Which Bulb?

[Richer]

I'm thinking about getting this MH/PC combo pendent (http://www.jlaquatics.com/cgi-bin/shopping/jalstore.cgi?user_action=detail&catalogno=pfo-hppen) sometime in the future for my 30 gallon tank... my question is, which 175 watt bulb should I use? 10000k, or 12000k? Since this pendent has 2x28watt actinic pc bulbs in it, does it really matter?

I figure its probably going to be up to my own preference... but I've never run a tank with any bulb with a K rating higher than 10000k, so I don't really know what a higher K bulb will look like.

-Richer

[bear27]

Well from my limited knolage of lighting i know that the higher the k rateing the blueer the bulb

So IMHO id stick with the 10000k

[whaase]

I'm thinking about getting this MH/PC combo pendent (http://www.jlaquatics.com/cgi-bin/shopping/jalstore.cgi?user_action=detail&catalogno=pfo-hppen) sometime in the future for my 30 gallon tank... my question is, which 175 watt bulb should I use? 10000k, or 12000k? Since this pendent has 2x28watt actinic pc bulbs in it, does it really matter?

I figure its probably going to be up to my own preference... but I've never run a tank with any bulb with a K rating higher than 10000k, so I don't really know what a higher K bulb will look like.

-Richer

It's all up to what you like. Here is a couple links to compare 250w bulbs(it'll give you a good idea).

look down the right side of the page.

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/

and here is another taken from the same page.

http://metricksystem.com/chris/250wcolour/

Hope that helps! :smile:

Walter

[Fish]

Great advice Walter,
I used the same site to choose my xm10000k bulb and I am totally pleased with the color.
Richer,
I noticed that that link doesn't tell you who the bulb manufacturer is. I would try to find out because even the same k rated bulbs will look different from different manufacturers. Also, I would check out www.diyreef.com if I were you. I got a 175W Mh "custom retro" with the bulb, reflector, icecap ballast, two vho actinic bulbs , vho ballast, all wired together with all the brackets and endcaps and shipped to my home for $500.00 (CANADIAN!). I think I still have a discount code that you can use too for $10US off. Just my experience.

- Chad

[Richer]

Thanks.

I did a bit more research into MH lighting, and have decided to just go and buy MH ballasts from a lighting store and a workhorse 7 for my planned VHO actinic, rather than buying it from an aquarist store... I figure since I can get everything local (except the bulbs), I can probably save myself at least a couple hundred bucks.

-Richer

[Doug]

If your running 175w bulbs, then the only choice for me is German 10K in that wattage.

[Richer]

What is the preferred place to buy MH and VHO bulbs from?

-Richer

[jgoldsney]

I have heard good things about
http://www.sunaquatics.com/