Which is better 10000k 15000k 20000k mh

[joeyspot]

I have 2 mh 250w, with 4x 65W Straight Pin Type Power Compact, what is better bulbs for my mh 10000k, 15000k, 20000k?
and what is better for the Power Compact?

I have a 90 gal tank I need to change my bulbs asap.:splitspin

 

[D1J8Z]

I am using DE 14k phoenix bulbs but I am going to be trying 20k bulbs just to see if I like them better

As for Power compacts I use 03 actinic bulbs

 

[isgon26]

Depends what type of growth you want. If you have small frags and want fast growth go with the 10k.

 

[mr_X]

there is more to it than that.
if you have a 20k bulb that puts out alot of PAR and is plenty of PAR for the corals you have, then a 10k bulb isn't going to do any better.

that said, it depends on the look you like, how much PAR you need, and what corals you are keeping.

 

[joeyspot]

I have Odyssea 48" 760W Metal Halide System with Power Compact
2x Odyssea 250W DE HQI Bulb 15000K
4x Odyssea 65W Compact Fluorescent Bulb Actinic Blue
I have'nt change the Ballasts yet, but I want to change the bulbs.

 

[Master Shake]

the k rating is the temperature rating in kelvin, the higher the number the more blue the light. It depends on your preference, if you put on 15 or 20 k with actinic power compacts that is going to be one blue tank. I would go with a Ushio 10 k because ushio is 1 a good brand, and 2 a broad spectrum bulp that is not blue but just causes corals to florese. So personally i would go with 2 10k ushio bulbs and replace the power compacts with regular actinic power compacts, because the 50/50 or 10k power compacts would not have the spectrum you want.

 

[mikey3165]

i have two XM15000k and heres a pic

 

[mikey3165]

and those are two 250 watts on a 90 gallon

 

[josipzoric]

http://http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html

this has some good info if your interested in reading about lighting and about par and lux.
covers also diffrent k raatings as well

 

[prattreef]

If you really want to know about lighting, why don't you click on Sanjay's Lighting Guide on the Homepage. There is no better or more thorough discussion of Reef aquarium lighting anywhere.... and it is brought to exclusively by MR and of course Sanjay

 

[dickenscd]

Different Bulbs for Comparison

My 92G corner bownfront tank under Giesemann 250W 13000K MH + Actinic T5

Same tank under Phoenix 250W 14000K MH + Actinic T5

I received very mixed feed backs, I believe it is more of personal taste.

Same tank under epro LumenAQUA LED lighting, color is beautiful, but light intensity is not enough for even LPS.

James

 

[rkaiser]

The epro looks great, too bad its not good for LPS though :-(

 

[tosiek]

there is more to it than that.
if you have a 20k bulb that puts out alot of PAR and is plenty of PAR for the corals you have, then a 10k bulb isn't going to do any better.

that said, it depends on the look you like, how much PAR you need, and what corals you are keeping.

Actually the same par (intensity) 20k vs 10k is not the same. Growth and coloration are based on other factors. And one 20k lamp differs from another 20k lamp so not all 20k lamps are the same.

Check out Sanjays website and the link above. Its going to give you all the info you need.

When it comes down to it in the end, your descision will be based solely on what color hue you like your tank in, whether it be crisp white, brown or actinic blue. And the company that makes the bulbs as there are better 20k's and not so good 20k's, ect. the K rating will be based on what you want your tank to look like along with what supplimentation (actinics on the PC's) you have.