MH Question

[DraggingTail]

Looking for opinions...

Which bulb would be best for growth?

What spectrum are you currently using? 20000K, 17500K, 14000, 10000K, 6500K?

Hamilton Technology said 6500K will give the fastest growth but won't look good to sit next to.

I currently run 20000K but MHs are never on while I am near the tank so looks are not important. T5s are on when I am home.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Vette67]

I have been running 10,000K Hamilton’s for over 15 years and have great growth. But I think when I replace the bulbs here in a month or 2, I am going to try the 14,000K bulbs. 10,000K is very white and I like the natural looking color. I’m just looking for a little more blue. I am switching for my preference, not because I think the coral will do any better. Or maybe it will. But that’s not why I’m changing.

I think in the end, it comes down to personal preference. How do you want things to look? The 6,500K bulbs will look very yellow. But I really don’t think there will be a huge difference in growth rate between the different Kelvin rated bulbs. All will grow coral exceptionally well. Plenty of stories of people successfully keeping every kind of coral under each of those bulb types.

 

[DraggingTail]

I have been running 10,000K Hamilton’s for over 15 years and have great growth. But I think when I replace the bulbs here in a month or 2, I am going to try the 14,000K bulbs. 10,000K is very white and I like the natural looking color. I’m just looking for a little more blue. I am switching for my preference, not because I think the coral will do any better. Or maybe it will. But that’s not why I’m changing.

I think in the end, it comes down to personal preference. How do you want things to look? The 6,500K bulbs will look very yellow. But I really don’t think there will be a huge difference in growth rate between the different Kelvin rated bulbs. All will grow coral exceptionally well. Plenty of stories of people successfully keeping every kind of coral under each of those bulb types.

Thanks. Can you show me what your tank looks like under 10000K?

 

[Vette67]

Thanks. Can you show me what your tank looks like under 10000K?

Photo taken 5 minutes ago. Center is 250w 10,000K Hamilton, with 175w 10,000K Hamilton’s on either end.

 

[WVNed]

10k

20k

I will probably try 14k when I replace these bulbs. The 10k bulbs appear much brighter than 20k bulbs.

 

[DraggingTail]

Photo taken 5 minutes ago. Center is 250w 10,000K Hamilton, with 175w 10,000K Hamilton’s on either end.

Your choice in fish is the same as mine. However, I would be find with no fish. LOL

 

[DraggingTail]

10k

20k

I will probably try 14k when I replace these bulbs. The 10k bulbs appear much brighter than 20k bulbs.

Looks like you have the same Cebu Sun light fixture that I have.

 

[WVNed]

There are 2 of them. I like them. 1.412 kilowatts of light. I just like saying that.

Don't tell them in the thread about saving energy.

 

[DraggingTail]

There are 2 of them. I like them. 1.412 kilowatts of light. I just like saying that.

Don't tell them in the thread about saving energy.

Do you have the 400W *2? That is what I have. 900+ PAR at 6"

 

[WVNed]

no, mine are only 2x250w. With 20k bulbs they seemed too dim and I had the fixtures right down on the tank. With 10k I have it at 10 inches and they are still very bright. I thinK I would like the 10k better if I had a canopy to cut the glare.

 

[DraggingTail]

no, mine are only 2x250w. With 20k bulbs they seemed too dim and I had the fixtures right down on the tank. With 10k I have it at 10 inches and they are still very bright. I thinK I would like the 10k better if I had a canopy to cut the glare.

In have a removable canopy for the rare instances that I'm in the recliner with the MHs on. I only run MHs 4 hrs. T5s 12