MH Question...Please help

[jamesvishiou]

On Metal Halides, which 400W something thousand K bulb has a whiter look?
10000K or 20000K
Which color is better for the corals? Your help would greatly be appreciated.

 

[wangotango]

The lower the K (kelvin) the greater the growth, but yellower the color. A higer K bulb has a more blue color, but growth is usually slower.
10K bulbs are white.
-Justin

 

[jamesvishiou]

okay thanks. I was just wondering.

 

[jamesvishiou]

Is that good for SPS corals?

 

[scsinet]

Originally Posted by jamesvishiou
http:///forum/post/2874676
Is that good for SPS corals?
again, it depends on whether you want them to grow fast or look really nice. It's a balancing act to achieve both.
The whitishness of light is also a matter of preference. I personally find anything less than 12K to look yellow. Many people find 20K to look blue. To make matters worse, different vendors lamps look different even when the color specs are identical.
IMO if you want a good balance and you do not have actinics to supplement, split the difference and go 14-15K until you know what you like.

 

[jamesvishiou]

So a 14-15 is in between?
thanks.

 

[bizzmoneyb]

yes 14k seems to be the happy medium between color and growth. but everyone is different.

 

[jamesvishiou]

oh okay.