What can I do to achieve this?

[jdennysgir]

I have a pendant metal halide light. I would like to give my water a slight bluish tint. Could I somehow color the glass that protects the bulb to give me a slight tint? Also, right now I have just fish and inverts, but I plan on getting "beginner" mushrooms and soft corals down the road. If I can do this somehow, I don't want it to hurt them when I do get them. Thanks.

 

[jdennysgir]

Anyone? Is there a way to do this?

 

[wangotango]

so the pendant just has one halide bulb, there are no plugs for any kind of flourescent supplements? usually people have a more white colored halide (10k or 12k) with an actinic supplement which is pure blue. if you dont have any space for any actinic bulbs you could try either a 14k or 20k halide bulb.
-Justin

 

[seannmelly]

yea id say if you dont have any actinics go with a 20k bulb

 

[jdennysgir]

No, nothing extra. Just one bulb. I believe it is a 10K. I was told by someone on this board before that I had to replace the bulb with whatever it came with because that is what the power pak is set up for.

 

[seannmelly]

yea you cant change the wattage but you can change the kelvin(k). so you will have to find out the wattage the just order the k you want

 

[jdennysgir]

So are you saying that if I have a 10K and switch to a 20K that the coloring is going to be different? If so, why is this?

 

[sign guy]

kelvin is the color of the bulb so by swiching bulbs and gettig a 20000k the bulbs glass is bluer

 

[jdennysgir]

lol, now I know what kelvin means. I looked at my set up and it is a 175 watt 10K light. So I need to stay at 175 watts but up the kelvin to 20k, right? And this doesn't up the intensity of the bulb? It is color only? I am asking because my tank is only a 44 gallon. Thanks, I am learning a lot today. lol

 

[seannmelly]

Originally Posted by jdennysgir
lol, now I know what kelvin means. I looked at my set up and it is a 175 watt 10K light. So I need to stay at 175 watts but up the kelvin to 20k, right? And this doesn't up the intensity of the bulb? It is color only? I am asking because my tank is only a 44 gallon. Thanks, I am learning a lot today. lol

right you will still be at 175 watts but with 20k you will have a more blue look to your tank

 

[larryndana]

Originally Posted by jdennysgir
lol, now I know what kelvin means. I looked at my set up and it is a 175 watt 10K light. So I need to stay at 175 watts but up the kelvin to 20k, right? And this doesn't up the intensity of the bulb? It is color only? I am asking because my tank is only a 44 gallon. Thanks, I am learning a lot today. lol
yup you got it.

 

[jdennysgir]

OK now that you all have set me straight on this, does anyone know the best place to purchase just the bulb at a good price?

 

[oak]

I found an online store that sells brand new metal halides for $5 or $10 and another one that sells it for $40.

 

[jdennysgir]

Oak,
Can you email me at jdennysgirl1@yahoo.com with some names of the stores please. I googled it but didn't come up with anything like that. Thanks.