MH Lighting questions

Pisces

Pisces

Night Owl
Mar 4, 2002
80
1
8
Fayetteville, AR
Real Name
Lisa
I've been thinking we need to change the lighting setup on the 125g reef (6 ft long). Currently we have a 175w halide w/ 10,000K bulb over one side and a 250w halide w/ 10,000K bulb on the other. There are also two 48 inch, 40w NO fluorescent actinics on morning and night for an hour.

I'm wondering if we should change the halide bulbs to 6500K's because I've noticed that many of the really nice reeftanks I've looked at online are mainly using 6500K bulbs and they are very brightly lit.

I'm also thinking we should either change the 175w to a 250w or add another 250w to the hood, or would that be overkill?
 
You know, I went from 10K Coralife bulbs to 6500K Iwasaki bulbs, and I really wish I hadn't. I've had more trouble with algae and much slower SPS coral growth since the change. If I had the money to replace them right now, I would go back to a higher color temp in a second.

As far as upgrading the wattage, what are you keeping in the tank? Anything that would benefit from additional light?
 
I always have prefered the bluer light because it's more pleasing to look at and the fish don't seem as skittish as they are in very bright light. I really wouldn't mind going to a 20,000K...hmmm, that's an idea!:)

In the tank right now are two open brains, yellow polyps, button polyps and sea mat polyps. We lost some corals in the freak disaster that happened a few months ago, that's why there's barely anything in the tank right now. The water chemistry is testing normal, but I'm still hesitating before adding anything expensive to the tank. That's why I'm considering doing some changes now before adding new livestock. I would like to have stony and soft corals, my husband would like a clam or two but I'm not real fond of that idea yet.
 
A bluer bulb will usually have less lux output...meaning it will seem duller.

However, blue light is more important to photosynthesis (at least in algae) than white light is.

A bulb from 10K-20K is ideal.
 
Has anyone heard anything good or bad about the new 12,000K, 13000K or 14,000K's? I think when the 12's first came out I read that they tended to burn out (or blow up) frequently for some reason. I see that each of these bulbs are now being offered in the new Docs Foster & Smith catalog. I would like to see what their light output looks like in a tank.:)
 
the 12K bulbs are the sunbursts... the bulb quality might have improved, but they still havent been proven successful for good coral growth.

I have never heard of or seen 13K bulbs, you have a manufacturer on those?

The 14K bulbs are Hamiltons, and alot of people love them, both the color and coral growth rate under them. I havent seen them personally so I cant comment. The one thing I wish they would do is sell those bulbs to other online retailers.
 
Hey Slip. This is all it says in the new Docs catalog. They are not listing the bulb brands, just the types that they are. Sorry.

German made screw socket bulb: 175 watt 13,000K $65.99

Euro made screw socket bulb: 175 watt 14,000K $115.99
 
I wonder if thats how there advertising the AB bulbs?

The AB bulbs are usually refered to as 10K bulbs, but many claim the apperance is closer to 13K. The bulb price of AB bulbs on other retailers is pretty similar to what there selling it for at drs. foster smith...
 
What's the AB bulb? I haven't heard that term yet.
The catalog also has this listing that seems new to me.

German made screw socket bulb: 175 watt True 10,000K $109.00

What makes it different than other 10K's?
 
Originally posted by slipknottin
The 14K bulbs are Hamiltons, and alot of people love them, both the color and coral growth rate under them. I havent seen them personally so I cant comment. The one thing I wish they would do is sell those bulbs to other online retailers.
Click to expand...

Slip, I noticed that Hamilton VHO's are listed in the Docs catalog, so maybe those halide bulbs are from them too. I don't see why they would neglect to list the bulb manufacturers, you'd think that would be detrimental to their business since most people prefer to stick with a certain brand.
 
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