MH Lighting - which K?

Ripside · 08/28/2006, 01:31 PM

I'm looking at a retro-fit MH kit with dual 175W MH lights.

The bulb choices are 10K, 14K, and 20K.

Which temperature rating is the best all-around, for fish, and soft corals, and anemone's? I probably won't have stony corals for a long time, my parrotfish would probably nibble them to death.

I have a 4x65 PC hood which I plan to continue using, with moon lights, that already has 2 x 65W actinic 03's in it.

Travis L. Stevens · 08/28/2006, 01:43 PM

It's all up to you, really. The intensity is what is really doing the job. 10,000 Kelvin will give quicker growth, but is white. 14,000 Kelvin gives a pretty broad range and isn't really good at any one thing over the other. It has a rather light blue look to it. 20,000 Kelvin will yield some of the best color but will have slowed growth compared to 10,000 Kelvin bulbs. It is usually a deep blue. All of this depends on the bulb and ballast combination that you have.

Ripside · 08/28/2006, 01:45 PM

Ahh, well, I want healthy specimens over looks, so 10K, or maybe 14K.

I might hit the LFS and ask them to compare what they have over their tanks. There's one reef tank setup that is very, very blueish, but everything in it is growing like mad.

jasper24 · 08/28/2006, 01:46 PM

I agree with the above from Travis. I run a 14K Phoenix 150W with 2 x 65W actinics. Color and growth are "good". I have just ordered a 20K Radium to see if my colors look even better. If needed I can change my actinics to 50/50 bulbs if it is too blue.

Johnbob · 08/28/2006, 02:04 PM

Good advice from all above, I have run a 14K 175W on my electronic ballast for about 2 1/2 years now and still get good growth and appearance.

skeeter-doc · 08/28/2006, 02:26 PM

I too have 14K bulbs, ...

TOURKID · 08/28/2006, 02:31 PM

14k bulb here too. I like it. Had a 10k and it was too 'white' for me. 20 might be to much blue for me lol

catdoc · 08/28/2006, 03:08 PM

I really like the look of the 14K and I see decent growth with it. I was running 10K w/actinics but still thought it was too yellow. Now I have 14K (400W) with the 50:50 vhos (not as blue as the straight actinics I was running) and like this color much better. In my other tank, I use the 14K (250W) with no actinics and that looks just as nice. It's all your preference though.

want2reef · 08/28/2006, 07:54 PM

I like 14k's the best.

Ripside · 08/28/2006, 08:05 PM

Is it a good idea to run Actinics or other "daylight" lighting, with 14K MH lights? Or is it more an aesthetic issue? Would 2x175w 14K's be enough, color-wise, for both fish, inverts, and corals? I may go with 250W if I'm not going to use my PC lighting. I'd probably pick up separate moonlight strips in that case.

JRistau81 · 08/28/2006, 08:08 PM

Yet another 14K'er here!

Ciarán · 08/29/2006, 04:39 PM

175W would be more than enough IMHO. I use a 150W 10,000k MH on my 20G. In the past i used 14,000K on the 275G. Im using 10,000K because i have a Tridacna Squamosa, Heteractis Magnifica and some SPS under the 150w and needed the extra PAR that spectrum brings to grow them as fast as normal. I originally had the magnifica under 14K. As soon as i switched to 10k its growth and tentacle extension improved almost immediately and my clams grow at the same speed under 10,000K 150W as they did under 14,000K 250W halides. I prefer the 150W due to the fact it does not interfere with the growth of my mangroves due to the lesser extent of heat emitted - not to mention not needing to cool the tank as much. The power bills are easier on the eye too.

14,000K is more attractive overall definitely, but if you run powerful actinics concurrently, that will go a long way to offsetting the "whiteness" of 10,000K. After a while you get used to it and I prefer good growth to that little bit more sparkle and fluorescence.

STEELERFAN747 · 08/29/2006, 07:09 PM

Well. I run 14k's with dual actinics and have found it to be a little too blue and not bright enough. I liked it better when I ran the 10k with duel actinics, but may try 50/50 with the 14k.

Ripside · 09/12/2006, 08:08 AM

I got 10K's, but they're used (a couple years old), and it ended up replacing one of them, just to get a feel for the color, and its too blue/purple for my tastes. I do have 2 PC 65w actinics, which makes things even bluer.

Is a violet/purplish hue normal for 14k's?

I think I'm going to replace the other old 10K with a 10K, rather than 14K...

After I get over the sticker shock of MH bulbs, I'll replace the 14K with a 10K.

MCary · 09/12/2006, 11:50 AM

It also depends on what your livestock is. If your planning a bunch of SPS, I vote 10K.

Ripside · 09/12/2006, 08:16 PM

Right now I have a bunch of soft corals, the only stony is a flowerpot. I'm still leaning towards 10K because the 14K's were too violet-blue.

08/28/2006, 01:31 PM	#1
Ripside Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 149	MH Lighting - which K? I'm looking at a retro-fit MH kit with dual 175W MH lights. The bulb choices are 10K, 14K, and 20K. Which temperature rating is the best all-around, for fish, and soft corals, and anemone's? I probably won't have stony corals for a long time, my parrotfish would probably nibble them to death. I have a 4x65 PC hood which I plan to continue using, with moon lights, that already has 2 x 65W actinic 03's in it.

08/28/2006, 01:43 PM	#2
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	It's all up to you, really. The intensity is what is really doing the job. 10,000 Kelvin will give quicker growth, but is white. 14,000 Kelvin gives a pretty broad range and isn't really good at any one thing over the other. It has a rather light blue look to it. 20,000 Kelvin will yield some of the best color but will have slowed growth compared to 10,000 Kelvin bulbs. It is usually a deep blue. All of this depends on the bulb and ballast combination that you have. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/28/2006, 02:04 PM	#5
Johnbob Reefer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 49	Good advice from all above, I have run a 14K 175W on my electronic ballast for about 2 1/2 years now and still get good growth and appearance. __________________ "Chance favors only the prepared mind." Louis Pasteur Current Tank Info: Display tank is 55 gal reef with 330W VHO, 120 lbs LR, ~40 species of soft and LPS corals, and with a breeding pair of tomato clowns, TurboFlotor 1000 skimmer with a Caulerpa refugium.

08/28/2006, 02:31 PM	#7
TOURKID Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vegas baby, Vegas Posts: 4,371	14k bulb here too. I like it. Had a 10k and it was too 'white' for me. 20 might be to much blue for me lol __________________ RISK more than others think is safe CARE more than others think is wise DREAM more than others think is practical EXPECT more than others think is possible Current Tank Info: nada

08/28/2006, 03:08 PM	#8
catdoc Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 1,449	I really like the look of the 14K and I see decent growth with it. I was running 10K w/actinics but still thought it was too yellow. Now I have 14K (400W) with the 50:50 vhos (not as blue as the straight actinics I was running) and like this color much better. In my other tank, I use the 14K (250W) with no actinics and that looks just as nice. It's all your preference though. __________________ Christy Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. -George Eliot Current Tank Info: 55 gallon w/spawning onyx percs, bangaii pair & pink spotted goby w/ gbta, softies

08/28/2006, 01:45 PM	#3
Ripside Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 149	Ahh, well, I want healthy specimens over looks, so 10K, or maybe 14K. I might hit the LFS and ask them to compare what they have over their tanks. There's one reef tank setup that is very, very blueish, but everything in it is growing like mad.

08/28/2006, 01:46 PM	#4
jasper24 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 2,120	I agree with the above from Travis. I run a 14K Phoenix 150W with 2 x 65W actinics. Color and growth are "good". I have just ordered a 20K Radium to see if my colors look even better. If needed I can change my actinics to 50/50 bulbs if it is too blue.

08/28/2006, 02:26 PM	#6
skeeter-doc Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: TX Posts: 1,643	I too have 14K bulbs, ...

08/28/2006, 07:54 PM	#9
want2reef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tracy CA. Posts: 1,353	I like 14k's the best. __________________ Kevin The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. Current Tank Info: CADlights Artison II 165g, 50g sump,Aquamaxx Q-3 Skimmer, AI Hydra 26 HD.

08/28/2006, 08:05 PM	#10
Ripside Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 149	Is it a good idea to run Actinics or other "daylight" lighting, with 14K MH lights? Or is it more an aesthetic issue? Would 2x175w 14K's be enough, color-wise, for both fish, inverts, and corals? I may go with 250W if I'm not going to use my PC lighting. I'd probably pick up separate moonlight strips in that case.

08/28/2006, 08:08 PM	#11
JRistau81 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Springfield, Illinois Posts: 264	Yet another 14K'er here! __________________ I like pigs. Dogs look up to us; cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals. - Winston Churchill Current Tank Info: 150 gallon, 2 Hamilton 400w 14K Metal halide, Red Sea Berlin Skimmer (Don't scoff, it works well), 150-200 lbs LR, 50 lbs LS, 100 lbs Southdown...anything else?

08/29/2006, 04:39 PM	#12
Ciarán Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 268	175W would be more than enough IMHO. I use a 150W 10,000k MH on my 20G. In the past i used 14,000K on the 275G. Im using 10,000K because i have a Tridacna Squamosa, Heteractis Magnifica and some SPS under the 150w and needed the extra PAR that spectrum brings to grow them as fast as normal. I originally had the magnifica under 14K. As soon as i switched to 10k its growth and tentacle extension improved almost immediately and my clams grow at the same speed under 10,000K 150W as they did under 14,000K 250W halides. I prefer the 150W due to the fact it does not interfere with the growth of my mangroves due to the lesser extent of heat emitted - not to mention not needing to cool the tank as much. The power bills are easier on the eye too. 14,000K is more attractive overall definitely, but if you run powerful actinics concurrently, that will go a long way to offsetting the "whiteness" of 10,000K. After a while you get used to it and I prefer good growth to that little bit more sparkle and fluorescence. __________________ "You can take the man out of the bog, not the bog out of the man." Saying in Ireland basically meaning - Once a hick always a hick!! Current Tank Info: 20g anemone species tank with some zoos, LPS, SPS, Ocellaris and Flameback Angel - 275 gal empy due to study!

08/29/2006, 07:09 PM	#13
STEELERFAN747 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Miami Fl. Posts: 1,252	Well. I run 14k's with dual actinics and have found it to be a little too blue and not bright enough. I liked it better when I ran the 10k with duel actinics, but may try 50/50 with the 14k. __________________ First they said "practice makes perfect", then they told me "nobody's perfect", so I just stopped practicing. Current Tank Info: 46g, 22" rimless starphire ReefSavvy cube, Speedwave DC 790 return pump, Custom acrylic sump/fuge, set of Tunze 6055 PH's with multi controller 7095, Cadlights PLS-100 skimmer, Apex controller, Tunze osmolator & Maxspect Razor 120w led light fixture

09/12/2006, 08:08 AM	#14
Ripside Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 149	I got 10K's, but they're used (a couple years old), and it ended up replacing one of them, just to get a feel for the color, and its too blue/purple for my tastes. I do have 2 PC 65w actinics, which makes things even bluer. Is a violet/purplish hue normal for 14k's? I think I'm going to replace the other old 10K with a 10K, rather than 14K... After I get over the sticker shock of MH bulbs, I'll replace the 14K with a 10K.

09/12/2006, 11:50 AM	#15
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	It also depends on what your livestock is. If your planning a bunch of SPS, I vote 10K.

09/12/2006, 08:16 PM	#16
Ripside Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 149	Right now I have a bunch of soft corals, the only stony is a flowerpot. I'm still leaning towards 10K because the 14K's were too violet-blue.