Mh light choices?

[matty0206]

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.

[Ti]

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

[matty0206]

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

[snslarison]

Originally posted by matty0206
So what you are saying is that with a 10k my corals would grow faster but the light would be more yellow than blue?

Yep.

[Ti]

Originally posted by matty0206
So what you are saying is that with a 10k my corals would grow faster but the light would be more yellow than blue?

You got it.

[matty0206]

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

[Ti]

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

[matty0206]

Thank you guys I really appreciate it!

[FlipFlops24/7]

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.

[zuzecawi]

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.

[matty0206]

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.

[matty0206]

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!

[FlipFlops24/7]

Originally posted by matty0206
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.

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.

[zuzecawi]

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

[matty0206]

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.

[FlipFlops24/7]

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

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=987645