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View Full Version : 10,000 bulb and ballast - who's got the answers!

sumpfinfishe
12-22-2002, 06:44 PM
My roomate Al is currently running 6500k bulb, with three attinics on timers over a 60 gal reef. Is it worth the upgrade to a German 10,000k bulb and ballast? Or is there some other good type of setup to use?
Aquattro
12-22-2002, 07:19 PM
First he needs to decide what is wrong with his current setup and why he wants to upgrade. A LOT of people run 65k bulbs and think anything else is a downgrade.
Samw
12-22-2002, 07:26 PM
I'm pretty new to the MH game. So, what is a 65,000 K bulb? I've only seen them go up to 20,000 K. I've heard of 6.5k K (6,500) but not 65k K (65,000). I see people talk about 65k K bulbs but never knew what they were. I just assumed they meant 6.5k K.
StirCrazy
12-22-2002, 09:01 PM
65000K.. must be to purple for his liking :lol:

and he is running actinics with that also :shock: hmmm maby this is realy a Deep watter tank and he is simulating the depth of 200 feet :wink:


Steve
sumpfinfishe
12-23-2002, 02:44 AM
sorry the above post has now been changed-one too many 0'hs :wink:
EmilyB
12-23-2002, 03:00 AM
:lol: I think they knew....

Esthetic value, so they say.
sumpfinfishe
12-23-2002, 03:56 PM
ok ok enough with the crack's, can someone please help him out?
Aquattro
12-23-2002, 04:03 PM
I did help him out. He needs to answer the questions I posed in my first reply. No lighting setup is better than the other (within standard comparisons) and an "upgrade" is only worth the cost if it gives a desired result. So, what result is he after???
Bob I
12-23-2002, 04:35 PM
ok ok enough with the crack's, can someone please help him out?

Might want to develop a sense of humour. I know that is tough living in Lotusland. :D :D
Samw
12-23-2002, 07:03 PM
My roomate Al is currently running 6500k bulb, with three attinics on timers over a 60 gal reef. Is it worth the upgrade to a German 10,000k bulb and ballast? Or is there some other good type of setup to use?

What ballast does he have now? Could he just replace the bulb and not the ballast? From what I've read, 6,500K Iwasaki's are great for making your corals grow fast while the higher color temperature bulbs makes the corals more colorful. From what I've seen, Radium 20k sometimes are a bit too bluish depending on the ballast. So, I'm looking at 10k bulbs myself and supplementing with 50/50 PCs.
sumpfinfishe
12-24-2002, 02:52 AM
He has a phillips ballast right now, but It won't fire up a 10,000k so that's why he needs the new ballast. He is also planning on getting rid of the 3 tubes of attinic when he goe's with the upgrade. Any thoughts?
Samw
12-24-2002, 03:09 AM
He has a phillips ballast right now, but It won't fire up a 10,000k so that's why he needs the new ballast. He is also planning on getting rid of the 3 tubes of attinic when he goe's with the upgrade. Any thoughts?

Check out some threads on RC about this topic. If you like the way 10k bulbs look, then you probably could get rid of the actinics.

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=121719&perpage=25&highlight=bulb%20and%20comparison%20and%20picture&pagenumber=2

My personal preference would be without actinics because I like my white sand to look white. If you prefer the underwater look, then keep the actinics. The extra light will benefit the animals too.
Aquattro
12-24-2002, 03:11 AM
Sure, my thoughts are you still haven't answered the questions!! WHY is he going to 10k? Let's assume he has a reason. He will most likley want to keep the actinics. I have 10k, they need actinics. If he has a M59 ballast, it will fire the 10k bulbs. What ansi code is the ballast?
stephane
12-24-2002, 05:15 AM
If you want colorful stony coral pink purple blue one word!

Radium :lol: :lol: :lol:

if you want softy and lps: light green, solid yellow,and brown

saki is the cheapest but need more actinic to give same resutl as 10k
One_Divided
12-24-2002, 07:20 AM
Stephane, it's easy to generalize with this sort fo stuff. Strangely enough, one of the most colourful tanks in town is lit by a 400w iwasaki with 2 vho and 2 no 4' actinics.. Though I can't complain about my colour with the radium!
BC_Grl
12-31-2002, 07:50 AM
one of the most colourful tanks in town
Whose tank is that? :mrgreen:

No offense, but sometimes I think my lighting is a bit too blue. We are using 2x radiums 400w 20K
Aquattro
12-31-2002, 11:59 AM
Jeanna, he's talking about Brad Gemmell's tank. Really nice colors under a 65k.
You should come by and see my tank after my Radiums get delivered. Not too blue at all. Maybe you'll want to switch ballasts!!!