Need Kelvin advice, plz

[Timmain42]

It's about time to replace the 2 400w MHs over the tank. I've been using Sylvania 4000k bulbs, but I'm considering upping the Kelvin. My current choices:

Iwasaki 6500k (http://www.hellolights.com/400wat65iw.html) or XM 10000k (http://www.hellolights.com/400wxm10000k.html).

Does anyone have current experience with bulbs like these? I've still got a month or so before replacement becomes necessary...

[Captain Hook]

Are these metal halides over your 240 gallon? I really like how you built that into the bookcases and everything around it. I thought metal halides needed to hang down and have big metal containers around them but it doesn't look like you have that on yours.

As for the bulb choice, you have probably read this already but the 10,000K ones will give you a very crisp white. I personally would go with the 6500 K bulb because it won't be quite as white. The question is how do you like the look of your tank now? If you want it just a little more white but still kind of yellow go with the 6500. If you want much whiter, go with the 10K. My guess is the 6500 might be a bit better for plants too.

[Timmain42]

This is a better view of the tank room. (http://www.member.serverpro.com/~praxx42/fish/TankRoomDoor3.JPG) That may clear up a few questions about the 240g tank. (I didn't really build the bookcases around it, more like on one side of it. The tanks had to have their own room, the Missus decreed it so...)

And I like the look of the tank, but 4000k is very yellow, so much in fact that I have to color-correct my photos of it so it looks normal. :( I've been leaning towards the 6500k tho...

[CHINABOY1021]

6,500 all the way.

edit: sorry no real scientific explanatino. just because a lot of people recommend 6,500ks and thats why i use a 5500 and a 6700 and it works for me so there's no reason for me to try anything new. personally i recommend the 6,500 because it works for me.

[Captain Hook]

Very nice work on that build! Did you do it all yourself or hire/have help? Is that an acrylic tank? I never thought of building a whole wall unit like that in front of a small fish room. Excellent idea, I will probably use that concept in the future :)

A tank that size needs some discus in it I think. It is so big that small fish disappear in it.

[TKOS]

Also no science but I have heard that freshwater people should stick to the 6500K bulbs as the intense white light of the 10000K are really for reef setups.

The sun is only 6500K so that is good enough for me.

[Timmain42]

Originally posted by Captain Hook
Very nice work on that build! Did you do it all yourself or hire/have help? Is that an acrylic tank? I never thought of building a whole wall unit like that in front of a small fish room. Excellent idea, I will probably use that concept in the future :)

A tank that size needs some discus in it I think. It is so big that small fish disappear in it.

Thank you. I did have a couple of contractors in to show me/do work that I didn't yet know how to do. The only thing that wasn't built on site was the tank (which is glass, BTW, 1/2" thick trimless). My father and I built all the bookshelves and stained them as well.

The 240FW is less of a wall unit and more of a Fish Room with additional viewing window. You can't tell from that picture but there are two additional tanks in that room (55FW w/ giant FW prawns and 12FW planted NanoCube). If you've got the room, there is NOTHING like having a seperate Fish Room. One of the conditions for buying this house in 2002 was having a smaller, unused room that would serve as a tank room. We got lucky and found a house that fit the bill.

And I tried Discus. Pearl Gouramis and Discus don't seem to do too well in this tank for some reason. So I just stick with smaller fish like Rasbora Het, Rummynose Tetras, Otos, Neons, a couple of Black Blushing Barbs and one Green Spotted FW Puffer.

There's a whole mess of pictures of this room and other fish-related imagery I've photographed at this link (http://www.member.serverpro.com/~praxx42/fish/). Some of it is outdated, but some of it is as recent as the beginning of December. Once the plants (and mostly the Glosso) grow in, I'll be updating my website with better pictures.

http://www.member.serverpro.com/~praxx42/fish/DSC03150.JPG

[125gJoe]

6700K


But, if there are 8800K's, I would try them. I doubt there are any in that Kelvin.

(edit)
By the way, thanks for sharing the pics... Nice...