Re: 10000k 14000k 20000k
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15007728#post15007728 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lobstaâ"žÂ¢
i have 2 10000k 250w MH bulbs on my setup
needless to say the colors do NOT pop in my tank
i don't like 20000k bulbs(too dim/blue)
just curious too see if anyone has a bulb or bulb combo that is bright, yet makes the colors in your tank pop!
FYI i also have 2 96W actinic PCs in the fixture(still no color :\ )
Some 20K's are whiter than some 14K's.
You cant just go by the K rating, it is just a rating, not the true color temp of the lamp.
The German 20K's generally are not super blue.
The Phoenix 14K is a 20K plus lamp with good par for the color. But blue and monotone to my eye. I hate them but they have good par and are very popular. Not a good choice if you dont want a bluer bulb.
If you are running SE, the Radium 20K is very popular, but expensive. One of the most highly regarded 250 watt halides for color. Pretty good par as well.
The Ushio 20K's are great bulbs as well. Not par monsters but white with blue tint ... not overwhelming blue. Quality bulbs too. Look great as standalones. Supplement with 420nm PC's and they look excellent, IMO.
The Ushio 14K actually measures close to 10K but is whiter than most 10K's as most 10K's actually measure lower than 10K.
Bulb is full spectrum with the exception of much energy in the blue range. Lots of actinic energy and some energy in the warmer spectrums. just not much in the actual blue range. You may see them as whiter/bluer (actually actinic/violet) than what you are running now depending on what 10K you are running. You can use blue PC's to add the blue. Excellent bulb, good par. But a warmer white bulb, not a cool white/blue bulb. But again, easy to supplement the blue with blue flourescents (if you have enough flourescent light).
Iwasaki 14K 250 watt DE Cool, crisp, white lamp. You might see a slight blue tint with you being used to a 10K. Good par but not a blue looking lamp. Supplements well with super actinic flourescents (or blues if you want bluer).
If you want a bluer lamp, the Helios 20K is very blue, the Phoenix 14K as mentioned ... just to name a few.
Seems like I do this every day ... just my 2 cents as usual
