MH Spectrum Jump

CodeToad · 11-25-2003, 10:29 PM

I am helping a friend fix up his old tank and he has a 175W MH and VHO actinics... The problem is the bulb is 5500K. I didn't even realize they made that spectrum. They would like to go to a 10000K, but have beautiful soft corals and such so I would hate to shock them. Is it safe to make that jump or should I reccomend a 6500 first then a jump to the 10?

Geoff · 11-26-2003, 08:59 AM

there are all kinds of bulbs our there. you can go up to a 10K without much of a problem. generally as you go up in K the PAR will go down. you will not annoy the corals to much. just pick the colour you would like. i would think a 20k would be to low in PAR for a softie tank though, plus the extra blue usually does not make softies glow like the stonies.

as long as you stay with the same wattages you are pretty safe playing with bulb colours.

G~