5500k MH for SPS growth

[tew47]

I currently have a 40B mixed reef set up using 4x39 ATI t5's - My plan is to buy a frag shelf and a MH pendant and start growing some SPS frags. Long term goal is a much larger tank - My question is will the 5500k MH be a good light? I plan on only having it on for 4hrs a day, my t5's are on 8hrs a day. Thanks.

 

[Photo_John]

I would go 10k personally. 5500k is going to make your water look very yellow.

 

[mike_cmu04]

Ya don't go under 10k not only will your tank look bad but the coral colors wont look good either.

 

[tew47]

I went with the USHIO 14k

 

[swjim]

Much better choice than the 5500k.

 

[aleonn]

At 5500K you'd also get lots of algae growth. I think 10K is a good balance between appearance of colors and growth.

 

[myaerica]

I would also go 10k at least you will get A crisp yellow. Rather than A dull yellow.

 

[tew47]

my bulb comes in tomorrow - ill post some pics

 

[Ostentum]

I love my 12k Reeflux, perfect balance of good growth spectrum with a more blue tint to them. But agreed dont go under 10k unless its for a dedicated grow out tank and in that case I would do 6500 in a growout followed by a period in another growout with 20k to color the corals back up before going into a display.