MH and PC combinations

[Markster]

I have been running 2-175W 10K MH Hamiton bulbs with a four PC strip light (2-65W 50/50 and 2-65W actinics). Each set is on timers along with moonlights.

I ordered replacements for the MH and the bulbs were backorder so the company is providing me 2-175W 14K MH Hamilton bulbs for the same price.

My question is will I have too much blue spectrum to the point I would want replace 2 of the 50/50 PCs with 10K PCs? or leave the 50/50 and replace the actinics with 10K?

[matt]

Hard to say what too much blue is, everyone has a different idea on that one, but in general I would not replace the actinics, especially if you're getting the "true" .03 actinic PC bulbs. They were just coming out when I stopped using Pc lighting, so I don;t know how they compare to the URI vho actinics.

One thing is you will probably lose a lot of PAR going from the 10k hamiltons to the 14ks. If this is an issue you might try to get 10k ushios; same bulb as hamiltons I think, and maybe go with all actinics on the PCs.

[GaryP]

Yep, Matt is 100% correct. PAR is going to be your biggest issue. PAR usually decreases as K value increases.

I just had a 10K crack and pulled out an old 14K that I had used a couple years ago until I could order new bulbs. The difference in brightness was huge from one side of my tank to the other and this was with old bulbs. With newer bulbs the difference would probably be even larger.

[Markster]

I will be stuck with the 14K so I might swap the 50/50 for a 10K PCs to make up the difference. Thanks