10000K vs. 20000K

[kimmeewoo]

I am currently running two 250w 6500K Iwasakis and 110w actinic supplements. I'm very disappointed in the color--still too yellow, and no flourescing. All of my corals look dull and colorless.

As it happens, my VHO ballast just broke, and I will be returning it to Lampsnow for credit. I'm considering getting either 10000K or 20000K MH bulbs and running no supplementation. Is running those MHs without supplementation a good idea? If so, should I go with the 10000K or the 20000K? Anyone have any pictures showing the difference?

[PerryinCA]

Both of those lamps will look good without supplementation. I would recommend the 20k for non supplemental MH, if your ballast will operate it. However, I doub't you will see as much flourescing as you would with something like a 10k, and a fair amount of actinic.

-Perry

[kimmeewoo]

So is it your recommendation to keep the supplements (meaning I would replace my broken ballast), and buy new 10000K MH bulbs? I want to finally be happy with my lighting. It's amazing how yellow lighting can make a person feel really crappy about her reef!

I didn't know my ballast might not run the 20000K. Any idea if a PFO dual ballast will?

[PerryinCA]

The standard PFO ballast will not be able to fire the 20k as they require an HQI ballast. I think you would be very happy if you were to use the 10k with actinic. There is a large difference in the coloration between the Iwasaki, and the good german 10k lamps.

-Perry

[Ironreef]

standard mogul ballast will run 20k bulbs you will just lose @20% par than running hqi=Magnetic 20k radium=90.63 par pfo hqi=110.2 par. But these are with 400w ballast . 250w theres no ballast comparison that i know of but i would use 10k like ushio because they still have good par and use the vho actinic. The 20k has less par and IMO I would only use 400w hqi with 20k to get the full effect or useage. JMO Fwiw the 400w the # are per sanjays test so that mean 20k can be fired by magnetic bulbs. But it's know 10k and 20k run better under hqi bulbs but it's not know if they lose life. But i would still change them every year and 20k a little sooner and would worry.