin A. Moe, Jr. "A scientist seeks the truth, wherever that may lead. A believer already knows the truth, and cannot be swayed no matter how compelling the evidence." Current Tank Info: I'm trying to see how many tanks will fit in my house before the wife loses it.

05/03/2007, 07:15 PM	#6
stuccodude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: sanger Posts: 1,040	thank you __________________ fear the wrath of patrick willis!!! no offense is safe. Current Tank Info: 240 all the goodies,hydra 26 led lights, chiller etc

05/03/2007, 04:57 PM	#2
oct2274 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,347	14k will be brighter and less blue than 20k. It really is all preference as far as looks beyond that. If you want to do SPS corals you might prefer the 14k just because it has more light output. Some 14k's are very blue and others are fairly white with a tint of blue. Check out the lighting section on the forums here.

05/03/2007, 07:18 PM	#7
Young Frankenstein Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami Florida. Posts: 3,842	Nope they are not teling you all the story because they are using 14k with actinicks. Get 20 k so you dont have to get actinicks.

05/03/2007, 11:54 PM	#8
OmegaTassadar Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Elk Grove, California Posts: 51	I run one of each on my 75 gallon. 20k on the left and 14k on the right, both hamilton bulbs. Been about 3 months and I've noticed that the right side has slightly better growth. But water chemistry has to be added in to the factor. I have sps growing better with the 14k, but my zoas and rics are growing better on the left side with the 20k. Like Joshua1023 said 14k would give you better growth.

05/04/2007, 01:34 AM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Without knowing the brand of the bulb, we can only guess as to what the difference will be. 20,000 K bulbs are usually more blue and truly dimmer (less energy-efficient) than 14,000 K bulb. Thus, you might see more coral growth with the 14,000 K bulb if the corals would be light-limited with the 20,000 K bulbs. I run tanks with 15,000 K bulbs and no actinics and like the looks, but a lot of people prefer a lot more blue. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/04/2007, 04:15 AM	#11
Scuba_Steve Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pooler, Ga Posts: 1,342	20k isnt only dimmer to the human eye. PAR analysis has show they have less photosynthetic wavelengths time and time again. Get the 14k, and supplement with actinics if you wish, not necessary. __________________ 40g DIY AIO. DT Size is 27"x18"x17" SCA-301 skimmer, DIY ATS 4"x4" 1 cube setup, Ocean Revive 120w LED, Quiet One 3000, Jager 150w TBS Rock

05/04/2007, 09:37 PM	#13
whoopper Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 111	I am using 14k without actinics and it works great for me! If i were you would get 14k. __________________ LINA

05/04/2007, 09:53 PM	#14
Southern Boy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fort pierce, Florida Posts: 671	I agree with elagence, They need a dawn to dusk set up.I am running 2 250 14k's and 320 watts of pc 03's. You can see the diference from when the actinics are on to the halides.It gives them a feeling of real nature. Sun braking the horizen, mid day ,and sun set. And don't forget night time. How would you feel if it just all the sudden got very bright?