Lighting Help Please

[Bofa]

Can someone recommend a good HQI MH 150 watt 20k bulb? Is there one brand that outshines the rest? I am really looking for a bulb that would make my corals look great! Thanks for everything

 

[Bofa]

or what about a good brand?

 

[zachluhrs]

Aquaconnect's 14k DE 150watt bulb gives a nice color balance. XM's 20k or Ushio's 20k are great "deepwater blue" bulbs.

 

[Bofa]

Everyone keeps telling me if I get 20k bulbs they will be too blue because I am using 10ks now. But don't the 20ks bring out a lot more color?

 

[zachluhrs]

Yes, the 20k's bring out the flourescents in corals, but I don't think you'll be happy with just 20k's lighting your tank in the long run. Do you have a fixture that has T5's or PC's alongside of the halides or are you running just pendants? Variety of spectrum is Key with corals and inverts. If your running just pendants, then I would go with Aquaconnects 14k bulb. Your corals will pop with that color bulb. If you have a fixture with T5's or PC's alongside, then go with Ushio's 20k for the halide and run some 50/50's or daylight bulbs in the T5 or PC slots.

 

[Bofa]

I think I am running these for the actinic bulbs:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=PC1968

So then I should get Ushio's 20k....you know a good place to get them at?

are Ushio's one of the better ones?

 

[Bofa]

also my tank is 24 inches high....Will the 2 150 watt HQI's work for my tank ok....I have some sps but mostly zoanthids.

 

[zachluhrs]

250watt Halides would be better for SPS. But, if you don't want to upgrade then do 2-150watt Ushio 20K's and 2-PC 50/50's. Ushio's in my opinion are a higher end bulb compared to most. You can get the 150watt Ushio 20k bulbs from www.oceanencounter.com. Get the Current USA 50/50 PC's from Marine Depot.