Lighting opinions

[RBU1]

OK I know there is a great deal of discussion already on this topic but I wanted to get some opinions on my current setup. I consider my water to be optimal
ALk 9dkh
Mag 1300
Cal 400
PH 8.2
Nitrate less than 2 ppm
Phosphate 0
temp 80-81

My current lighting is dual 250 watt MH with 10,000K Ushio bulbs
I also have 4 96 watt PC's with all Actinic bulbs.
I would like some opinions on my current bulbs.

Should I look to change my halides to 14,000K and the PC's back to 10,000K?

Should I change my MH to 20,000K and my PC's to 10,000K?

I would like to give my corals different spectrum variations for better color and growth.

What does everyone think?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions. BILL

 

[mntl]

If you are looking for growth, stick with 10k's (xm are great) and adjust the actinic for color. The problem with the higher k bulbs is they are very peaky in one area k range and terrible everywhere else. Sunlight is strong in all areas. 10k bulbs like the xm or he iwasaki 6500 are strongr across the whole range like the sun (but nowhere near as strong). But they tend to look the most undesireable (this is opinion, I know some people like the look of yellow bulbs). Getting good actinic is a great way of keeping the broad spectrum lower-K bulbs and still getting the color that we like. Using just a 20k with actininc is still very peaky in the blue spectrum and lacking in others. Although we still are not 100% sure what spectrums are needed and which arent, it has been shown by many that a wide spectrum bulb will produce better growth than a very narrow spectrum.

I would just use better actininic, I am sure you can have success anyway you go though.

-John-