I saw a difference in growth and color going from blue 14k and 20ks to 10k. Growth was a little better, color was much better. No the tank didn't look better and the corals didn't look as nice as they did with a blue hue cast over them but the ACTUAL color of the corals improved alot. Pink tips got pinker (actually developed I should say), blue stag went super blue with a deep blue dot where the polyps come out at night, purple rim caps rims actually got purple opposed to purple from purple actinic shining on the growth edges. I would prefer adding actinics to the 10k a 100x over the 14k and 20k bulbs I use for looks because it would be more effective but I dont know when/if that will happen. I dont know if this would work with higher wattage 14k to 10k where there's already enough lighting power but it definately works on 150w.
1000k's for faster growth?
- Thread starter Darkstar22
- Start date
badmotorfinger7
New member
That's interesting information. I am definately hoping for those kind of results.
Darkstar22
New member
Sounds good stanlalee. What brand 10k bulb are you using? Is it Mogul or DE? I see you are using 150w vs my 250w, but that shouldn't matter other than higher par with the 250w.
I'm using reeflux 10k DE 150w now, from aquamaxx 15k, ushio 20k before that and 14k current sunpaq before that. have put the aquamaxx and ushio's back in several times and each time the degredation in coral color and growth to a lesser extent is noticeable within a few weeks (and vise versa). If it were just growth I'd stick with the blue bulbs because growth is still decent with those but the increased intensity does wonders for color although the bulbs are still a kinda ugly without actinics. I went with reeflux because I've always been told they are the least yellow of the 10ks.
Toadally
New member
I just started using the Reeflux 10k's, and I'll have to say so far I'm impressed with the color. They are 150 watt DE bulbs and I use T5 for a bluer look. When I first installed them I looked at one Reeflux 10k beside the Current 10k and the Reeflux looked like a blue bulb in comparison.
+1 My blues go closer to a green under 20Kk and purples fade a bit.
10000k bulbs seem to produce a much richer color, however the tank does not appear as pretty. More natural yes, but the blue overcast of a higher k bulb is nice ...
skanderson
New member
not to be too big of a pain but it is 10k not 1000k or 10000k that we are talking about here. a 1000 or 10000k bulb would have its spectrum in the ultraviolet range if not up into the frewquency of xrays.
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Darkstar22
New member
All the manufacturers list as 10000k, 14000k etc...point taken. I think my next bulb might be a 10K LoL! any one else who has switched, and noticed positive results? We all know that blue can be pleasing to the eye, but what do our corals like? Great feedback1 Thanks allot.
Darkstar Crashes.....
Darkstar Crashes.....
sjt7
New member
not exactly the same but on my t5 fixture i swapped out some blue+ bulbs for Gieselman daylight bulbs and even though they around the same par, i saw a noticeable increase in growth and color. i will admit that i didnt like the overall look of the tank as much, but the corals seemed to really benefit from it.
Darkstar22
New member
Thanks stj7, I'm thinking the higher par is better for growth from the responses I'm getting. The blue light looks better to our eyes but the whiter light is more beneficial for growth?
Amphiprion
Premium Member
No, it's actually 10000 Kelvin, which would burn a bright white color. 10K would actually be in the lowest wavelengths.
Darkstar22
New member
Yes that's true. The Kelvin rating of the bulb. I see that you use 10k xm. How do you like them?
I am a little surprised people are associating kelvin with growth.
It is my understanding that growth is associated with PAR. While it is true that lower kelvin bulbs tend to produce higher PAR, this is not always the case.
Case in point, I was using a 10 K bulb, and moved to a 14 K bulb, and saw much better growth and I also had better coloration in my corals.
I would also mention that the kelvin rating is made up by the manufacturer of the bulb. A 14 K bulb from different manufacturers can look totally different to the eye and under spectral analysis.
Last, there is a saturation point, where the corals cannot use the additional light/PAR. So any additional is, for lack of a better term, going to waste.
In summary, like almost everything in this hobby, this isn't a "one size fits all" type of question/answer.
It is my understanding that growth is associated with PAR. While it is true that lower kelvin bulbs tend to produce higher PAR, this is not always the case.
Case in point, I was using a 10 K bulb, and moved to a 14 K bulb, and saw much better growth and I also had better coloration in my corals.
I would also mention that the kelvin rating is made up by the manufacturer of the bulb. A 14 K bulb from different manufacturers can look totally different to the eye and under spectral analysis.
Last, there is a saturation point, where the corals cannot use the additional light/PAR. So any additional is, for lack of a better term, going to waste.
In summary, like almost everything in this hobby, this isn't a "one size fits all" type of question/answer.
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