5 replies to this topic

[Ash]

Hi bros/sis out there,

I had changed my both BLV MH 250w DE 10k to 14k, need advise whether my sps will hav any side effect like color fade etc , cos when I power up the 14k, seems like alot more dimmer than my previous 10k, and the reason I wana change is I feel that 10k really yellowish.

Pls advise! :bowdown:Appreciate

[Tangs]

We all know that lighting color spectrum affects coloration in some ways as the color of light directly affects how the color of the coral looks like even though the color remains unchanged.

This is very evident for a coral with purple tips will apprear purple under 10K and look blue under another Kelvin. In short, the lighting color can affect the overall coloration of the SPS.

IMO, the higher the K the better it is for the SPS.

[Ash]

Hi bro tangs,

Thks for yr reply,

in other words, those sps which orginally located at the mid height of my tank will not b affected no doubt it seems that the lighting is not as bright as bfore s I m using 10k last time?

I know it will affect the growth, but I don mind s long s the color maintain and stay at the same size

[scarab]

The higher up the Kelvin rating you go, the rate of SPS growth tend to reduce. This is due to the PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) value for a high K bulb is lower than a low K bulb. So if you are looking for growth, growth and growth, then go for a 10K bulb.

But there is a downside.......

Viewing under 10K bulbs, especially without sufficient blue/actinics balanced (T5 do a good job of this), can be . So even though you get good growth, you might not enjoy viewing your tank. Due its yellowish hue, you might need many tubes of blue T5 to counter but we might not have enough space in the hood to place them.

You will observe some reduction in growth since you change from a 10K to 14K bulb but the viewing and aesthetics are much better. And you are right, 14K bulb does look dimmer than a 10K bulb, as it should be due to lower PAR

SO IMO a 14K bulb does give a good balance to growth and viewing pleasure (except maybe BLV 14K which is still darn yellow ). If you are using 250W, don't go for 20K as the PAR value is too low to give sufficient growth to your SPS, although short term, the corals look great due to the hue created from a bluer bulb. In the long run, the lack of growth will make your corals lose out in terms of colouration as well.

As for the corals in your tank in the meantime, monitor them and see how they react. Some will acclimatise well to the dimmer light and continue to growth albeit a bit slower. Some might react differently, stop growing, turn brown etc. These you might want to consider moving them higher a bit, nearer to the light to give it a little bit of light boost. Just remember to keep your parameters in check and your usual husbandry intact.

Hope this help....

[Tangs]

Also please taken note that some of the factors affecting sps coloration are:

a) Alkalinity level
b) Lightinhg intensity
c) Light color spectrum
d) Calcium level
e) Salinity Level
f) Temperature

Fyi, I had encountered "browning" due to either one of the above exceeding either the lower or higher safe zone limits.

[Ash]

Really Really to all yr precious reply

will tak note of all yr advise and monitor closely,

some of my colony had started to burn tips bfore I had change my bulbs, I guess is due to my new CR which I did not tune properly, cos test my para. yest, all seems quite high.

Btw I does overuse bulbs play a part on burning tips?