WEEKLY DISCUSSION : Lighten Up!

[jman785]

I'm not telling you to lighten up, I'm talking about tank lights.



Metal Halide (MH), Power Compacts (PC), High Output (HO), Very High Output (VHO)

What are the dimensions of your tank?

What do you light your tank with currently?
>Are you happy with it?

What has worked the best for you as far as light equipment (Brand, etc.)?

Did you research the PAR ratings when purchasing your setup?

(By the way, I'm not referring to golf when I said PAR...I'm talking about Photosynthetic Active Radiation.)

I have used just about everything but T-5's.

My Prefered arrangement is Halides and VHO for SPS/Clams, VHO for softies and LPS. I do use several PC lights on several smaller tanks

For VHO's I use URI Professional Series tubes in 160 watt and 110 watt tubes depending on which tank we are talking about. All are powered by ARO ballast except one unkn make that I have thats the odd man out.

Halides I have are in 400 watt SE and 250 watt SE set ups on dual PFO ballast. Bulbs used have been 6500k Ushio and XM 10ks. I personanly prefer the XM's but thats just my "calibrated eye" speaking my opinion. These are backed up by actinic URI VHO's. Might be changing in the future to ARO nad 14K bulbs, the jury is still out on that one.

Live rock vat...Blue Moons 48" T-8 in Home Depot shop light fixture. I have found that coralline algae seems to grow quicker on rock with this set up, as such I continue to use them for that purpose. I have no scientific evidence to base this off of, just took the recommendation from GARF and tried it and it seems to have some truth to it.

PC's are used for the most part on small tanks such as qt for corals and clams, or nano reefs where using other types of light is not cost effective or possible otherwise for variuos reasons. I cant justify a 400 watt halide on a 10 gallon nano reef...I mean thats a bit excessive in my opinion although its being done by many who swear by it and I cant fault them for that since it works....

No I really didnt pay too much attention to things like PAR although I am sure I really should. Just couldnt deal wioth all those charts and decifer the results and comparisons. I am a simple kinda man and like simple kinda things. I look at others lights and then decide if I like the results and then try it on mine...I know thats pretty pathetic but I work much better with pictures than written theories. Just a short comming of mine....

[FishinInTheDark]

I use 440 watts of power compact lights (four 55W 10,000K, two 55W actinic, two 55W 7,100K blue) over my 80 gallon, and 130 watts of power compact (two 65W 50/50) over my refugium. I have only ever used PC. I am not unhappy with it, but not thrilled either. I have had coral growth, but not really great. Relatively soon, I want to remove half of the PC lighting and add two 250W MH bulbs, probably 10,000K. And use the remaining 220W of PC for actinic. I really like the look of rippling sunlight that MH provides, and I would like faster coral growth. I have not researched PAR at all.

[cich1]

I'm using 2x13 pc w/50/50 bulbs on my 5.5g nano but i think i'm goinig to add a third 13w fixture that i already have for more actinic light. on my 29g i have a coralife 2x65 w pc with 50/50 bulbs, i bought a 175w mh w/ 10,000k ushio bulb and 2x32w pc w/actinic for my 29g but have not used it yet , i'm not sure that my tank would benefit from that much light since all i have in the tank is some softies and a couple of lps, any thoughts on this?

[jman785]

cich1,

I imagine it will benefit...and your softies and your LPS would love you. Now you can have your go at SPS as well. If you need anymore help with this, let me know, via PM and I'll help ya out.

[cich1]

time to get started on a canopy :D

[MikeS]

I have a 2x110W VHO + 2x55W PC combo in a homemade canopy...

I have one actinic and one 12000K VHO, and the PC's are 50% 5500K 50% Actinic.

Mike

[Diver_1298]

Tank Dimensions 48 x 18 x 24"
MH's ( Lithonia TFL's with aquarium bulbs)
Coralife pc's with 4x65
I bought some compact flourescents(Coralife)for my 90 gallon main tank 4 x 65 watts. 2 10k and 2 actinics. I thought "wow" this will be plenty of lights. After further research and much to my dismay :lol: I have now purchased 2 - 250w metal halides with ushio 10k bulbs. I plan on making a hanging canopy and placing the MH's and the compact flourescents in it. Unless you are into fish only there is no CHEAP way to light up a reef tank. There are less expensive ways but you will spend more on your lighting than any other single item (Hardware) for your tank.

[cich1]

you got that right Diver1298, lighting and liverock are the big 2, btw welcome to coralforum, post some pics of your canopy when you can i love seeing other peoples diy projects

[sheik_yerbouti]

We have a 72g bow front (4x18"x20") and are currently using 4x96w PC with 4x1w moons. We are new to the hobby and only have inverts and LR right now but are adding fish this weekend.
We like the setup since all the lights are in one unit, they are quiet ( no loud fans or buzzing ballasts) and they have not promoted algae growth. We are happy so far, but like I said, we do not have much to compare it to. I think they are great for at least beginners (like me) due to their ease but I have seen other experienced members mention they have and like them...can't be all bad :)

[tdevil]

is there a time limit or something if you go inactive for a few mins, this will be the third time replying to this, and i am getting tired of typing :)

ok, my tank is 150g
as soon as i get the new canopy done the 3 400w 20k XMs, 4 VHOs 2 actinics and 2 50/50's will go on the tank

right now there are 250w XMs and 2 VHOs

the lighting will only be 6" off the water, the tank is covered (glass) so fish dont carpet surf, i had a wrasse make it throu the eggcrating and dont use it any more

i am making this canopy shorter to account for the lids, lighting doesnt penetrate through the lids all that great and i like light :)

here is a pic of the new canopy, its getting there
still need to paint the inside to protect it from the water and mount the fans and lighting

Jay

[cich1]

nice canopy tdevil, i'm just finishing up one of my own, just need to add fan and lights and another coat of polyurethene, looks like your a better carpenter than me though :lol: oh well function over form i say