... Another lighting Q

[precisionmike]

I have a 55 with (2)150watt double ended Mh bulbs. One went out a few weeks ago. I think they are 10K. I am going to replace both( the good one is a year old). What do you recommend for spectrum? 10K, 12K, or 20K? I have no other lights on the tank now. Only a few corals now, but will be adding more soon. Thanks again,mike.

 

[Bcollins111900]

it is personal pref. IMO. I runf a 250W 10K Hamilton on my tank but I am also running 64W of PC's and 55W of T-5 Actinic. It all depends on how much white or blue light you want in your tank. I would try to see if someone in your local club has a used 14K you can use to see if you like the look as it will add more blue to your tank. IMO 20K is to much blue and coral growth suffers a little comapired to a 14K or 10K. I hope this helps. Also in the Lightng forum there is a scientific study done where a RD member used a ton of diff MH bulbs diff ballasts to show what the lights looked liked. It helpmed me alot decide on 10K Hamiltons.