another light question.
15 posts • Page 1 of 2
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eazy4647 - Posts: 97
- Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:26 pm
another light question.
ok so here it is. my tank cover only has space for one light fixture..so wat do i do? i bought a coraline atinic light. its blue..is it ok to have this as my only light source? or is this just for at night? or should i have a regular. white - yellow light as my only light?
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FRMNUTN2SUMTN4672 - Posts: 152
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:26 pm
Corals do need the blue light(higher Kelvin) from what I am reading, but they will also require a decent wattage which an actinic may not be able to prode. Unless its a VHO actinic. It all depends on whetheror not you decide to keep corals and which types.
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dick_headers - Posts: 424
- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:59 pm
Blue actinics are o.k. for fish only tanks, fishes wouldn't care too much. But I'd highly recommend at least a 50/50 light. actinic/daylight. nice fluorescent combination, but it'll only gives you about 15-20 Ws per bulb. Also if you keep live rocks they would appreciate some good daylight source for successful coralline growing. + Whenever the coralline start to growing, you'll not gonna enjoy it without the daylight, because the deep spectrum of actinic would hide those deep purple, red, pink ( light pink can be noticeable with actinics only) coralline tunes. Actinic bulbs by itselfs are great to make a dust effect ( sunrise, sunset ), and then combined with a daylight bulb you have a greatly simulated daytime effect. If you like to keep your hood on your tank, just change for a 50/50 bulb. You'll notice the different immadietly.That's only an opinion of mine. Take Care and be lucky!
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saltwaterpimp - Posts: 1307
- Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:22 am
you will need both daylights + actinics for corals. you could also remove the lid on your tank then you can fit 2 or 3 lights on top, if you plan on fish that are jumpers i would recomend a canopy,do they sell a 50/50 bulb for your fixture?
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Snowboss4492 - Posts: 2098
- Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:24 pm
Eazy,
My wife bought me my first set up for Christmas and the LFS basically sold her a frsh water tank and some salt RRRRRRRRRRRR - -but I have been upgrading filters, power heads and now I'm in the process of upgrading the entire system from my 20 gallon long to a 65 gallon w/sump - but i digress - I went from a single flouresent bulb to a power compact unit with a 10K "white, a blue actinic and an LED moon light - -this one is a satilite power compact system {very reasonably priced I paid 150.00 and seems to be a pretty good entry level lighting system - - I then built a custom wood box and resessed the light fixture into it and put an access lid to feed and check water condition - it keeps that glare from the underside of the lights you get when your sitting in the recliner watching TV too,lol -i do remove it to do maintinenece - -but it is working nicely - -just an idea for your tank
NOTE: use a good hard wood and good water resistant paint - - salt water is very caustic and the wood needs to be completly sealed or it will rot in the warm, wet salt environment
My wife bought me my first set up for Christmas and the LFS basically sold her a frsh water tank and some salt RRRRRRRRRRRR - -but I have been upgrading filters, power heads and now I'm in the process of upgrading the entire system from my 20 gallon long to a 65 gallon w/sump - but i digress - I went from a single flouresent bulb to a power compact unit with a 10K "white, a blue actinic and an LED moon light - -this one is a satilite power compact system {very reasonably priced I paid 150.00 and seems to be a pretty good entry level lighting system - - I then built a custom wood box and resessed the light fixture into it and put an access lid to feed and check water condition - it keeps that glare from the underside of the lights you get when your sitting in the recliner watching TV too,lol -i do remove it to do maintinenece - -but it is working nicely - -just an idea for your tank
NOTE: use a good hard wood and good water resistant paint - - salt water is very caustic and the wood needs to be completly sealed or it will rot in the warm, wet salt environment
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Snowboss4492 - Posts: 2098
- Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:24 pm
might be? this is 30" inches long 65 watt 10,000K white with 1 single LED in the middle and the actinic with a fan sucking air across it from an intake on the other side - - i love it
on a 20 gallon long tank
on a 20 gallon long tank
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dick_headers - Posts: 424
- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:59 pm
O.K, I see.. Yours the one with the single Sunpaq 50/50 bulb. Mine is the Satellite Dual. It has 2x40W. One of the is 6700/10000K combined and the others 460/420nm actinic. Only one moon led. You can't go wrong with these.. I think Currents are very affordable and high quality light fixtures. I hate to say that, but I think you overpaid for your system Snowboss. But the matter a fact is that you and your environmet are both like the new set up. It's like Coke.."you can't beat the feeling..":-)
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Snowboss4492 - Posts: 2098
- Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:24 pm
sonny,
I just went down and looked at the box - model #1014 dual current satilite power compact 6700/10000K 420nm/460nm actinic with Led moon phase light - - sounds just like yours no? and yes that was my last purchase from the LFS that sold my wife the original set up and I did pay to much but only 10-20 bucks and I didn't have to pay shipping so in my lil mind im even, lol - -but yeah the lights are great - hooked up a couple timers and the day was running - - - Snowboss {AL}
I just went down and looked at the box - model #1014 dual current satilite power compact 6700/10000K 420nm/460nm actinic with Led moon phase light - - sounds just like yours no? and yes that was my last purchase from the LFS that sold my wife the original set up and I did pay to much but only 10-20 bucks and I didn't have to pay shipping so in my lil mind im even, lol - -but yeah the lights are great - hooked up a couple timers and the day was running - - - Snowboss {AL}