mh question
- Thread starter viet-tin
- Start date
Your tank may look a little shaded where the 20K is. If I had the choice I would either do all 10Ks w/vho supplementation or possibly consider all 20ks 400w?
attml
Active Member
10Ks are a white and 20ks are more blue. If you have 10ks on each end and a 20k in the middle the ends will look white (more bright) and the center on the tank will be less bright (more blue). Your decision is going to come down to a matter of preference. 20K bulbs produce the best colored corals but the corals will grow slower and the lighting has a blue tint to it. 10K bulbs with actenic support have good color but not as good as a 20K bulb. 10K have good growth and the bulbs last longer and you can use your actenics to create a dawn & dusk effect. Personally I like the 10k Ushios and the URI VHO super actenics but that is just me. When I was shopping my 1st MHs I hit every webpage I could checking out what lights they were running and how their corals looked and to see growth comparisons. I also checked all of the display tanks at the LFSs to see how different lights looked in person.
Here is a lighting comparison that might be helpful
http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/ltg_bulb_color.htm
Here is a lighting comparison that might be helpful
http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/ltg_bulb_color.htm
attml
Active Member
Not sure what type of stock lights you are refering to? If you mean the 15 to 20 watt little hoods that would go over a freshwater tank they are not going to do you much good. They may have a tiny bit of benifit but that is just normal output lighting. The PC or VHO supplementation is high output which will cut through the water your tank much better. Lighting is the most important aspect of your tank. I know that it is very expensive but it is better to save money and do it right so you aren't spending again in 6 months because you really didn't get what you wanted the first time. You could always buy the halides and get them set up them up then add the VHO or PCs later.