PAR difference of 20k and 14k

paintballer768 · Aug 1, 2008

Bulb replacement time for me is right around the corner. I kind of want to switch to a 20k bulb to see the color difference, but due to money constraints I cant buy another 14k just incase something were to happen. Heres my question...

24 gallon tank, 150 watt Sunpod MH.
Im keeping zoos and LPS at different heights throughout the tank.

Would I have any problem keeping, lets say, a LPS coral at the bottom? Like will I have to worry about it not getting enough light?

My guess would be 150 watts over a tank thats 20" deep to the bottom of the tank really shouldnt worry but I have to check

oceanparadise1 · Aug 1, 2008

im going to have to say ur gonna be a o k

paintballer768 · Aug 2, 2008

oceanparadise1 said:
im going to have to say ur gonna be a o k

Thats what Im guessing, I want to see some of the SPS guys or the vendors maybe comment on this. Itd make me feel so much better haha. Also, which out of these would you recommend?

Ushio
XM
Blue Light SPS (South Pacific Sunlight)
Aqualine AB
Megachrome Blue

^Pick one!!

oceanparadise1 · Aug 2, 2008

ha i hear ya on that one, its always nice to get a couple stamps of approval

jonbar1 · Aug 2, 2008

Shouldn't have any problems. The 150w XM will be my next bulb, don't know much about the others but after running a 70w Ushio 14k I'll never use Ushio again....that bulb was no where near 14k, more like 6500K

paintballer768 · Aug 2, 2008

jonbar1 said:
Shouldn't have any problems. The 150w XM will be my next bulb, don't know much about the others but after running a 70w Ushio 14k I'll never use Ushio again....that bulb was no where near 14k, more like 6500K

Hahah, so that knocks out the Ushio from the competition.

paintballer768 · Aug 2, 2008

Heres an interesting article I found about the relationship of bulb efficiency over time.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/7/aafeature1

paintballer768 · Aug 2, 2008

Ah come on now, what do yall think?? I know many of you from the MHs

Reef Goddess · Aug 2, 2008

Well I don't do technical questions have to save this one for my hubby but we've always had success with Iwaki bulbs and Phoenix HQI's are nice too. The ones we have over our tank now is an Iwaki 14k 400. I've always prefered 14k to 20k because you get good color as well as good growth.

It depends on what type of lps you have. If its a lot of brain corals and favias they may not like it that much as these corals don't like that much light. But if its echinos and acans they should be fine, if anything I might shorten the photo period to begin with because sometimes echinos can get shocked if the lighting change is very severe.

GL!

M&M