10k vs 6k

[shoreliner11]

I ordered a 24in pc light unit for my standard 20 gal and it comes with a 6k and an actinic(it might be 6700...can't remember). My question is should I upgrade the 6k to a 10K? Is one better than the other? Thanks. Oh, and I plan to keep some shrooms, softies and lps eventually.

 

[shoreliner11]

*bump

 

[cincyreefer]

I would get the 10K... the 6500K will contribute more to the growth of algae and doesn't look nearly as good.

 

[spsfreak100]

Originally posted by cincyreefer
the 6500K will contribute more to the growth of algae and doesn't look nearly as good.
That's why the actinic is also in there
It really all comes down to personal preference. If you enjoy the coloration of the bulb, then keep it. If you don't, then you could easily swap it out for a 10,000k bulb
Take Care,
Graham

 

[cincyreefer]

i find that getting rid of as much of the red spectrum of light really helps reduce unwanted algaes....
Also pc actinics don't seem to drown out the yellow and reds from 6500K nearly as well as VHO or halides, IMO... Basically it comes down to what you like... But i'd say that probably 90% of my reef customers prefer the 10,000K over 6500K.

 

[shoreliner11]

Ok, the whole spectrum thing is coming back to me now(been a while since I went over it in school). I'll see how it looks, but I'll probably end up upgrading to the 10,000k; I like the blue look a little better anyways.

 

[aaronw78]

I have used 5500 and 10000. Coralline growth exposed under the 5500, but so did the green stuff. I now use 10000 and growth has slowed down little, but the 10000 do look better IMO. I also use 2 blue and 2 actinic 03 PCs to correct the yellowness that my 2 daylight PCs create.

 

[jonthefb]

with halides, 65 k does better for coral growth, while 10 k aesthetically looks better....i imagine the same would be true for sofites/lps and pc's.. ...however with the shortened bulb life for the pc's i would imagine that you would see unwanted algaes showing up much more quickly with the 65k bulbs!
good luck
jon