pacific blue Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 is there anything wrong with 6,500k metal halides? do they do the job? and what is the best k rating for fast coral growth? any advice would be very appreciated. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 6500k is the best with lots of blue floros Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 6500 is certainly the best growth, but too yellow for my liking (hence why reef says heaps of blues) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 6500k make your rocks look very dirty. check out other tanks before you decide. there are plenty of tanks on here that people will let you have a looksy, I'm sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacific blue Posted June 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 thanks guys, how many blue fluros do you think ill need above a tank which is a 1000mm by 1000mm and 300mm deep? im also getting a heap of both green and brown hair alge growth? do u think this has any thing to do with the kevin rating? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Yeah was just going to say they are good for growth and with that comes a lot of algae. 10,000K and 14,000K are probably the most comon Kelvin ratings used. If your tank is reasonably new the algae is most likely part of the tank cycling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Having done 10K and 16K I think I prefer the 10K. Look much more brighter and doesn't look as washed out, more reds too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 i've gone with 1 x 10k m/h, 2 x 14k m/h's, 2 x white T5's and 2 x blue T5's. pretty much a combo of all sorts, but i think its just the right colour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 thanks guys, how many blue fluros do you think ill need above a tank which is a 1000mm by 1000mm and 300mm deep? What sort of corals are you keeping/wanting to keep? Your tanks not very deep so you might not need to much light. I dont think many (if any) people run 6500K even though they are best for growth. I'm running 10,000K would like 'whiter' light, but found the 14,000k's lost to much grunt. I also run a couple of bllue T5's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 but found the 14,000k's lost to much grunt bizzare but so true, I noticed exactly the same with mine when i was looking at them (well, glanced at them ) tonight. wonder why that is? maybe just the specific brand of bulb or is it coz its 14k? i'd go for 10k and supplement with blue T5's. btw, you havent mentioned how old your tank is etc. has it cycled yet? have you tested for nitrates/phosphates? how old are your current bulbs? good calcium levels are best for fast coral growth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 just the specific brand of bulb or is it coz its 14k? Nah its the 14k, as the K gets higher the intensity goes down, I did read why but all geek speak to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 maybe just the specific brand of bulb or is it coz its 14k? Yes it is specific brand, most bulbs are not 14k, and it is just a marketing hype. Its looks a bit blue so they call it 14k or 20k. For example BLV is a reputable company and there 14k is so white and bright. The PAR rating is pretty high. The higher the K rating the less light the bulbs puts out and it does not last as long before it losses its spectrum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Well I have just put in some 20k after looking at crackers tank, they make the tank look darker but much more natural and show off the colours. I think the kelvin fades after time I put in a 16k about three months ago along side my 14k and after three months could hardly tell the difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacific blue Posted June 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 very interesting, my tank is just new so the alge could be just part of the cycling process. the nitrates are low but the phosphates are really high, i have some phosphate removing stuff in the sump but it isnt doing much. what is the reason that not many (if any) people use 6500k bulbs? especially since they have the best growth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Looks, 6500k lamps look yellow while 10000k looks white and 14000-20000k lamps look blue. Do have to say the main disadvantage with the 10000-20000k lamps is there price compared. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacific blue Posted June 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 ok, my halides are single ended and i cant find many places that sell the lamps, and they are so expensive, $500 for a 10,000k bulb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 a 65ook iwasaki bulb is not cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacific blue Posted June 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 i got my 6,500k bulbs for only $80, i think they are normally used for lighting rather than aquariums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Whats the price of a Iwasaki 10000k lamp surely not cheaper then the 6500k Iwasaki lamp? :roll: I'm not actually sure what the pet stores are charging for 10000k lamps as i've never brought one from a pet store, so what kind of prices are they asking for a 150w 10000k double ended lamp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 arcardia bulbs about $160 - $190 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0pius Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 aihua bulbs are sold for around $70 wholesale, I think Hollywoods now is the reseller for these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Havent seen the par rating of then but would think they would be pretty low. are they made in china. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeBlog Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 ok, my halides are single ended and i cant find many places that sell the lamps, and they are so expensive, $500 for a 10,000k bulb. Order over the internet. This is one item that may still be economical to do so since they are obviously light and not significantly affected by the increase in shipping costs. I used to buy mine from Marine Depot. I've heard of others buying from Australia, Singapore, etc... Just take a quick look and you will surely find some deals (on brand names) better than what you are facing now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 they are so expensive, $500 for a 10,000k bulb. is that $500 yen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0pius Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 yeah I think they are chinese the user xyyy was the selling them I bought 2 off trademe they seem alright, however I have nothing to compare them against. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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