Live Rock and Metal Halides

I am in the process of buy a metal halide fixture for my tanks. how if at all will that impact the appearance of my live rock? right now its just under an cheap light.

 

The appearance of your rock will not matter in a couple of years because you won't see if from all the coral growing, if you keep your parameters in check. As far as color I like the 14k lights because they give a nice color of blue. 10k are kind of yellow and 20k are way to blue for the appearance I like.

 

The appearance of the halides and the color of your live rock is unsubstantial in my opinion. The halides are beneficial for the corals and clams we so desire to keep. Yes, they can, based on the bulb kelvin, offer various color schemes that will affect the colors of certain sponges, featherdusters, polychaete worms and microcrustaceans, but the main reason for our decision on lights is aestetics and importance to the corals and clams we keep and the benefits these lights employ!

 

stronger light like mh will effect the shade of coraline that grows.it will probably look a bit more purple than red but only way to be sure is to do it

 

You also need to look at putting in Actinic light too.