color of light

[squidworth]

I have a few questions about light. I understand about the color, but metal halide lamps only have a color rendering of 65 at most. A high quality T8 fluorescent can be as high as 85-90 color rendering.
Does this matter in a marine tank with all the highly colored fish? Metal halide can make colors hard to tell apart.
Just wondering.

 

[diatom]

Metal Halide Lights come as high as 20k 10k is considered close white light. Each manufacturer decided what color their bulbs are considered.
In a FO setup MH bulbs may be more light and produce more heat then what you'd like, unless you are keeping certain corals or have a very large tank, look into Power Compacts.
HTH,
D~