new MH light ....is 10000k good enough?

[royalgamma]

I just got a MH pendent and was wondering what kinda bulb I should get next if/ when I replace this one. Right now I have a LTA and looking to start with some zoos or other easy soft corals in the near future...also have 100 watts of 50/50 pc lighting. Should I go 20,000k or something else?

Thanks
By the way the bulb is 175 watts .

 

[1journeyman]

The bigger the number the more blue the light.
Do you want the tank to look blue and "deep" or more bright with faster growing corals.

 

[teen]

i like to start out with a 10k or 14k, corals grow fastest under this. then once your corals are growing good, if you want you can switch over to a 20k for a more bluish look and to get more color out of your tank. i personally like to stick with the 14k, but i may swith over to 20k becasue i have to replace my bulbs soon anyway.

 

[royalgamma]

I like how it looks now nice and bright and the colors on the fish look bright and crisp....will any coral I get still grow and be ok under a 10,00k? They just grow slower under different lights right?

 

[teen]

Originally Posted by RoyalGamma
I like how it looks now nice and bright and the colors on the fish look bright and crisp....will any coral I get still grow and be ok under a 10,00k? They just grow slower under different lights right?
you should get the best/fastest growth under 10k, i say should because it also depends on your PAR values and what not.

 

[royalgamma]

ok don't know what PAR Values are?

...I have this on a 44 gallon pentagonal corner tank its about 20 inches to the sand from the top. But some of the rock is 5 or 6 inches from the top.

 

[1journeyman]

What wattage is the Halide? You should be set to go with it.

 

[royalgamma]

175 watts

 

[cajamajo]

I have a 250w mh 15k on my 35hex is it 24" deep. It looks great, good growth.

 

[saltn00b]

Kelvin is really a matter of preference to you.
as long as its 6500K (reddish light) or higher, it makes little difference IME.
10k is more yellow
14-15k is mostly white
and 20k is blue-white.
so the higher K, the deeper down in the imaginary ocean your little reef appears.

 

[michaeltx]

I like the 10k with true atinic supllements myself.
Mike

 

[cymbal67]

michaeltx beat me to it. i was going to say the same thing. 10k with actinics.

 

[1journeyman]

175wt should be fine in your tank.
For one bulb I'd go for around 10,000k. I've got 4 HQI's on my tank and I alternate 20,000k / 10,000k, 10,000k / 20,000k across the top. I really like how it looks.