400 watt?????

[The Claw]

I'm currently using (3) 400 watt Ushios with vho backup for my 180 gallon tank. I need to change my halide bulbs out, but there are so many choices. I'd love to here from some folks about what they would do. From 10,000K to 20,000K etc. From Radiums to XM. These are mogul screw in type bulbs. I'd like to stick with the 400watt range. Any ideas???? and why if possible such as color, growth, experience, life expectancy, and cost etc. Thanks(P.S. I know this has alot to do with preference, but tell me what YOU think)

 

[Curtswearing]

Are you trying to color up SPS? Are you trying to maximize growth instead? Unfortunately, those two extremes are mutually exclusive. If you want maximum growth go with 6500k. If your tank is filled in nicely and you want to color up the corals, you can jump up to 20k since you have 400w ballasts.

If you want a happy medium, go 10k or 14k.

Typically, the higher K bulbs don't last as long as the lower K bulbs.

 

[Playa]

good post curt.

If you want great colors and normal growth go with Radiums.

 

[The Claw]

Radiums, like the 20,000K ones? I just read Dr. Mac, and he switched to XM20,000 from Radiums which he used to push. Have any of you used these or have heard about them. Unfortunately, I'm into growth and color of course. I'm working with alot of frags at this point, so guess the focus is on growth. I have (2) icecap 660 ballasts pushing (4) 6 foot vhos. (2) Actinic, and (2) 50/50. Do you think I could offset the color a bit by going (4) actinic. Then stick to the 10K like I'm using. The Ushios seemed to have yellowed fairly fast.