6500k or 10000k? Which is a better metal halide bulb?

pkzbliss

pkzbliss

New Member
I ried 12k and it was pretty blue....a little too blue.. this 10k bulb is a pretty color but not bright like sunlight.....Just what does actinics mean or do? i have a 4foot vho strip with double light. One row white and the other blue..Is the blue ones actinics? The LFS said it is all I need for coral and its pretty damn bright.
 
aj77

aj77

Member
Personal preference? 6500k, because it's not too blue, especially running actinics alongside.
AJ
 
2

25gator

Guest
different bulb mfg diferent color. i have 10k 2 actinics looks good. actinics fill in where MH fall short. yes they are the blue ones! :D
 
reeferx

reeferx

Member
I am sure there are a million old threads on this, but what the heck.
6500k is very yellow. I had one about 10-12 years ago and didn't like it.
Then I bought a 10000k. Loved it and still have it. The bulb is a lot smaller too.
(I want to know if the 20000k are any good!)
matt
 
jay1

jay1

New Member
I have 2, 175watt 10,00k blueline MH and 2 NO 50/50 flour. I prefer 10,000k over 6500K, the blue light brings out the color in the corals better.
Matt: The 10,000K blueline bulbs have a similar spectrum to some 20,000k bulbs, and I think they are incredibly aesthetic. If they are more blue than you like, you can suppliment with actinic white flourescent bulbs.
 
k.lee

k.lee

Member
actinics hit a wavelenth think its 460-480 nanometers which plants and also zooxanthellae flourish under. Thats what actinic lighting does for reefers. It also kills billirubin in our babies (?)
 
ironreef

ironreef

Member
It's preferance. ppl buy 6.5k iwaski cuz high par= 250w magnetic ballast=130par 10k blueline=55.58par very weak. If you use 10k I would try Aqualine Buscke bulbs 10k =110par or any german 10k not bulbs made in China. German bulbs are made better. The 6.5 ppl like lots of par but 10k has the range 390-500 =more energy in the light. But some say more par is better in aquaria not much diff. But if you like the 10k color AB seems the best lots of par and lot of light in the 390-500 range. NOT all 10k are EQUAL theres a big diff=AB 110 ALS 54.98 Sunburst 12k 37.53 Osram 42.01 Ushio dunno. But I would get Ushio ,hamliton=same or AB only. AB would be #1
 
C

cruises8

Guest
Personally I like the look of the 10000K bulb. It is a nice clean white color. The 6700K by itself is too yellow for me!
 
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