Anybody using 20K getting good growth?

my2girls · 01/31/2006, 01:10 PM

I'm thinking of switching to 20K from XM 10K. It would be a huge drop in PAR and am worried about growth. Anybody getting good growth from 20K bulbs?

G-money · 01/31/2006, 01:35 PM

What is "good"?

It's a very subjective topic and also depends on the corals you are trying to grow. One bulb is not optimal for all corals involved...
I use primarily 20K (250W XM) and have no complaints.
I do spike it with an hour of XM 10K every day...
Light is only part of the equation, though. Animals need food for growth and corals are no exception.

exoticaquatics · 01/31/2006, 01:42 PM

I am running 20k XM 400w and am getting "good " growth. Good coloration too.

mwood · 01/31/2006, 01:43 PM

just run a 1000w 20k radium. That will give you par!

OK, I'm kidding. I'm with g-money. I have 400w Iwasaki's run a few hours each day.

my2girls · 01/31/2006, 02:31 PM

I agree that the term "good" is subjective. I just enjoy my tank more when just the T5 blue+ bulbs are on. Many of my SPS floresce under actinics (green slimer, orange digi, green birds nest, and several acros). That is the only reason for switching to 20K. I run 250 watt SE on standard ballasts. I don't know if 250w 20K has enough punch.

G-money · 01/31/2006, 02:36 PM

Yes, yours is a legit concern. I forgot to mention that I'm also running my 250W 20Ks with a dual HQI ballast, so that adds about 20% more PAR. I personally wouldn't run 20Ks alone on a standard or electronic ballast, but I know people that do and their tanks look as good as most.

Ti · 01/31/2006, 04:06 PM

well compared to the growth I get at like 14k and 10K, It's not so great.r
but yes, very subjective.

mwood · 01/31/2006, 04:46 PM

Here's a question. Can you run a lower par bulb for a longer time to make up for the lack of par? Or in other words, would you get the same growth running a radium for 8 hours as an Iwasaki for 4 hours?

smoke171 · 01/31/2006, 06:57 PM

I am running dual ballast HQI 2x 250watt 20k and get good growth. These are the only lights I use

prodman · 02/04/2006, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mwood
Here's a question. Can you run a lower par bulb for a longer time to make up for the lack of par? Or in other words, would you get the same growth running a radium for 8 hours as an Iwasaki for 4 hours?

I was wondering that myself. I know there are more 20k users out there who could chime in.

mwood · 02/04/2006, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by prodman
I was wondering that myself. I know there are more 20k users out there who could chime in.

I just posted the question on Sanjay's thread. We'll see what he thinks.

01/31/2006, 01:10 PM	#1
my2girls Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: West Hartford, CT Posts: 2,293	Anybody using 20K getting good growth? I'm thinking of switching to 20K from XM 10K. It would be a huge drop in PAR and am worried about growth. Anybody getting good growth from 20K bulbs? __________________ Always downsizing...

01/31/2006, 01:35 PM	#2
G-money Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 2,250	What is "good"? It's a very subjective topic and also depends on the corals you are trying to grow. One bulb is not optimal for all corals involved... I use primarily 20K (250W XM) and have no complaints. I do spike it with an hour of XM 10K every day... Light is only part of the equation, though. Animals need food for growth and corals are no exception. __________________ I'll shut up now... Current Tank Info: 120 reef, 75 plant

01/31/2006, 02:31 PM	#5
my2girls Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: West Hartford, CT Posts: 2,293	I agree that the term "good" is subjective. I just enjoy my tank more when just the T5 blue+ bulbs are on. Many of my SPS floresce under actinics (green slimer, orange digi, green birds nest, and several acros). That is the only reason for switching to 20K. I run 250 watt SE on standard ballasts. I don't know if 250w 20K has enough punch. __________________ Always downsizing...

01/31/2006, 02:36 PM	#6
G-money Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 2,250	Yes, yours is a legit concern. I forgot to mention that I'm also running my 250W 20Ks with a dual HQI ballast, so that adds about 20% more PAR. I personally wouldn't run 20Ks alone on a standard or electronic ballast, but I know people that do and their tanks look as good as most. __________________ I'll shut up now... Current Tank Info: 120 reef, 75 plant

01/31/2006, 04:06 PM	#7
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	well compared to the growth I get at like 14k and 10K, It's not so great.r but yes, very subjective. __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

01/31/2006, 01:42 PM	#3
exoticaquatics Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Norman, OK Posts: 157	I am running 20k XM 400w and am getting "good " growth. Good coloration too.

01/31/2006, 01:43 PM	#4
mwood Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Winterset, IA 50273 Posts: 2,299	just run a 1000w 20k radium. That will give you par! OK, I'm kidding. I'm with g-money. I have 400w Iwasaki's run a few hours each day.

01/31/2006, 04:46 PM	#8
mwood Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Winterset, IA 50273 Posts: 2,299	Here's a question. Can you run a lower par bulb for a longer time to make up for the lack of par? Or in other words, would you get the same growth running a radium for 8 hours as an Iwasaki for 4 hours?

01/31/2006, 06:57 PM	#9
smoke171 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: East Brunswick, NJ Posts: 359	I am running dual ballast HQI 2x 250watt 20k and get good growth. These are the only lights I use __________________ -John Yeah... but where is the inviting sense of self esteem?