So confused about lights!

[ecto1]

I'm getting a 75gallon tank, in which I hope to eventually have corals.

What type of lighting should I get? Power compact, or go all out with metal halides? How many watts? Heck, recommending a manufacturer and model would be great.


I think I've pretty much got a good handle on everything else I'll need for the tank, but lighting is something I'm never sure of.

 

[Navarre]

2x150w halides.50k bulbs.

or 2x250w halides 10k or 14k

 

[ecto1]

What is the K scale for? I know about the watts, but the K thing is confusing me.

I think I may go with 2x250 watts, but I can't find any halide bulbs labelled 50K.

 

[ecto1]

Also, I am considering changing the size from a 75 gallon to either a 150 or 220. My mom thinks that there's no point in having a marine tank if I can't put something like a tang or an Emperor angel in.

 

[ste2k3]

the K (kelvin) rating is the colour temperature of the lamp. 6500 is a very yellow light where as 20000k is a more blue light 10k is more of a white colour.

ste

 

[Navarre]

You cannot get 50k bulbs for 250w lights. these lbubls are new andonly sold in 150w range.
the standard ratings are 10k, 14k 20k. the higher the temperature the bluer the colour and the more colour the corals give out. They will grow slower though as the light from the higer K bulbs canot be uses as easily as the 10k bulbs.