Does 14k or 20k = 10k + actinics?

[moore030]

I have 2 10k HQI pendants and was thinking of augmenting with actinics, but there's really no good place to put them. Will replacing my 10k lampls with 14k or 20k lamps give a similar effect (ie. make my crocea clam look brighter blue)?

 

thanks!

Brett

[djcerna]

Yes, but the amount of useable light in the 10K range will lessen so you lose Photo synthetically Active Radiation (PAR). Thus your calm will look bluer but will grow slower. That is why many people keep 10K (white) bulbs but add antinic light to supplement blues.

[jnguyen4007]

I like the bluer look so I replaced my 10K with a 14K and use arctinic along with it. It comes down to matter of preference, faster growth but more wash out look, or slower growth but more bluish look.

 

James

[jamal]

yea i have 14k phoenix which i feel are too white. 20 k will be my next step

[Nitro Junkie]

Jamal, you think the phoenix are to white? I was going to switch to them but maybe I'll look at the 20k's now.

[vaironman]

If you like the blueish color, try radium 20K. Very nice.

[moore030]

Thanks for the great info! I didn't know the blue range wasn't good for photosynthesis.

 

I might add another pendant if I switch to 14 or 20k to make up for the lost PAR.

[jnguyen4007]

I have the XM 14K. It was as different as night and day compared to the coralife 10K that was in there before.

[tonkadawg]

I'm running a single Phoenix 14K with no supp lighting and I love it. Great color and nice growth (clams included).