Light questions.

[MagicMan]

I'm interested in some of the more techinical specs for the lights that are widely used. I know that most people with hard corals use 10,000K to as high as 20,000K, and that the strength of the bulbs depends on the depth of the tank (175watt MH, 250watt MH, and 400watt MH, for example).

(potentially) stupid question alert:

what wavelength are those lights? where on the spectrum? Does kelvin tell me all that I need to know?

finally, how come I've never heard of anyone using LED lighting?

MagicMan (the novice).

[wanareef]

On MH's, it's actually 6500k (yellow) to 20,000k (blue). What you want is some where inbetween. I am currently using the Iwsakai's 65k but over driving them and supplementing with actinics. The 65k's offer the best growing conditions IMO (closes to natural light) for most corals. The actinics are for me for astethics (sp). Then on the other end, 20k's are too dim for some. So lighting is all subjective and what you want.

Now for the depth of the tank, the shallower, 12" - 16,18" 175w's then the 250w's to 22" - 26" and for up to 30" the 400w's. But then you can ue the 400's inplace of the 250w's for that more intense look and for those light loving corals.

Most use the LEDS for moon lighting but are not instense enough over a broad and deep area. Light penatration.

http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/...ticle-list.htm

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=254667 some reading

hth