best K for MH

[Holmie_D_Klown]

Well, its time to change out my MH bulbs. I currently have 2x250W 10000K and 2x110W VHO actinic. I want to give my tank a little more blue so I was thinking of going with 14000K MH. I have a Crocea and a Gigas.

Will the difference in PAR be an issue? Do I need to increase the time the light is on to compensate?

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I dont think you'll have anything to worry about. Maybe just change 1 bulb at a time to allow them to adapt.

 

[jay24k]

Par will be a big difference but should be sufficient for the clams.

 

[Holmie_D_Klown]

Ya, I was thinking about the Hamilton 14000K, which seems to be one of the better 14000K+ bulbs in terms of PAR. I previously had XM 10000K bulbs. I believe the PAR will go down to 300-325 from 500. That's what I am kind of concerned about.

 

[RayD]

Clams should be fine.

 

[Zoom]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8087422#post8087422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Holmie_D_Klown
Ya, I was thinking about the Hamilton 14000K, which seems to be one of the better 14000K+ bulbs in terms of PAR. I previously had XM 10000K bulbs. I believe the PAR will go down to 300-325 from 500. That's what I am kind of concerned about.

If you run a IC ballast the par is not bad at all i like the bulb on the IC but not for full SPS tank.
If you have a regular Magmatic ballast stay with the XM the hamilton 14K 250W are awful on par with the MB.

 

[FEEDERFISH]

I have 2 croceas under 2 X 250 hamilton 14ks and no actinics in a 75 gal. , one is nearly on the bottom other is about 1/4 the way up in the tank, had one for almost 2 years the other for 6 months, good growth and look healthy, i never ran anything but 14K so i can not compair them to anything but they work for me

 

[55semireef]

I like 14 Ks for clams.