10000k vs 6500k MH - pics anyone?

jacksonpt

jacksonpt

Active Member
I picked up a pair of 250w MH ballasts over the weekend, and I'm getting 2 mogul sockets tonight after work. Now all I have to do is get the bulbs. I can get 6500k Iwasakis for about $65 each, or 10000k Germans for about $110 each. I definitely like the price of the Iwasakis better, but I'm wondering about the coloration. The 6500k will be a little yellower, while the 10000k will be whiter, right? I will be keeping a 40w NO actinic, possibly 2 if necessary.
So, if you don't mind, I'd love seeing some pics of your reefs under 6500k or 10000k lighting so I can make some comparisons. If you could turn off all other lighting before you take the pic, I'd be forever grateful... if not, that's certainly fine too, just please include the type(s) of lighing running in the post.
TIA... I realy appreciate your pics.
 
kdlbem

kdlbem

Member
Hey, I know where there's a very good comparison of different MH bulbs. Post your e-mail, or send it to me at KDYREM@msn.com, and I'll send the site to you.
B
 
fender

fender

Active Member
If you are going to keep the actinics then go with the 6500k. They are much more instense and the actinics will give you the blue.
I am going with almost the exact same setup.
2 250W Iwasakis and 2 40w Actinics, as soon as I finish getting crud put together. :D
 
jacksonpt

jacksonpt

Active Member
Lisa, I tried to cut-and-paste the url in your sig so that I could check out some of your pics, but it came back page not found.
I have your site logged in a couple of places, and (if I'm not mistaken), you just need to take the '.html' off the end of the URL.
Just FYI.
 
kdlbem

kdlbem

Member
I was planning on two 6500k, 250 watt Iwasakis, then switching my two daylight pc bulbs to actinic. Then it would be 220 watts(4x55)actinic & 500 watts of MH on a 75 gal tank. Overkill???? What do you guys(and girls) think?
Thanks,
B
[ September 17, 2001: Message edited by: KDLBEM ]
 
sonny

sonny

Member
I wouldn't judge the color of the light from pictures. You need to see them in person. I agree that the 6500's will be brighter and a little more yellow. If you're going to have actinic flourescents, then save yourself the money and get the 6500's. MH lamps should be replaced every 12-18 months. One benefit of the 10,000 k lamps is that you don't need to have the actinic lights. Actinic lamps should be replaced every 6-9 months. Add it up and see which is more expensive to replace, and see which is cheaper. I do think you could find a better price than that. I recently bought some 175 watt 10,000 k lamps for $65 each. That was a good deal, but it was from a national mail order place. I don't know what they sold the 250 watt lamps for. Shop around!
Sonny
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
I knew I saw this picture somewhere,Just took a couple of days to find it.This is a comparison between a 6500 Iwatski(sp?) and a 12000k blueline.This will give you a real close idea..Although the picture looks doctored,I believe it is a true representation of the diference..I also switched from 6500 to 10k blueline.And this looks about right too me..
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
Originally posted by dburr:
<STRONG>MR.SALTY,
Is this comparison with no atinics on the 6500K set up?</STRONG>
I don;t think so,,,I don't see any blue,,Do you???
 
sonny

sonny

Member
I am a television director, and I can tell you that the quality of the photograph can be easily manipulated. Since most digital cameras are balanced for daylight, it is unfair to ask them to look at a small section of the spectrum from a HID lamp and give a good representation of the way it will look to the human eye. Most reefers will agree that 6500 K lamps need some extra blue light added to them. The big advantage of using 10,000 k lamps is that you don't need the extra actinics to work. You will find that the Iwasaki 6500 light will be much brighter than the 10,000 k. The animals don't care which you use. If they grow and look good, use what you want. You can find many successful reefers that use either type. If you want to get the 10,000 k, then get them. If you want to buy a TV, would you trust the picture quality that you saw as a picture on the internet??? Enough said.
Sonny
 
fender

fender

Active Member
I finally got the 6500 above my tank and it is nowhere as green as that pic. Closer to the 10k represented in the pic, but not as much purple. Also Iwasaki changed the bulb not too long back to make it whiter.
 
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