15K or 20K

I am going to get new bulbs and want some opions. SHould I go with 15k or 20k I am getting xm bulbs

What K do you have now ?

I have a 10k 15k 20k ......lol

I have been doing some checking and the coralvue 14k bulb seems like a good bulb.

If im right 20k will be alot of blue and poor groth. 15k will be a nice light blue and goof groth. So i say go 15k

I've used 10, 14, 15, and 20. 15 is my favorite. It's a nice blue, but not overpowering. It hurts my eyes to look into tanks that are 20k + actinics blue.

I have been looking at lighting, I have a 55 I intend to make into a mostly fish tank. Home Depot has a 2 bulb T-5 unit, only 14 watts each, but they are only 2 inches wide in a double tube arrangement. I could put 5 of these across my 55 and would have 140 watts of light. I am sure I would have to get different tubes and I guess doing the math now I am coming up with 150 dollars for the 5 units. Still this beats a TEK light at $300, Yea I know the TEK light has a fan, and high output, but after you spend the 300 bucks for the light you have to buy the bulbs and we all know they are not cheap.

Anyway, i am thinking alternatives.

I would have to agree with Phil the 15k would be nicer on the eyes. you've seen Dustin & mary's big tank the 20k Radiums not to over powering for a 20k bulb and corals grow very well under them..

Home Depot has a 2 bulb T-5 unit, only 14 watts each, but they are only 2 inches wide in a double tube arrangement. I could put 5 of these across my 55 and would have 140 watts of light. I am sure I would have to get different tubes and I guess doing the math now I am coming up with 150 dollars for the 5 units. Still this beats a TEK light at $300, Yea I know the TEK light has a fan, and high output,

a few notes, one Tek systems don't have fans they don't need them because of there sleek preformance. and another thing to look at on the Home depot lighting is do there endcaps have a good water tight end cap. and reflectors are a big factor to flourescents radiate there light good reflectors will push your lighting straight down instead of flaring out. and HO means the Gauge of wire is heavier then 14 watt systems, running a high output ballast on a 14watt system could start a fire. just a few things you might want to take in to consideration.

Garrett I am going with radiums on my tank cause of the par I have read are higher than any of the 15k and beats a few 10k. Read that on rc I'm pretty sure.

I have a 20K radium and it's not overly blue, not a whole lot more than the Phoenix 14k that is right next to it. I like the color quite a bit actually, mine is only growing softies though so I could care less about par or growth, just looks.

I found the artical. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/jb/index.php