[karl]

right i have been doing loads and loads of reading asking daft questions

1st kelvin ratings the higher it is the bluer it is and the lover it is the reder it is ?

2nd what is the best temperature for coral growth ?

3rd what is the best temperature for coral colour?

4th what is the best temperature for the look of the tank ?(understand this is a personal thing)

[ben]

as the sun is 6500k (roughly) then that kelvin is best for the corals. but it makes the tank look yellow so we add blue to make it more pleasing to our eye( but this is preference)

a good balance is 10k, 12k or 14k but again this is preference.

the bluer (higher k) the tank, the more colourful the corals look to us, or at least most of the corals, but the corals will grow faster and with a more natural shape under lower kelvin bulbs

the best thing is to look at the tanks at jasons and see the difference. he has 10k over the sps and 12k over the lps.

lighting is a big subject in theis hobby so my explination is very basic

[karnivor]

karl, on Sep 11 2009, 04:51 PM, said:

right i have been doing loads and loads of reading asking daft questions

1st kelvin ratings the higher it is the bluer it is and the lover it is the reder it is ?

2nd what is the best temperature for coral growth ?

3rd what is the best temperature for coral colour?

4th what is the best temperature for the look of the tank ?(understand this is a personal thing)

1st in broad terms, yes, but the colour of a bulb will also vary from manufacturer to manufacturer

2nd its genarally accepted that 6500k produces best growth but looks awful unless heavily supplemeneted with Actinics.

3rd 14k upwards, the higher the temp the more blue and the more flourescence produced, but less PAR and shorter bulb life.

4th Most people go for between 10k and 20k. My preference would be 12k but I use 10k as it is better for growth.

[chriss]

You can always use 10K for most of the day and then view in the evenings under good atinics to see them at their most colorful.

As a comparison, I use 3x400W 10K for growth and then switch to 3x85W T5 atinic for pleasurable viewing.

Chris

[karl]

so do they make a bulb in between 6500k and 10000k

thinking 4x 59w narva blues for the acitinic

[ben]

karl, on Sep 11 2009, 11:27 PM, said:

so do they make a bulb in between 6500k and 10000k

not that i know of

[chriss]

I think I've seen 8500K lamps soemwhere, but I wouldn't bother. Go with 10K and the narvas.

Chris