how much light?

[Steven0000]

i was thinking of buying 2 250 watt 20,000k MH bulbs
with this i would add 2 40 watt actininc blue fluorescent bulbs

this would be for a 55g tank

what could i not have in this tank?

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

You should be able to house anything that you want in that tank with that much light.

 

[BONDQ]

That's a good amount of light for practically anything I can think of.

Have you considered getting 14K halides instead?
Your tank will be VERY blue with 20K AND those actinics.

The 14K will be whiter and the actinics will balance some of that out.

The coloration is purely preference. Make sure to look at several different color temperatures before buying.

I got the 14K Hamiltons and chose not to get actinics because they bother my eyes. I'm really happy with the purity of the lights.

Of course, if you get tired of the color, you can just buy a new color of bulbs when you change them out in 12 to 18 months. Changing the coloration does not usually affect the ballast or housing.

Have fun.

 

[Steven0000]

awesome thanks guys

 

[Steven0000]

what is the difference in the 14k and the 20k?
just light shade and color?
or should i be concerned about temp too?
would the temp be higher with 20k than 14k?

 

[mfinn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7852368#post7852368 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Steven0000
what is the difference in the 14k and the 20k?
just light shade and color?
or should i be concerned about temp too?
would the temp be higher with 20k than 14k?

The 20k is will be more blue.
There would be no difference in temp.

 

[BONDQ]

6,500K is yellow.
10,000K is yellowish-white.
14,000K bluish-white.
20,000K blue.

Actinics have a bluish effect and are also somewhat like a black-light in that they make corals appear to look florescent and brighter, but this is a "fake" effect; because they would not appear this way in the ocean.
Personally, they bother my eyes. For me, it's like staring at a strobe blacklight. It makes me dizzy. My solution was to choose a 14K halide bulb, which gives a pure white with a bit of blue, thereby removing the need for the actinics. I will also loose that brightening effect on the corals, but I am just fine with that.

Try this link, it has visual comparisons on bulb coloration:

Marinedepot Halide Bulbs

Hope this helps.

 

[RayD]

You may find 20K to be too blue if you have actinics also.

I have the Aqualine 10K which actually shine at 13K. Just right for my taste.

 

[jbittner]

how will you deal with maintaining tank temp. That will be alot of heat for a 55, but @ 10 wpg you could keep anything.