difference between Kelvin

[Dennis1438]

I have been reading about the K rating with the lights. I know there are several different. Is it true if you have a 20000k bulb you really don't need actinic, because the 20k has the full-spectrum, cool blue-white. I'm looking at a 150w light, which comes with either 14k, or 20k, which one is better

 

[gobygoby]

it can be amatter of opinion really......

I dont like 20k's, i think they are way to blue and dim. I like the 14k phoenix. they are bright with a crisp color. but I am a fan of 10k's with actinics.

 

[jeffb3t]

I agree with the 10K with actinics. It seems to balance everything out.

 

[IslandCrow]

It seems the lighting question is often answered with personal preference. Actinics are really the best type of lighting to get your corals to flouresce. The high K bulbs just seem to make everything look really blue. VHOs seem to still be the best choice for true actinics for that matter. In other words, if you have just about anything 5500K or higher, you're probably fine. I wouldn't doubt for a second that certain corals are happier with certain spectrums, but there doesn't seem to be anything definitive on that.

So, the short answer is, most people add actinics because it makes the overall tank look better (though some also swear it helps their coraline grow as well).

 

[jeffb3t]

I have found however that actinic VHO and 10K T-5 go very good together. I really think that the 14K VHO and VHO actinic is rather pink and distracts from everything.

 

[Amphiprion]

Unfortunately, 20000K is not full spectrum. Full spectrum is best represented by 6500K bulbs. However, most people have had good results (including providing plenty of color and usable light energy) with 10000K bulbs supplemented with actinics.

 

[rayjay]

Personally, I choose the combinations that appeal to my eye, not for what others say is needed for corals or whatever.
Kelvin appears to be an unregulated, misused color standard from what I read in May's Reefkeeping Magazine.
Sanjay's article is informative about this topic of Kelvin so you may want to go HERE