Lighting poll (MH)

[APISTOBORELLI]

Which do you prefer. I have all 3 and have seen all 3 in action. Not sure what I like better. Help me decide.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

Looks like the 10K bulbs take an early lead. Tell me what you like about them in particular.

 

[Behrmon]

Mark, what will you have for actinic suplimation (sp?)?

 

[jbundas]

My opinion:

20K - too unnaturally blue and generally looks dim

10K without fluorescent supplementation - too yellow

14K - haven't seen in person

10K with actinic and blue fluorescent supplementation - favorite so far, naturally bright white light with great color rendering. You also get a ton of output in the coral friendly spectral band.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

The actinic light comes from 4-9W pc bulbs. See below.

http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=43894

 

[penguinsix]

What brand bulbs of each do you have? I would recommend using which ever one has the lowest par value just to make acclimation easier.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

The 10K bulb is the coralife one I got from Guy. The 20K are XM (I think). I'm not too sure about the 14K.

 

[JohnK]

I like 14K's on the ends and a 10K in the center.

 

[MAReefer1]

I really like the 10k bulbs over all others because it looks the most natural.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to go with the 10K because it's the newest bulb I have. It would also seem that the majority of users here prefer the 10K as well.

 

[RichConley]

10K without fluorescent supplementation - too yellow

A good 10K bulb shouldnt look yellow, at all.


Do a water change, and compare the water you pulled out of the tank to freshly mixed saltwater. If you can tell the difference, thats why 10Ks make your tank look yellow.

 

[jbundas]

The yellow look is all relative. Stare at a 10k tank with actinic fluorescents, then turn the fluorescents off.....it'll look yellow compared to when they were on.

 

[wayne123]

12k coralvue no actinecs

 

[reefsmurf]

I have a 10k Ushio 150k DE and it definitely has a very blue cast to it. But, the corals do not flouresce like they do in other people's tank that have actinic supplementation. A real bummer.