lighting for LPS

[milkshake]

I have a 40gal tall tank/ 24" deep. Currently I have 3 pieces of LPS in the lower portion of the tank. Alien Mouth Mycedium. The lighting that I have is 250W 15K SE along with two 75W VHO pure actinic blue. Would it be better for me to go with a 20K bulb?
My concern is of course to keep everything happy in the tank such
as the zoanthids (that I mostly have).

 

[lcheesman]

The higher Kelvin rating IMO should have not have too much of an effect other than, asthetics and usable par.

 

[milkshake]

So your saying that by switching to a 20K MH would not have too much of a benefit?

 

[Amphiprionocellaris]

20K would probably give better color, and the lower efficiency might be very appreciated by LPS and zoanthids. It probably would not have too much of a health benefit, unless your stuff is acting light it's getting too much light (the signs: poor expansion/little inflation, pale colors, tissue recession in extreme cases).

 

[LBCBJ]

20k's not going to benefit the corals, there's going to be less PAR than a 10k. Only benefit would be asthetics

 

[milkshake]

I would say that 98% of all the zoanthids are open at any givin time and the softies along with the LPS(being in a shaded area that gets some light) are at full expansion. One thing that I do notice is the clown fish will move more around the tank when the MH goes off. But that's another forum discusion.