Interesting Idea...

[Travis Savant]

Well, this is my new idea.

I have a 20g SPS dominated tank, about to be SPS only. I am running a single 14k Phoenix 250w DE MH over the tank, no flourescents. I am getting good color, but not good growth.

Awhile back I was running a 10k bulb, but color was pale, but at the same time, growth was super fast.

Now because this is a small tank, I realy don't need the coral to always grow. Here's the plan.

I will switch to a 10k bulb and grow the corals to a desired level. Then, IF COLOR IS PALE I will switch to a 20k bulb thus definantly giveing me good color (because the 14k is right now) and stoping growth.

I think this would be the perfect solution for this tank.

For the 10K bulb, I will probly go with a Coralvue, and switch to an XDE20k. Before I was using an AB10k, but the bulb yellowed in about 4 months because I was using the wrong ballast (chinese, AB bulbs need a german ballast). If the Coralvue 10k gives me good growth and good color, I will stick with it and not switch to the 20k.

Sounds like it will work?

 

[matt the fiddler]

well, params are as much responsible for color as blub growth.

that said, IF you really want to turbo charge the growth get a 65K saki.

I have seen frag setups wiht 65k on one side, and 20 k on the other. they move it under the 20k side when they get close to trading the frags.

 

[Travis Savant]

My params are fine. Lighting is the only factor in this case because they do look nice n=under the 14k.

 

[Justin/TiV]

This is what I planned on doing...growing them, then switching. I couldn't wait though...growth or not...I like the 14k look way, way better. So I don't care how fast they grow anymore