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What bulbs should i get?

I need two PC 65w bulbs.

  • 10000ºK/Actinic 460nm

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 420/460nm

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 6700ºK/10000ºK

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
S

saltwater4life

Please vote on what you think. I'm thinking about the 10,000k/actinic
but i wanted to get your guys opinion. Remember this is all i run for lighting.

Thanks,


Nick
 
A

AnDom1

Nick..Is this for the 20gal reef? If so, is it 20 long or 20 high? Single or dual bulb fixture? Types of corals..softies? LPS?

Dom
 
I

IrradiatedReef

PM sent but I will repost here. I have a 130 watt coralife fixture on my 15 gal. As you know it comes with a 10000k and a duel blue antinic. Well, both of my bulbs blew out and I replaced them with a 6700k and the duel antinic where one bulb is blue and the other is the true antinic <purple / hard to see with eyes> I am already seeing better growth, especially on my stonies. I have a Milli that not only has the color coming out strongly, but I have 3 new branches forming.

Visually, with both bulbs running, it looks like the stock bulbs but I think better "pop" on the color. If you run the 6700k by itself, the light is a little greener then the 10000k. The duel antinic bulb is not as bright of a light but has better flourescent on the corals then the duel blue.

If you want to see some pics of the new lighting let me know. I haven't taken any yet but can tomorrow.
 
A

AnDom1

Nick...Two 65w Actinic/10000k bulbs will certainly do the job with the softies and most LPS's you might add to a 20 long. They will likely do the job with SPS's particularly if they were placed in the upper middle to upper part of the reef. As with any size reef with a mixture of corals like you plan, placement and water flow are as important as the lighting's color temp. Just try to know the requirements of the specific corals before you buy them and place them accordingly.

Hope this helps.

Dom
 
I

IrradiatedReef

I wouldn't. that means you have 32.5 watts of growth and 97.5 watts of color. If you do not want to use the duel 6700k <I recommend you do> then go with the duel 10000k and the 420/460 duel antinic <blue/purple>.

I think AnDom1 is refering to the bulbs called 50/50s. Each bulb has 1 10000k and 1 blue antinic strip. I had the equivilent of what he is talking about. My SPS lived, but were not thriving and were browning. Once I switched to the 6700k, all the color came back. Softies and LPS did fine under the 10000k though.

I currently have zoos, Leathers, Mili, Monti cap, Digi, maxima clam, bubble, trumpet, zenia, and bird's nest under the config I told you about.
 
S

saltwater4life

Ohh i guess thats true... So what about a 420/460 and a 6700k/10000k wait do they make them? hmmm

Thanks, I think i'm going to try what you have IrradiatedReef.
 
A

AnDom1

Nick...The 50/50 bulbs I suggested will more than do the job in your tank for Softies and LPS's so if you don't plan to add SPS's anytime soon, go with that Actinic 03/10000k combo bulb. The 6700k bulb suggested by IrradiateReef is a tried and true color temp used successfully
in reefkeeping for many years. But, it does give off a "yellower" look when compareed with 10000k's. I'd only consider it when you plan to add SPS's.

Dom
 
I

IrradiatedReef

I have only been able to find a 6700k/10000k combo bulb in square pin config not staight pin config :( .

As far as more yellow looking... Yea, if you only have that one bulb running it is a little more green/yellow which I mentioned earlier. But with both bulbs running I see no difference at all.

Main reason I do not like 50/50 bulbs is you cannot seperate the lights to put on antinics only. If you want to use the config that AnDom1 suggests, use a 10000k bulb and a seperate antinic bulb. His light config is completely valid and works great! I just find the 6700k gives better growth and visually, I see no difference with both bulbs running at the same time.
 
A

AnDom1

Good point about option to run actinics separately and that when actinics are run with 6700's, the overall look is pleasing.

Nice to have proven choices, Nick. Good Luck!!

Dom
 
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