6500 lights the best for growth????????

Adam101 · 08-01-2003, 10:38 PM

I have heard this stated many times that 6500K lights( MH) are the best for coral invert growth. Is this true if so why? frankly I think they are kinda Ugly( tad too yellow) but I was just curious if there was any real benefit to them over say a 10-12K bulb?

laddy00 · 08-01-2003, 10:44 PM

The benefit is the intensity of light they put out or par. As the light bulbs go in in degrees Kelvin they loose their intensity. 6500K will make your corals grow better watt for watt but colors will not look as good as under actinic. So the idea is to find a balance or as some people with unlimited means do just add so much light it blinds you.

mjsandbe · 08-02-2003, 01:15 AM

I am sure somebody will correct me here but it is my understanding that it has to do with where on the reef the corals are from. The deeper you go the bluer the light is. So SPS and corals that are near the top of the reef prefer yellower light like more like daylight than the blue look many people prefer to look at.

dwall174 · 08-02-2003, 08:23 AM

Just hitching a ride here! I'm looking to upgrade to MH's & had figuerd on getting the 10.000k? I'm mainly keeping soft corals,But would like to try a anemone someday?

AquaticCo · 08-02-2003, 04:04 PM

Well your all pretty close. As far as the 6.5K's they are actually the number two bulb with the HQI 10K being the number one. The 10K hits the closest to natural sunlight. As you increase in kelvin the intensity does not chage per say but what changes is the color spectrum. A 6.5K appears yellow green as a 10K appears more white, a 14K has both blue and white and the 20K is very blue.

mjsandbe is correct that the deepper you go on a reef the more the green and red spectrums are filtered from the light. Thus the deeper you go the bluer the color.

I hope this helps

Doug

Mrs Smith · 08-02-2003, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Adam101
frankly I think they are kinda Ugly( tad too yellow)

That's why most everyone who runs 6500s uses actinic supplementation. If you're upgrading froma VHO setup, this is pretty easy to manage; it's a lot pricier if you don't already have the VHO.

Danielle

Adam101 · 08-02-2003, 11:02 PM

well I have 80 w of NO flouresents, will that be enough in actinic to offset the yelloish color or should I ditch the NO and go with some VHO or a 175W actinic MH? any suggestions?

Edit the tank has 500W MH 65K right now

AquaticCo · 08-03-2003, 06:19 AM

IMO it will not be enough but when it comes to light it's really what you prefer. Most everyone I deal with who runs 6.5K's also use 03-Actinic VHO's or 03-Actinic Power compacts. (1) 48" VHO is 110-watts. Most people run 2. Giving you 220-watts of 03-Actinic light in a 4' tank.

Doug

dwall174 · 08-06-2003, 06:19 PM

Ok it sounds like two 175-watt 6500K & Two-110 watt VHO 0.3 Actinics would make a good match! Would two 250-watt 10.000K & two-110 watt VHO be to blue?

Casey · 08-06-2003, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dwall174
Ok it sounds like two 175-watt 6500K & Two-110 watt VHO 0.3 Actinics would make a good match! Would two 250-watt 10.000K & two-110 watt VHO be to blue?

I dont think so depends on what you like here is my 65ks

Casey · 08-06-2003, 06:56 PM

Casey · 08-06-2003, 06:57 PM

65ks and vho Actinic 03s

Lighting is all a matter of what you like i hope the pics help ya

08-06-2003, 07:12 PM

20k xm's

08-06-2003, 07:13 PM

bad pic....
heres a better one in the dark so it looks alot bluer

Casey · 08-06-2003, 07:18 PM

My 20ks Xms

6500 lights the best for growth????????

Re: 6500 lights the best for growth????????