PC lighting question

[Abynum1]

This is a two part question concerning my pc lighting.
My 72" canopy has 4 96 watt bulbs; 2 whites and 2 actinic.
The canopy came with 12k whites but one was broken and in the meantime I put in a 10k.
I decided to leave it in just to see if there was a difference in the 10 and 12k.
Although I cant see a visible difference in the light itself, there is noticeable more cyano and Hair algae on the 10k side.
My 1st question is what's the real difference and which one is better?
My 2nd question is if I replace the actinic with 50/50 bulbs wouldn't that give me more beneficial light? But... would there not be enough blue at the point to still be pleasing to the eye?
I know if I turn the blues off and just run the two whites, the display has a ugly yellow tint.
Thanks for the help!

 

[mrgpescado]

it is all in the eye of the beholder as long as you are 3 watts per gal or more it will be fine if you are new to reefs you should just buy mushroom & polyps you will then see a differance in you fav. pieces and decide from there 10k is like only swimming down 10 feet in the ocean 12k is like 15 feet deep and 14k is like 25 feet deep it gets blue'r as you swim deeper & deeper

 

[Abynum1]

Can anyone tell if I am correct in thinking that If I switch the blues to 50/50 I will get more useable light and will it be too "white"?

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

you will get more usable light that way. but again it will depend on what color you want the tank to look like. sticking with a 10k, a 12k, and 2 50/50's will look yellow to me

 

[Abynum1]

Thanks! Which is better 10k or 12k?
Also which one is more yellow?

 

[reeftankjunkie]

The 10000K will look more yellow to the human eye as it is closer to the natural spectrum of the sun which is I believe around 6500K, but as they said it is all in what you like. If it over you r display, use whatever looks right to you, but if you are using it over a fuge or prop section, I would go with a 6500K. Beuty is in the eye of the beerholder LOL

 

[Mazzy]

I also have a pc light (hoping to upgrade someday) but I changed my reg. 10K bulb to a 6500/10000k 50/50 - very yellow. Just an fyi since you seem to be looking for the bulb with the most "usable" light. That version of a 50/50 (as opposed to 10000k/atinic 50/50) has probably the most usable light for what is available to us but the yellow color is extremely unattractive.

 

[Abynum1]

I wonder what this would look like:
2 12 or 10 ks and 2 50/50 (10k/actinic)
I guess if its too yellow, I could run my moon lights as well?