12K-20K Halide More Blue/Bio Luminescence?

[Todd March]

Is it true that the newer higher Kelvin halide bulbs (12K, 14K, 20K) have a much more noticable blue hue to the eye, providing for the bio luminescence of many corals without additional actinic lighting sources?

I really like the broken light/rippling water lighting effect that halides give over a reef tank, but am also hooked on the more garish colors that a little actinic gives a tank...

These new higher Kelvin halides sound like they might be the ticket for my new 20 gallon reef without having supplemental actinic bulbs...?

Very interested in feeback about these bulbs...?

Thanks,


Todd[/list]

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
Even a 20,000K bulb is not that blue compare to actinic PC bulb. However, it is sufficient enough that you don't need the actinic supplement. Coral does not need actinic to live, and many people have no problem with mere 6500K bulb. The actinic supplement and the high Kelvin bulb is there for appearance reason, but that is my opinion.

Bioluminescence does not require any light. Fireflies's tail is bioluminescent. What you are talking about is florescence. The color(dye) in a coral absorb one color, "convert" and give off a different color.