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View Full Version : What Can I keep with MH 20,000k bulbs?


megatron_55
05-18-2005, 07:50 AM
Hey guys . . . I was thinking of getting another light fixture which consists of 2x150watt DE MH in 20,000K

Can I keep light demanding acro's (bali frags in particular) and maxima/crocea clams with these lights?? Anyone with 20,000k setup??

Thsnkd all . . .

PS. my tank dimensions are 36Lx12Wx14H

whaase
05-18-2005, 01:37 PM
Sure, I have a bit of everthing, all is doing well. I noticed some acro frags that have changed color from brown to purple/blue with the 20k. Just keep in mind, the higher the K, usually means less PAR. If your tank is around 18-20" depth, I would not worry about it. (My opinion only!)

Walter

ABreefkpr
05-18-2005, 01:51 PM
Do you have 150W DE Walter?
I was under the impression that anything less than 250W (in a mogal base)and most SPS would not show their true colors. Is this not the same with DE bulbs?

Keith

andresont
05-18-2005, 04:02 PM
Hey guys . . . I was thinking of getting another light fixture which consists of 2x150watt DE MH in 20,000K

Can I keep light demanding acro's (bali frags in particular) and maxima/crocea clams with these lights?? Anyone with 20,000k setup??

Thsnkd all . . .

PS. my tank dimensions are 36Lx12Wx14H
Not sure about 150W
I have 400W on the left and 250W on the right SE bulbs + VHO, and all SPS are loving it ! The best purple and green I have ever seen .
The down side is that when you try to take a pics , the turn to be a LOT on the blue side because of 20K bulbs.
Some softies dont like it , like leather also LPS plate coral opoens up only at night in my tank,

I know some people with DE 150W and they say they would change for 250W for sure to get more light, however with only 12inch high tank you will be OK most defenately

whaase
05-18-2005, 04:20 PM
Good question. I have a single 250w bulb so I can't answer that... But, I have seen people have great success with T5 lighting and SPS.

Walter

Do you have 150W DE Walter?
I was under the impression that anything less than 250W (in a mogal base)and most SPS would not show their true colors. Is this not the same with DE bulbs?

Keith

BCOrchidGuy
05-18-2005, 04:27 PM
Okay my understanding is that you need higher wattage to make more light to compensate for depth, IE light just doesn't penetrate very deep into water. Blue light penetrates deepest so I'd assume 150 DE's would be excellent, especially seeing as you only have 14 inches of tank depth. I don't know what exactly you could keep with them but I can't imagine you'd have trouble with anything. You may want to consider 14,000k just to lower the blue appearance a bit.

Doug

rickjames
05-18-2005, 09:58 PM
You will probably be fine keeping any of those things with that lighting and only a 14" deep tank.

megatron_55
05-19-2005, 01:30 AM
Thanks u guys . . .

I was just not sure . . . I thought 20,000K are too blue (I got told that u can't keep acro's or maxima's under 20,000K . . .

I could care less if my corals/clams grow slowly as I have a very small shallow tank so the slower growth the better! :mrgreen:

Anyhow... Before I buy it . . . (its a $700 light system so LMK more info!!)

Right now I have 1x250 watt DE 10,000K over my tank (36L x12W x14H) Very yellow-ish . . . Cant add actinics either (its the Reefstar from hamilton so its hanging and very cluttery looking)

At the moment I have some purple bali acro's, green slimer, tenius, tri color acro, purple cap, mille and tons of sps . . . oh and 2 maxima clams under 1x250watt DE 10,000k . . u guys think it'll be okay if I switched lighting and put them under 2x150watt DE 20,000k?? Mainly because I got told by a store that sps and maxima dont keep their colors under 20,000K . . . LMK u guys!! Thanks

whaase
05-19-2005, 01:42 AM
I think you would be good to go. I keep acro's, clam and many other under 20k lighting... check out RC, I could not count the number of people that do. Up to you. :biggrin: Seems a little pricey to me?

Walter

Thanks u guys . . .

I was just not sure . . . I thought 20,000K are too blue (I got told that u can't keep acro's or maxima's under 20,000K . . .

I could care less if my corals/clams grow slowly as I have a very small shallow tank so the slower growth the better! :mrgreen:

Anyhow... Before I buy it . . . (its a $700 light system so LMK more info!!)

Right now I have 1x250 watt DE 10,000K over my tank (36L x12W x14H) Very yellow-ish . . . Cant add actinics either (its the Reefstar from hamilton so its hanging and very cluttery looking)

At the moment I have some purple bali acro's, green slimer, tenius, tri color acro, purple cap, mille and tons of sps . . . oh and 2 maxima clams under 1x250watt DE 10,000k . . u guys think it'll be okay if I switched lighting and put them under 2x150watt DE 20,000k?? Mainly because I got told by a store that sps and maxima dont keep their colors under 20,000K . . . LMK u guys!! Thanks

vanreefer
05-19-2005, 05:43 AM
Thanks u guys . . .


Anyhow... Before I buy it . . . (its a $700 light system so LMK more info!!)

Right now I have 1x250 watt DE 10,000K over my tank (36L x12W x14H) Very yellow-ish . . . Cant add actinics either (its the Reefstar from hamilton so its hanging and very cluttery looking)


for 700.00 I would buy another 250w ballast fixture and bulb DIY a Canopy with actinics then you could put a 20K bulb in the new fixture if you still thought it was too yellow
Just a thought

megatron_55
05-19-2005, 06:52 AM
Thanks u guys . . .


Anyhow... Before I buy it . . . (its a $700 light system so LMK more info!!)

Right now I have 1x250 watt DE 10,000K over my tank (36L x12W x14H) Very yellow-ish . . . Cant add actinics either (its the Reefstar from hamilton so its hanging and very cluttery looking)


for 700.00 I would buy another 250w ballast fixture and bulb DIY a Canopy with actinics then you could put a 20K bulb in the new fixture if you still thought it was too yellow
Just a thought

I have a 27 gallon tank ... 500 watts of MH + Actinics = :microwav:

I wouldn't put anymore than 300 watts of MH . . .

Richer
05-19-2005, 01:41 PM
I had over 500watts of MH over my old 33gallon tank (2x250w MH and 1x95watt VHO actinic). Just about everything loved it. I have a single 250w MH over my current 24"x24"x12" tank and everything is reacting quite positively to that as well. So I personally don't think going with a couple of 250s (via diy) is a bad idea... it would pretty much help you keep just about everything and probably be cheaper than that $700 light system. I built my old 2x250w system for under 500 bucks (including bulbs).

-Rich

BCOrchidGuy
05-19-2005, 03:57 PM
You could always add one or two T5 Actinics to balance out the colour of the 10,000 or upgrade the bulb to a higher Kelvin rating, say 14,000K. There is a lot you could do with $700...

Doug