Kevin S. Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Im currently running 250w 20k bulbs only on my tank with no other lighting for 9 hrs a day. My water parameters have been stable for a long time. I feel I am giving the corals to much light and they are not giving me the color I want. Im thinking of running XM 20k 175 watt bulbs instead. Does anyone have any experience with this? I really dont want to cut my lighting back any more and do not have room to add any supplemental lighting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan H Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 There is a lot more to the equation than just light... What size tank? Dimensions? What type of coral? Placement? Water flow? Nitrates? Phosphates? Magnesium? Alkalinity? All of these can affect coral health and therefore color. 20k bulbs give a nice light but you may need some actinic supplement to help with the low wavelength light (deep blue and UV). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reburn Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Why not just replace one lamp with a 175 and one lamp with a 250. At the end of 2 months reevaluate which one has yielded the best color and growth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan H Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 That's way too logical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin S. Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 I already thought of that but before I spent $60 on a bulb I wanted to hear opinions if a 175w would work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin S. Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 So I have Luxcore ballast where you can select what wattage you want to run. Can I run my 250w bulbs on a 175w setting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reburn Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 Short answer. Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin S. Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 Thanks Reburn! Do you think it will shock the corals? I would think not going to a lower light. Im not sure what to do as I have no space to add any other lighting and it really sucks having a short light cycle, right now its 9 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reburn Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 Short answer is no. 9 hrs is still a bit longer then normal light cycle with halides. Most people run 8 or 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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