Lighting-Best Kelvin rating question

[dynaschm0e]

Hello All,
This is my first post to reefcentral. Thank you in advance for your energy. I am planning my first reef tank. After first considering the new NC28 AIO, I am now leaning towards a 40G Breeder display with a 20G High as a refugium/skimmer below. My question is about usable light by corals. I am considering possibly the SunPod 2x150W 14K HQI-MH or the Outer Orbit 1x150W 10K HQI-MH w/ 2x96W Dual Actinic. Which of those two lights would offer more usable light to corals? Which would offer more visually appealing light to the viewer?
Does a 150W MH 10000K light with supplemental actinic lighting or a light with 2x 150 MH 14000K provide more usable light to the corals?
Can an array of white/blue T5s offer the same or a better spectrum then a MH?
Is 10000K the real driving color of photosynthesis? How important is the additional blue/actinic to photsynthesis?
Price is an issue and both of the lights mentioned are $400+. Is there a better/cheaper way to achieve the best color and best light for corals in a 40B(36Lx18Wx16H)?
My real question is: how can I get the most bang for the buck in lighting a 40B for great coral growth?
Thank you.
-Trey

 

[Bebo77]

[welcome]

what kind of coral are you going to get?

if you like Mh i like these lights the best...

lumenarc mini 14" X 14" X 7"

that said i like 2oK bulbs on sps tanks.. they jsut look better and require no supplimets... like the helios 20k or radium 20k

 

[silvers]

10 k usualy have higher par (Brighter) but some people think they are too yellow so they suplement with antics But with the 14k u will probaly loose some par but more visually appealing light to the viewer . alot depends on ballist and bulb but usualy the higher K rating the more par you loose. Do you have links to the lights you are talking about .

 

[dynaschm0e]

Thank you Silvers and Bebo77 for your responses. I do not have the lights yet: still researching. I am not sure about all of the corals I plan on getting: I want to purchase equipment that would leave that option kinda' open. Both of the forementioned lights were found on marinedepot.com.

So, the par lighting is the 10000K spectrum and the blue is for visuals? So a 150W MH 14000K produces < par lighting than a 150WMH 10000K? How much less? What is the par lighting produced by a 14000K 150W MH compared to a 10000k 150W MH?


What would produce more par lighting:
2x 14000K 150W MH
or
1x 10000K 150W MH w/ 2x 96W Dual Actinic?

 

[puddldude]

here is a site for you to compare spectral plots as well as par for what ever bulb you are looking for matching it to your ballast. BOL
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

 

[silvers]

I would get the fixture with duel bulbs 2 are usualy better than one . If you dont like the bulbs change when time to replace

 

[dynaschm0e]

Thanks Puddldude: very informative link. So, a 10000K MH has more usable light by coral than an equal wattage 14000K MH. Does anyone know how an equal wattage of each of the common types reef bulbs (Flourescent, MH, PC, T5HO) would compare in usable coral lighting?

 

[dynaschm0e]

Good idea silvers. I don't have the math, but I am guessing 2x 14000K MH would produce more usable light than 1x 10000K MH of equal wattage.

Anyone have any ideas about how equal wattages of common reef bulbs (Flourescent, MH, PC, T5HO) would compare in usable light for coral?

 

[dynaschm0e]

If 6500K is the spectrum driving coral growth, why are 10, 14, 20 K MH the trendy setups now: to avoid the need for supplemental actinic lighting?

Is coral growth significantly better at 6500K compared to 10000K? If so, you can always add enough blue to compliment the 6500K spectrum to make it visually appealing, right?

Thanks.
-Trey

 

[dynaschm0e]

bump...