Mh light choices?
 

I am kinda new to all of this still so bare with me. I want to go to mh lights on my tank but have a question! When I go to order my lights it says do I want 10k,14k,or 20k? I know its the kelvin rating right? But what is the difference and which one is best? Any help would be awesome.

the Kelvin is color.
The higher the Kelvin the more blue the bulb.
The lower the Kevlin the more yellow/white.
Lower K grows faster.
So pick what you can compromise with

So what you are saying is that with a 10k my corals would grow faster but the light would be more yellow than blue?

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8693496#post8693496 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by matty0206 [/i]
[B]So what you are saying is that with a 10k my corals would grow faster but the light would be more yellow than blue? [/B][/QUOTE]

Yep.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8693496#post8693496 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by matty0206 [/i]
[B]So what you are saying is that with a 10k my corals would grow faster but the light would be more yellow than blue? [/B][/QUOTE]
You got it.

So one more question.....I like the blue hue to saltwater lights, would the corals still grow pretty well under 20k?

They will still grow with 20K.
I ran 20K before and grew plenty with it.
It will just be slower than a 10k

Thank you guys I really appreciate it!

Matty0206 are you putting these halides on your 40G breeder? Just curious because I am setting up a new 40g breeder and can't for the life of me pick out lights.

FWIW I have 20K on my tank with no VHO sup (yet) and I get fantastic growth. Frags of montipora have grown out by nearly two inches on the tips within four months, and my little two pronged fork of pocillopora grew into a good five inch ball of branches in the same amount of time. I AM however switching to 10K's with actinic VHO's soon here in the future, because I think the 20K is just a little too blue for my tastes. I'd rather have a brighter look to my reef.

Right now I have standard t5 lights on my 40b by coralife but they suck plus I want more light. The problem at the moment is that I need a hood for the tank to do metal halides to keep the living room from being lit up. If I cant find or have a hood built I think I will do t5 ho tek lights they have a 6x36" that looks sweet!


Hey debaser did you buy a premade sump or did you build your own? I have a h.o.b fuge that I hate and want to go to a sump.

Zuzecawi Is there a good salt store in salem? I might be going down there soon and want to check out some other stores in the area!

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8701084#post8701084 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by matty0206 [/i]
[B]Right now I have standard t5 lights on my 40b by coralife but they suck plus I want more light. The problem at the moment is that I need a hood for the tank to do metal halides to keep the living room from being lit up. If I cant find or have a hood built I think I will do t5 ho tek lights they have a 6x36" that looks sweet!


Hey debaser did you buy a premade sump or did you build your own? I have a h.o.b fuge that I hate and want to go to a sump. [/B][/QUOTE]

Matty0206,

Right now I think I'm going to get the 36" Current-USA Outer Orbit fixture which is 1x150w 10K MH HQI and 2x96watt PC actinics.

I'm getting glass baffles cut to put in my old tank which was a 29 gallon. That is going to be my sump.

Matty, I'm pm'ing you with Salem store info

I think I am also going to build my own sump....seems easy enough and a hell of a lot cheaper! Good luck with your set up and keep me posted, it's cool to see what others are doing with the same size tank.

Matty0206,

You can follow my 40g breeder progress here. I will have my custom built stand this weekend (even has metal seahorse handles!!!)and I will post pics on Saturday

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