What is the best 20K DE bulb for SPS reef tank
 

Just wondering what is the best 20K bulb out there for SPS corals?
I got 2x250W DE HQI and it looks like its too much light for 36"x18"x24" 65Gal tank, Decided to go higher K color, so what 20K bulbs do you guys think i should get?
Thx

Have you compared the values on Sanjay's site? http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

What issue are you having? I ran 2 x 400w 10k over a 75g for years, never an issue with too much light..

Have you tried phoenix 14Ks yet?

I have 14k Phoenix bulbs supplemented with t5 actinics and have great growth. 20k might be too blue.

I have 2 x 250w 14k phoenix bulbs over a 40g breeder tank and get decent growth.
They sit low too. On the tank rim. New corals do need to be acclimated to that much direct light usually.

Sorry forgot to mention that i am using 2x250W 14K Phoenix atm.
2x250W +4 actinics T5. On a 36" 65 Gal tank.
and the issue is that not too many corals can adjust to the mid upper range of the tank, and looks like a lot of them do better at lower altitudes. Or i find myself looking for a shady spots in my tank for some corals.
So my plan was to try 20K bulbs and because they are bluer get one white (14k)T5 out of 4 T5's in the fixture to compensate for the blueness of the 20K.

Thx for all the replies.

Just wanted to know if there are anyone who runs 250W 20k bulbs on SPS tank and if yes what brand?
.

20k radium or Helios!

Thx for that, i did go there however it does not give me exactly what i need in terms of coral reaction/growth as well as visual appearance/color only plots. Also he doesn't have my ballasts.

Might be best to change the ballasts for 150W versions instead, might even be able to find someone that will trade you straight up. Might be a better alternative since you may not find a huge difference from switching 14K to 20K on the halides and vise-versa on the T5s.

Sorry late reply,
Do they come in DE?

I used geissmenn and aquamedic. Both were great. But prefered the geissmenn

Xm 20k are blue aswell for the single ended, I am not sure if they come in double ended.... It's been so long since using mh I forgot... You may wanna call OA because they have a sale on bulbs ATM and I know they have some nice bluer double ended bulbs....

Good luck!

Yes xm 20k's do come in DE, that's what i run.

Thx guys.