who uses what halide bulbs?

[fkshiu]

I've used:

- AB 13Ks on 175w TAR ballasts because of the relative high PAR (score: 7/10)
- XM 10Ks with 250w HQI ballasts because of the massive PAR you get from this combo (score: 8/10 - too much PAR b/c it burned some corals!).
- Radium 20Ks on the HQI ballast because I was into my blue phase (score 8/10 - great for most colours but yellows are washed out).
- Iwasaki 15Ks on 175w electronic ballasts because I'm back into bright white and also the very high relative PAR considering how little electricity this setup uses (score 9/10 - the perfect bulb with actinic supplements).

Note that I supplement with actinics as well.

It's the bulb/ballast combo that will affect your colour/PAR - you have to take both into consideration. Don't always believe what a kelvin temperature bulb is marketed at; the true colour a bulb will spit out can be much different and will change depending on ballast.

Check out Sanjay Joshi's lighting page for more info.