Hamilton 14k Metal Halide?

[adamRS80]

I've been using 20,000k XM 250watt over my tank for a while but I'm kinda looking for something a little less blue, more white, but still maintain all the color of my corals. Has anybody used a Hamilton 14k before? I saw a picture in the Aquarium Corals book my Eric Borneman on page 329, bottom right. Picture shows a tank mixing 6500k, 20000k and actinics. Looks just right to me but I know lighting is a matter of personal preferance to some extent. I do not have room in my light hood to add any kind of actinics so I'm only able to have one bulb. Previously I used an Aqualine 10000k. Any suggestions? Thanks alot.

[kaiser]

I have a Hamilton Pendant with a 250W 14K Hamilton DE as the only light over my tank (37Cube). I am happy with it. The corals seem to like it too, but I do not have sps. I went with the 14K so I would not have to supplement actinic.

[adamRS80]

I pretty much only have SPS. SPS are probably going to grow faster under a "whiter" light aren't they? I have a 46 almost cube so this should work fine. I wonder if it will work with an icecap ballast?

[kaiser]

here is a pic of my tank.

[::pete::]

I run the 14K Hamiltons suplemented with VHO Actinics because I like the blue. I have mostly SPS and they do fine. It also allows me to take pictures that arent blued out from the 20K's.

http://www.offthereef.org/images/left.jpg

[JimD]

Pete, Is that purple Monti Cap I see???????

[GaryP]

The only problem is that you are not getting 420 nm wavelength by 14K. Many corals needs the 420 nm spectrum. The only way to get it, that I know of, is with actinics.

There's a difference between color and true wavelength. Larry (Instar) wrote a very good post on this topic recently.

Gary

[adamRS80]

If you're looking for purple montipora cap. I just took some frags down to Aquatic Warehouse of Green/purple rim, orange, and purple monti. cap. They've lost a little beauty since they've been moved from my tank and aren't under metal halide but there are some frags there if you're looking for them.

[adamRS80]

Gary - Am I getting 420nm using 20000k XM?

[::pete::]

JimD
Thats not my purple Monti, but a brownish one with purple polyps.

Heres the purple ...

http://www.offthereef.org/images/right.jpg

[Andrew]

- Am I getting 420nm using 20000k XM?

If the 14 and 20K's are both full spectrum bulbs, you're still getting some wavelenths in the 420 nm range, just not as much as with straight actinic bulbs.

Andrew

[adamRS80]

Thanks everybody. Now I just have to pay for this expensive bulb. Are there any other options in the 14k range?

[brewercm]

I had switched over to the AB 10K (which is actually 13K) supplemented with actinic VHO and liked the look better than the 20Ks. It appeared to me to make my corals look more natural in their color. Also noticedt that when I switched from magnetic to electric ballast my 10Ks were more blue/white than they were before. I can't say anything about growth since it wasn't that long of a period before tearing the system down, but usually growth is better under brighter light (par rating) which is what you usually get with a lower K rating.
Just my .02 worth.

[Brett Wilson]

Ironically if you want 420nm light from a metal halide bulb guess which one has the MOST, the very yellow Iwasaki 6500K. it's got a TON of yellow, but also a ton of 420nm. It's just overshadowed by the intense and brighter yellow. :D