SPS Color

[packer]

I need help with sps knowledge. Does it make a difference on a 150 de MH bulb whether it is 10000K, 14000K or 20000K as to coloring sps corals? I am not talking about the actual look of the color of the lights, I know that is different. I want to know if one will make the colors come out more in the corals themselves. Is the K rating going to affect it or is it the watts and location that will make it more colorful?

 

[matts125]

I have had great results with my reeflux 10ks i have dueal 400s on my 115 gallon, my sps colored up in just a week or less. here is a pic of my tank running these lights.

 

[packer]

Thanks, I have been running 10000k also but need new bulbs and was wondering about the K and color aspect prior to making a purchase.Its more of a sps pigment question rather than a preference on a bulb.

 

[edwing206]

100,000K!?!?!?! Got a pic? :lol:
I run 15k and am now getting more into sps. But when I had 10k on my tank the corals seemed rather bland.

 

[91YOTA]

it will depend on lots of things such as bulb brand, bulb color, bulb wattage, ballast, reflector, system nutrients, water movement, coral placement, coral species.... just to name a few

 

[bradreef]

yes the color temp of a bulb will effect the color of the coral. also the intensity and water clearity. I think MOJO had the best research about it years ago. but yes the actual colors of corals will be different with different bulbs as well as different placement. placement will effect flow and intensity. I would say the combo of 20k and 10k will bring out a good variety of colors.

 

[salmonslayer]

it will depend on lots of things such as bulb brand, bulb color, bulb wattage, ballast, reflector, system nutrients, water movement, coral placement, coral species.... just to name a few

yes the color temp of a bulb will effect the color of the coral. also the intensity and water clearity. I think MOJO had the best research about it years ago. but yes the actual colors of corals will be different with different bulbs as well as different placement. placement will effect flow and intensity. I would say the combo of 20k and 10k will bring out a good variety of colors.

Both are big factors and may have nothing to do with bulbs. Best of luck

 

[barrierreefcf]

We just switched to Coralvue 20k 150w DE on our Elos System 60. It also has 4-24w T-5 (2-blue+ and 2-true actinic). We had run 10k Reeflux and 12K reeflux before. The colors looked good before but now our SPS look even better. As for single ended bulbs, I'm with Brad, a combo of 10k and 20k would be the ultimate. I'm still torn when having to choose one or the other.

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
As a general rule with the rest of the parameters being equal The higher K rated bulbs produce less growth and more color. This is not true in the coloration of all coral in equal amounts. By that I mean some coral colors are more pronounced than others depending of where the bulb spectrum peaks. To further complicate matters it is possible to have three 10,000K, 15,000K, etc., bulbs with three very different spectral outputs. The result is they look to the human eye to be about the same color but will produce different colors on the same coral

The best growth/color combination I've experienced was when I ran 10,000K Ushio's with 20,000K Radiums side by side driven by PFO HQI ballast. The downside was the Radiums lasted only 8 months or so and the Ushios 10-11 months and when you run 15 400W bulbs it can be a little expensive.

My current bulb of choice is the Reeflux 10,000K with lots of 450nm HO T-5's.

Regards,
Kevin

Regards,
Kevin

 

[packer]

Kevin:

Your thoughts between Aqualine 10k and Reeflux 10K? Any thoughts on Aquaconnect's ?

 

[bradreef]

listen to kevin. this guy has great color in corals. Also it is hard to tell what color corals are in pics because people photoshop them or have blue rocks in the pics. best to see in person so you can actually see the difference in color. Personally with SPS I think growth is an imediate want but a long term pain. Kevin has a shop and his job is to grow coral but for the average person the fast growing corals will become a menace.

 

[Snappy]

I personally think you are not likely to get the color you are hoping for with 150w bulbs no matter the brand or Kelvin. I used to run 175 watts SE and did ok but not the way it is with 250 hqi's and if I could do it over I would jump to 400's

 

[kevinpo]

Your thoughts between Aqualine 10k and Reeflux 10K? Any thoughts on Aquaconnect's ?

Hello,
All are good choices. The AB bulbs promote purple and the Reeflux blue coloration. Although the Aquaconnect bulb is very nice it is not woth the price IMHO.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[packer]

Thanks Kevin, I am going with your recommendation of the Reeflux as your current bulb use. Thanks for all the input everyone!

 

[pammy]

Hi Barrierreefcf. I also have an Elos (System 80). Do you have the Elos Planet Light fixture? If so, how do you like the look of the Coralvue 20k 150w DE compared to the 10k Elos MH bulb that came with the Planet fixture?
I also have 2 blue+ and 2 super actinic in my fixture. I'm running the Elos 10k MH bulb that came with it. I don't have anything to compare it to though.
Thanks!
Pam

We just switched to Coralvue 20k 150w DE on our Elos System 60. It also has 4-24w T-5 (2-blue+ and 2-true actinic). We had run 10k Reeflux and 12K reeflux before. The colors looked good before but now our SPS look even better. As for single ended bulbs, I'm with Brad, a combo of 10k and 20k would be the ultimate. I'm still torn when having to choose one or the other.