Im sure i have seen a thread on this but cannot find it. what is the differance in the rating of bulbs ie-10,000K 20,000K and if my fixture came with 10,000K is that what i should replace it with? I know my wattage has to stay the same as per my ballast's.
about the K rating of bulbs?
- Thread starter abstract37
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10k=hint of Yellow/White
14k=White/hint of blue
20k=Blue
If you run actinics with your MH then you probably would want to stay away from 20k. There are many more variables to bulbs but that should answer your question. Everything else is opinion on how it will look. Personally, today I recommend the Phoenix 14k bulb, but a year from now my opinion may change.
14k=White/hint of blue
20k=Blue
If you run actinics with your MH then you probably would want to stay away from 20k. There are many more variables to bulbs but that should answer your question. Everything else is opinion on how it will look. Personally, today I recommend the Phoenix 14k bulb, but a year from now my opinion may change.
OgreMkV
Father of Earth's Next Emperor
The K rating is basically defined as the type of light that is emitted by a perfect blackbody radiator that is at that temperature (in Kelvin).
Simply it defines the spectrum of the light... lower K rating is a warmer light with more yellows and reds emitted. The higher the k rating, the more blue or cooler the light is. This warm vs. cool has no actual relation to the temperature of the bulb (actually, nor does the K rating of the bulb).
Keep the wattage the same and look for lights that meet your needs. 10,000K oand actinic bulbs are OK for most SW tank applications, though 15k and 20k bulbs are available now. I'm not that into SW so you might ask if the critters you have need that kind light.
Simply it defines the spectrum of the light... lower K rating is a warmer light with more yellows and reds emitted. The higher the k rating, the more blue or cooler the light is. This warm vs. cool has no actual relation to the temperature of the bulb (actually, nor does the K rating of the bulb).
Keep the wattage the same and look for lights that meet your needs. 10,000K oand actinic bulbs are OK for most SW tank applications, though 15k and 20k bulbs are available now. I'm not that into SW so you might ask if the critters you have need that kind light.
ok thanks for the quick replies,i do run actinics (96watt X 2) so ill just stay with my 10,000K for now.anyway thanks
Not true, but if you have visual proof showing otherwise I would love to see it. I fell for that line of thinking myself and I can tell you it is definately not true, 10k giving you best growth that is.
Again, Kelvin is only how the bulb "looks" to human eyes. Has nothing to do with growth. To many factors and I can't say as a general statement for all bulbs that "14k will give you more growth than 10k", but I can say a 14k Phoenix will give you more growth than a 10k XM even though the 14k is only putting out 1/2 the PAR of the 10k. The PAR the 14k Phoenix does put out is almost all PUR, where as with a 10k bulb the PUR is only 75% at best. But this gets way more into details of lighting and that is a book of information rather than a simple topic.
PAR = Photosynthetic Active Radiation
PUR = Photosynthetic USABLE Radiation
First one measures the entire 400-700nm wavelength, second one is only taking into account what the corals can actually use in the PAR spectrum.
PAR = Photosynthetic Active Radiation
PUR = Photosynthetic USABLE Radiation
First one measures the entire 400-700nm wavelength, second one is only taking into account what the corals can actually use in the PAR spectrum.
K rating is a guide to bulb appearance within one manufacturer's line, but when you look at bulbs the same K rating from different manufacturers the difference can be amazing. For the real scoop: www.manhattanreefs,com/lighting Sanjay Yoshi has tested most combinations of bulbs and ballasts. He's done a real service to the aquarium community, and he's an all around nice guy as well!