18000k bulbs on a reef

[manners]

i currently am running 6 t5 (3 atinics, 2 10000k, and a 18000k) over a 46 g and was wondering about the 18000k bulb. is it going to help the coral growth at all, or is it only for looks? should it stay or should it go and put in another 10000k?

 

[bang guy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by manners http:///t/389388/18000k-bulbs-on-a-reef#post_3441166
i currently am running 6 t5 (3 atinics, 2 10000k, and a 18000k) over a 46 g and was wondering about the 18000k bulb. is it going to help the coral growth at all, or is it only for looks? should it stay or should it go and put in another 10000k?
It varies a bit depending on the bulb manufacturer but in general, 18,000K will color some corals better but will sacrifice growth because of the lower PAR.

 

[manners]

i was looking at all the boxes my bulbs come in and the 10000k say they have a par output of about 200 and the actinics say they have a par of 133, the power glow 18000k sais that the par output is 181, so does that mean that the powerglow is like inbetween an actinic and a daylight?
also if actinics have a par output then does that mean that the coral will benefit from it a little vs if it wasnt there at all?

 

[geoj]

The K is the color you see with your eyes.
The PAR output is the amount of light that can be used to grow.
So yes all your bulbs give some growth and you can see the more PAR the more growth you get.