I think I'm in trouble

Can you get your money back for all that stuff you bought? :-/

That 20K bulb is as blue as they come. Normally a whiter halide is used, like in the 10K or 14/15K range, with actinic supplementation providing the blue. If you like a very blue tank, though, you can use it, but I don't know if a single 20K bulb would provide enough PAR for coral growth.

How many gallons is your tank? Hopefully it's on the large side, or that 400W bulb is gonna cook everything you own.


On the serious side, though, I hope I can say this without hurting your feelings; but I've seen this dozens of times in the past by someone inexperienced and in a rush. It's impulsive purchases such as these that wind up costing so much money and killing you in the process. Now you have a bulb and ballast that you might not be able to use, and might not be able to return.

This hobby will gobble you up if you don't research, research and research some more before making your purchases. So many people try to run reef tanks on the cheap, and if you stick around here, you'll read time and time again sentences like: "Yeah, I bought everything to save money in the beginning, and wound up replacing everything I bought except the tank. . .. . " People buy poor quality, or the wrong items either to save money, or because their impulses get the better of them.

Please don't take offense to this, but really man--it's up to you to know what you're buying BEFORE you buy.

 

Yes I think I can return the bulb. That shouldn't be a problem. I've heard time and time again that the cheaper alternative isn't the best way to go... I think I'll still be able to use the ballast I just need the popper bulb. Nope I wouldn't like it too blue. I'll see If I can get the 10K or 15K. That sounds better to me.
Thanks

 

The 10K is the same price so I'll get that. Forgot to mention that my tank is 55 gal. 18" deep but I plan to mount the halide about 24" above the tank.