Lighting?

[Anthony597]

yeh, sorry to be a bother if this an obvious question but i've been looking to replace my metal halide bulbs (im not sure how old they are) but i dont know what kind they are, in terms of 10,000k, 20,000k or 6,500k, ect. i was wondering what was the difference, adn what whould be recomended, i thought it had to do with color spectrum, and that would effect algea growth (whitch i've had a problem with) if im not mistaken, so if enyone could enlighten me on the subject that would be apreciated!

 

[dots]

Please elaborate on your current lighting ie:type, watts, supplementals, tank height/size, livestock in the tank

To replace the current bulb. The manufacturer should have a number on the current one, and probably wattage if your lucky. Your paperwork from your lights, if you kept it, would have a replacement number also.

The information requested above could guide others in suggesting a likely replacement for your system. ie, brand and Kelvin.

 

[randt122]

If you want a combination of good color and growth, go with either 10000k or 14000k.

 

[Anthony597]

well i got the whole setup form a friend and it didn't come with any papers and i looked on the bulbs and it doesnt say, but i konw there 175w. I also a 2x 96w PC lighting aswell (one actinic one white) nad it is a reef tank with various stony corals, soft corals, zoos, 4 fish
) blue-green chromis
)occelaris clown
)orange diamond goby
)rainfords goby

I hope that helps

 

[dots]

with what you have I would suggest to start with a 10000k rating, since you have actinics. I am assuming however the 175W is a metal Halide. If it is, you can possibly switch all your PC's to Actinic to shift the color from yellowish to a little more blue.
However, if it a long tank with only one MH, then you may want to keep the PC 50/50 in order to get some light on the edges of the tank.

 

[RCS]

What types of corals are they? We'd need some more specifics in order to answer the lighting question properly.