6500k really the best for growth??

stan80 · 12/10/2016, 02:38 PM

Is 6500 k really the best for coral growth? It doesn't look so appealing to my but i want whats best for my corals

ksicard · 12/10/2016, 02:43 PM

Just shoot for 12-14k and maintain water parameters and the corals will grow plenty fast. Aquariums are for our enjoyment and running a 6500k temperature reduces how much I can enjoy my aquarium. Some people do like the 6500k look and unless your one of those people just run 12-14k and enjoy the tank and give the corals time to grow.

timnem70 · 12/10/2016, 02:51 PM

Nope. No one or nothing I have heard or read says 6500kelvin is a prosperous source of light for Corals. Maybe you were thinking for Macro growth in your Sump. In that case 6500 is the exact temp for that application.

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timnem70 · 12/10/2016, 02:51 PM

Anytime you can find a Reef Octopus 110 space saver buy it. You can always get a new pump for them and they fit into almost anywhere. IMO. They also do a superb job on smaller applications like what you and I myself have.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksicard

Just shoot for 12-14k and maintain water parameters and the corals will grow plenty fast. Aquariums are for our enjoyment and running a 6500k temperature reduces how much I can enjoy my aquarium. Some people do like the 6500k look and unless your one of those people just run 12-14k and enjoy the tank and give the corals time to grow.

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timnem70 · 12/10/2016, 02:52 PM

Oops posted that on the wrong page.

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stan80 · 12/10/2016, 02:52 PM

Well i have two 6500 bulbs with 1 14000 and 1 18000 k led strips but the tank still doesn't look very blue at all

biecacka · 12/10/2016, 02:58 PM

I have considered a 10k bulb. I use 20k now and it looks great for sure. But I tad slower growth.

Corey

ksicard · 12/10/2016, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stan80

Well i have two 6500 bulbs with 1 14000 and 1 18000 k led strips but the tank still doesn't look very blue at all

T5/MH tends to drown out LED's easily. Also the whiter spectrum drowns out blues easily also. You are going to have to change bulbs if you want a bluer look. Most people run more blue bulbs/led intensities then white to acheive a 14k'ish look.

stan80 · 12/10/2016, 03:13 PM

Well i guess what i really want to know is the 6500 look isnt gonna harm my corals right?

ktownhero · 12/10/2016, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stan80

Well i guess what i really want to know is the 6500 look isnt gonna harm my corals right?

Probably not, but chances are you'll get a lot more algae growth.

In the wild, most corals are not exposed to 6500k light as the water filters out much of the spectrum. Hence why we look to imitate more of a 10-20k temperature in our tanks.

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stan80 · 12/10/2016, 05:22 PM

Awe ok...but i do have like i said 14 and 18 leds as well but it still appears more 6500k in appearance

reefwiser · 12/10/2016, 05:56 PM

Back in the 80's we could only get 6500k which is considered the color of the noon sun light. It wasn't till the early 90's that 20k bulbs became available. You can get growth and it doesn't hurt the corals. Now days hobbyist want to see the fluorescent colors of the zooxanthellae. Problem is that doesn't mean that a blue light grows corals just shows the zooxanthellae colors. One should choose a light to help corals grow and not because I "like " the color. We should always want to make the corals under our care as healthy as possible.

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stan80 · 12/10/2016, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ktownhero

Probably not, but chances are you'll get a lot more algae growth.

In the wild, most corals are not exposed to 6500k light as the water filters out much of the spectrum. Hence why we look to imitate more of a 10-20k temperature in our tanks.

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but the corals in the shallowest water are exposed to 6500k??

jda · 12/10/2016, 07:55 PM

They will not harm your corals. Most of the coral in our tanks came from depths where 6.5k is about right. They look yellow. They will grow the coral faster. They will bring out the true colors in your coral, but are not too good at showing them off. They have as much PAR as possible since they have output all the way IR in larger numbers than higher K sources.

Watt for watt, they will grow coral the fastest. However, you might enjoy more watts of a 10K bulb for a bit more color and still a ton of growth. Hamilton and XM 10k bulbs are quite nice and only need a bit of blue to make most coral pop.

jda · 12/10/2016, 07:58 PM

High noon with sunlight on the surface is about 5.5K. Down like 12-15 feet is 6.5K where most coral come from. Once you get pretty deep, 15-20K is more common - only really the thin branched deepwater SPS and NPS stuff come from here. Most of the AQ corals that are commonly available are in waist/neck high water between 5.5k or 6.5k.

stan80 · 12/10/2016, 08:07 PM

Ok, i reason i ask in first place was i went to replace a blue bulb but didnt have any left excpet a 6500k so i went with it....will that change in color shock the coral in any way? Especially if i again change the color by putting the old blue bulb back in ?

jda · 12/10/2016, 08:15 PM

Lower the photoperiod a bit - the extra output of the 6.5k can bleach the corals. Cut it in half. Ramp it back up over a few weeks. Going with lower output is nearly never a problem.

Wazzel · 12/10/2016, 08:23 PM

IIRC the lower K lamps put out more power than higher K lamps. It might have been a function of the power more than the color.

Water does absorb light, but not near as fast as people think.

oreo57 · 12/10/2016, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wazzel

IIRC the lower K lamps put out more power than higher K lamps. It might have been a function of the power more than the color.

Water does absorb light, but not near as fast as people think.

Quote:

red light is attenuated rapidly and does not penetrate further than about 5 m in clear water.

http://www.seos-project.eu/modules/o...r-c01-p07.html

jda · 12/10/2016, 09:37 PM

The old lighting guide from Dr. Joshi that Manhattan Reefs used to host had very empirical evidence on output from a myriad of lamps and wattages. I cannot find it anymore - I would love it if anybody had a link. It could have showed you the difference in output between your two exact bulbs.

timnem70 · 12/11/2016, 09:10 AM

Read up on lighting and Reef keeping. This should be in the beginners forum.

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ksc · 12/11/2016, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timnem70

Nope. No one or nothing I have heard or read says 6500kelvin is a prosperous source of light for Corals. Maybe you were thinking for Macro growth in your Sump. In that case 6500 is the exact temp for that application.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Maybe you could edit this out so no newbie actually believes this. I'll put a 6500 Iwasaki MH(it's actually a MV bulb) against any lighting system out there and
grow sps much faster.

jda · 12/11/2016, 11:15 AM

Don't hate too much. Most of the Biocube Generation of Reefers (and beyond) don't know much unless BRS made a video about it.

While I would love to think that this is a beginner topic (and it should be), it is quite advanced for people whose introduction to reefing is the user guide to their Apex and whatever LED panel that they bought.

Greg 45 · 12/11/2016, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksc

Maybe you could edit this out so no newbie actually believes this. I'll put a 6500 Iwasaki MH(it's actually a MV bulb) against any lighting system out there and
grow sps much faster.

They don't sell this lamp any longer contacted the company , they now only sell the 10k.

ReefCowboy · 12/11/2016, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biecacka

I have considered a 10k bulb. I use 20k now and it looks great for sure. But I tad slower growth.

Corey

When I ran T5's had 10k bulbs which allowed for the fastest growth ive ever had in my tanks. I think thats the sweet spot right there

12/10/2016, 02:38 PM	#1
stan80 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 167	6500k really the best for growth?? Is 6500 k really the best for coral growth? It doesn't look so appealing to my but i want whats best for my corals

12/10/2016, 05:56 PM	#12
reefwiser Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Louisville,Kentucky Posts: 1,208	Back in the 80's we could only get 6500k which is considered the color of the noon sun light. It wasn't till the early 90's that 20k bulbs became available. You can get growth and it doesn't hurt the corals. Now days hobbyist want to see the fluorescent colors of the zooxanthellae. Problem is that doesn't mean that a blue light grows corals just shows the zooxanthellae colors. One should choose a light to help corals grow and not because I "like " the color. We should always want to make the corals under our care as healthy as possible. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ President Louisville Marine Aquarium Society. http://www.lmas.org/ The 3rd Annual Frag swap will be held September 23rd,2017 11 am till 3pm Saint Thomas Fellowship hall,9616 Westport Road,Louisvi

12/10/2016, 08:23 PM	#18
Wazzel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 4,743	IIRC the lower K lamps put out more power than higher K lamps. It might have been a function of the power more than the color. Water does absorb light, but not near as fast as people think. __________________ Mark Beware the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it's a train. Current Tank Info: 120, LED, Bare Bottom, SPS/LPS

12/10/2016, 02:43 PM	#2
ksicard Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 538	Just shoot for 12-14k and maintain water parameters and the corals will grow plenty fast. Aquariums are for our enjoyment and running a 6500k temperature reduces how much I can enjoy my aquarium. Some people do like the 6500k look and unless your one of those people just run 12-14k and enjoy the tank and give the corals time to grow.

12/10/2016, 02:51 PM	#3
timnem70 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 462	Nope. No one or nothing I have heard or read says 6500kelvin is a prosperous source of light for Corals. Maybe you were thinking for Macro growth in your Sump. In that case 6500 is the exact temp for that application. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

12/10/2016, 02:52 PM	#5
timnem70 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 462	Oops posted that on the wrong page. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

12/10/2016, 02:58 PM	#7
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	I have considered a 10k bulb. I use 20k now and it looks great for sure. But I tad slower growth. Corey

12/10/2016, 03:13 PM	#9
stan80 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 167	Well i guess what i really want to know is the 6500 look isnt gonna harm my corals right?

12/10/2016, 05:22 PM	#11
stan80 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 167	Awe ok...but i do have like i said 14 and 18 leds as well but it still appears more 6500k in appearance

12/10/2016, 07:55 PM	#14
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	They will not harm your corals. Most of the coral in our tanks came from depths where 6.5k is about right. They look yellow. They will grow the coral faster. They will bring out the true colors in your coral, but are not too good at showing them off. They have as much PAR as possible since they have output all the way IR in larger numbers than higher K sources. Watt for watt, they will grow coral the fastest. However, you might enjoy more watts of a 10K bulb for a bit more color and still a ton of growth. Hamilton and XM 10k bulbs are quite nice and only need a bit of blue to make most coral pop.

12/10/2016, 07:58 PM	#15
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	High noon with sunlight on the surface is about 5.5K. Down like 12-15 feet is 6.5K where most coral come from. Once you get pretty deep, 15-20K is more common - only really the thin branched deepwater SPS and NPS stuff come from here. Most of the AQ corals that are commonly available are in waist/neck high water between 5.5k or 6.5k.

12/10/2016, 08:07 PM	#16
stan80 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 167	Ok, i reason i ask in first place was i went to replace a blue bulb but didnt have any left excpet a 6500k so i went with it....will that change in color shock the coral in any way? Especially if i again change the color by putting the old blue bulb back in ?

12/10/2016, 08:15 PM	#17
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	Lower the photoperiod a bit - the extra output of the 6.5k can bleach the corals. Cut it in half. Ramp it back up over a few weeks. Going with lower output is nearly never a problem.

12/10/2016, 09:37 PM	#20
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	The old lighting guide from Dr. Joshi that Manhattan Reefs used to host had very empirical evidence on output from a myriad of lamps and wattages. I cannot find it anymore - I would love it if anybody had a link. It could have showed you the difference in output between your two exact bulbs.

12/11/2016, 09:10 AM	#21
timnem70 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 462	Read up on lighting and Reef keeping. This should be in the beginners forum. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

12/11/2016, 11:15 AM	#23
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	Don't hate too much. Most of the Biocube Generation of Reefers (and beyond) don't know much unless BRS made a video about it. While I would love to think that this is a beginner topic (and it should be), it is quite advanced for people whose introduction to reefing is the user guide to their Apex and whatever LED panel that they bought.