rickross23
Active Member
Besides price, what's difference? Color? I have 2 150w halides.
10,14,20k . whats the difference?
- Thread starter rickross23
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snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
The Kelvin rating... (k) is the color spectrum of the bulb. 10,000k is more yellowish/red/white while 12-15k is more whiteish blue and 20k is blue but not actinic.
Most people choose their halide color for aesthetics, growth, and coral colors (florescence). For example,
10k - makes oranges, yellows, reds, green corals colors "pop" while also providing substantial growth.
now - I'm a little colorblind, so I really prefer the 10k look to other spectrums... but the 12k-14k spectrum is a lot more "white" and makes the corals colors pop as well, including the added benefit of florescence.
20k halides make all capable corals floresce, but will also make blue, purple, and some greens look darker or not floresce as much as they would if under 12-14k's.
Your type of ballast also determines what exact color the bulb produces. A 12k bulb on a certain ballast could look more yellow or more blue depending on the ballast.
Most people choose their halide color for aesthetics, growth, and coral colors (florescence). For example,
10k - makes oranges, yellows, reds, green corals colors "pop" while also providing substantial growth.
now - I'm a little colorblind, so I really prefer the 10k look to other spectrums... but the 12k-14k spectrum is a lot more "white" and makes the corals colors pop as well, including the added benefit of florescence.
20k halides make all capable corals floresce, but will also make blue, purple, and some greens look darker or not floresce as much as they would if under 12-14k's.
Your type of ballast also determines what exact color the bulb produces. A 12k bulb on a certain ballast could look more yellow or more blue depending on the ballast.
rickross23
Active Member
But no 10,12, 20k grows corals better?
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
If you want growth, go for 10k.
But many people don't like that look and prefer 14k because you get a mix of both growth and color.
But many people don't like that look and prefer 14k because you get a mix of both growth and color.
rickross23
Active Member
Ok. Thanks snake.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Get a couple more opinions too! Not just from me!
rickross23
Active Member
Alright.
Still waiting :flame: ! Haha
Still waiting :flame: ! Haha
2quills
Well-Known Member
Seth pretty much summed it up for you. 20k bulb essentially is not considered a Full Spectrum bulb. So it's lacking a bit in it's ability to cover a wider range of color in light to in order to supply the most usable light for faster growth for most shallower water corals. Lower K bulbs like 10k are a whiter in light and whiter light comes from the combination of all colors in the visible light range blended together in order to create white light. More colors/peaks along the spectrum being covered typically means good things for wide range of photosynthetic creatures. But the trade off for this is that they lack in the WOW factor.
So you gotta look at what your purposes are. Are you looking for the fastest growth, are you going for mostly aesthetics with more moderate growth? Both?
Some folks out there are trying to target the key specific areas in the spectrum for the most optimal growth possible as well as have the ability of pure aesthetics at some point in time during the light cycle. I still think leds will ultimately triumph in both of these areas. But it's hard argue with what good metal halide bulbs and ballasts can do.
So you gotta look at what your purposes are. Are you looking for the fastest growth, are you going for mostly aesthetics with more moderate growth? Both?
Some folks out there are trying to target the key specific areas in the spectrum for the most optimal growth possible as well as have the ability of pure aesthetics at some point in time during the light cycle. I still think leds will ultimately triumph in both of these areas. But it's hard argue with what good metal halide bulbs and ballasts can do.
rickross23
Active Member
Could I do one 10k and one 20k?
rickross23
Active Member
But ultimately, 10k is the best for growth?
acrylic51
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/391652/10-14-20k-whats-the-difference#post_3474791
Could I do one 10k and one 20k?
Honestly I don't think it would ascetically pleasing....You would definitely see a banding in the tank with a mix of that.....
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/391652/10-14-20k-whats-the-difference#post_3474791
Could I do one 10k and one 20k?
Honestly I don't think it would ascetically pleasing....You would definitely see a banding in the tank with a mix of that.....
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/391652/10-14-20k-whats-the-difference#post_3474791
Could I do one 10k and one 20k?
One side would be really blue and the other side would be yellow... It wouldn't look good at all. ... at least not uniform.
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/391652/10-14-20k-whats-the-difference#post_3474791
Could I do one 10k and one 20k?
One side would be really blue and the other side would be yellow... It wouldn't look good at all. ... at least not uniform.
2quills
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/391652/10-14-20k-whats-the-difference#post_3474801
Honestly I don't think it would ascetically pleasing....You would definitely see a banding in the tank with a mix of that.....
Possibilities - bountiful but not always practical.
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/391652/10-14-20k-whats-the-difference#post_3474801
Honestly I don't think it would ascetically pleasing....You would definitely see a banding in the tank with a mix of that.....
Possibilities - bountiful but not always practical.
rickross23
Active Member
Ha. I thought the 10k was white.....now its yellow????!?
2quills
Well-Known Member
It gets warmer the further down the spectrum you go. Warm White light is in the low kelvin range like 2,700- 4,000k range and is more of a redish white light vs the 20,000k bluish white light. 10k is sort of in the neutral white range for halides which could cast some yellowish hues. A lot of the time the yellowish hues that certain light brings out in our tanks is really just the true color of the water. Someone running a form of carbon in their system might not see the same hues'.
rickross23
Active Member
I run carbon. Will this yellow tint help cause algae?
Where's travelerjp? Anyone no why he hasn't been on?
Where's travelerjp? Anyone no why he hasn't been on?
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/391652/10-14-20k-whats-the-difference#post_3474809
I run carbon. Will this yellow tint help cause algae?
Where's travelerjp? Anyone no why he hasn't been on?
Yellow tint is called Gelstab... it's when chlorophyll from algaes are released into the water column, causing a yellowish tint to the water. Carbon usually removes the tint.
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/391652/10-14-20k-whats-the-difference#post_3474809
I run carbon. Will this yellow tint help cause algae?
Where's travelerjp? Anyone no why he hasn't been on?
Yellow tint is called Gelstab... it's when chlorophyll from algaes are released into the water column, causing a yellowish tint to the water. Carbon usually removes the tint.