Benefits of Actinic Lighting

[BMorgan]

Hello all,

I was wondering what the benefits of actinic lighting was. The reason being is I am trying to decide what type of light to buy. Right now I have a 28 gal bowfront tank that I want to have SPS and LPS corals in. I was thinking of buying a 250W MH fixture without any other type of light (T-5 or PC) or to buy a combo of like, 150W MH fixture with a combo of either T-5 or PC 50/50 lamps.

I'm sure the best solution would be a 250W MH, T-5 combo but since I don't have $400-$500 to spring for that I need a diff option. Besides, I will probably get a bigger tank sooner or later and then I need to invest in a larger fixture for THAT tank too so you can see my dilemma. The single MH fixture has lunar lights too so that would help w/ color but I just wanted to see what other's opinions were.

Thanks!

[dorkfish]

It's mainly for looks, however a 14 or 20 K MH bulb will give you pretty much the same effect.

[BMorgan]

Thanks for your response, which actually raises another question. As far as MH bulbs, what seems to be better? 10k, 14k or 20k?

[Reefscape]

Whats better is really down to preference in my opinion...Personaly, i prefer 14k as you get a nice balance of white with a slight blue tinge. If i feel the need for more blue, then i would add some actinics for suppliment..I am sure some people will claim their corals grow faster with a specific colour of bulb, but, am yet to see this produced in the form of documented evidence over a good period of time...

Just my thoughts

Niko

[jagr200]

Whats better is really down to preference in my opinion...Personaly, i prefer 14k as you get a nice balance of white with a slight blue tinge. If i feel the need for more blue, then i would add some actinics for suppliment..I am sure some people will claim their corals grow faster with a specific colour of bulb, but, am yet to see this produced in the form of documented evidence over a good period of time...

Just my thoughts

Niko

Trust this man. He is god. lol

[Grins]

I have had 10000Ks on mine until this past week when I changed them to 14000Ks. I will be moving the bulbs down however to compensate for the par difference and hopefully offset any slower difference in growth. Some of the locals I know have noticed a difference and I'd like to avoid it. Oh, and I LOVE the difference in colors.

[BMorgan]

I have had 10000Ks on mine until this past week when I changed them to 14000Ks. I will be moving the bulbs down however to compensate for the par difference and hopefully offset any slower difference in growth. Some of the locals I know have noticed a difference and I'd like to avoid it. Oh, and I LOVE the difference in colors.

When you say move the bulbs down I assume you mean closer to the surface of the water? I'm new to all this lighting stuff :). PAR = Photosynthetically Active Radiation? How it relates to reef keeping I still really don't know (sorry :()

Thanks for all of your responses. After much deliberation I believe I have decided on the SunPod 250W MH w/ a 14K lamp:

http://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-SunPod-Metal-Halide/dp/B000SAXEUK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&m=A1ZIOKDYA2KMI2&s=generic&qid=1198714710&sr=1-7

Not a bad price seems to me (especially with a $200 Amazon gift card) and like Grins pointed out in an ealier post of mine, seems to be a better (and safer) bet then this unknown brand of 150W MH/ T5 combo for a little cheaper:

http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Halide-Aquarium-light-moonlights/dp/B000WL6OCA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_12?ie=UTF8&s=miscellaneous&qid=1198716993&sr=8-12

Please feel free to point me in a better direction, if you feel this is not a good decision.

Thanks

[Grins]

Yes, I'll be moving them down to so they are about 8" or so off the surface of the water.

[dorkfish]

PAR = Photosynthetically Active Radiation? How it relates to reef keeping I still really don't know (sorry :()

It's photosynthetically available radiation... Radiation meaning light, Photosynthetically available meaning it's available for photosynthesis.

[legendaryfrog]

Same here. 14k provides a great mix of white and blue, so no actnics are really necessary to get that "ocean" look.

[BMorgan]

It's photosynthetically available radiation... Radiation meaning light, Photosynthetically available meaning it's available for photosynthesis.

Thanks for clearing that up! :)

I kind of figured the 14k bulb would do the trick good enough not to need actinics but that's what I wanted to make sure of. I do love the MH shimmer. It's almost....entrancing....??? :perv:

[Whopper Stopper]

just a heads up... I had a 25 with a 150 sunpod and experienced massive evaporation and had a hard time keeping the temp and chemistry constant. Quite honestly I had to do top offs every day and 5 gallon water changes 3 times a week. Being a full time student and working, I got got kinda burnt out with it and switched to a 60 gallon fowlr. 250 watts gives you right around 10 wpg. From my understanding 7 will grow anything. Also, a lot of soft coral do not like very strong lighting if you plan on having both. A 150 would probebly be perfect, you could always get another from when you upgrade. If you go with the 250 I would reccommend hanging it about 2 feet above your tank to help with the evap and temp. Its not that hard to keep your reef great, but with small tanks, you have to be vigilant on a daily basis. If your a busy person and would be able to dedicate a portion of your time everyday, then your reef will stay amazing. I hope you can avoid some of the problems that I faced. Good luck

-Nick

[animalman]

Ive' got the 150w sunpod MH 14k on a 30 gal and its great. Had a small prob with the temp but I removed part of the top and now its fine. I do top offs every other day. The sunpod is a good light no matter if you get the 150 or 250 you'll be happy with it. IMO
I also like the leds it has. I use the white ones as a sunrise/sunset and the blue at night. Looks really cool.

[Grins]

just a heads up... I had a 25 with a 150 sunpod and experienced massive evaporation and had a hard time keeping the temp and chemistry constant. Quite honestly I had to do top offs every day and 5 gallon water changes 3 times a week. Being a full time student and working, I got got kinda burnt out with it and switched to a 60 gallon fowlr. 250 watts gives you right around 10 wpg. From my understanding 7 will grow anything. Also, a lot of soft coral do not like very strong lighting if you plan on having both. A 150 would probebly be perfect, you could always get another from when you upgrade. If you go with the 250 I would reccommend hanging it about 2 feet above your tank to help with the evap and temp. Its not that hard to keep your reef great, but with small tanks, you have to be vigilant on a daily basis. If your a busy person and would be able to dedicate a portion of your time everyday, then your reef will stay amazing. I hope you can avoid some of the problems that I faced. Good luck

-Nick


MHs do cause a lot of evaporation but an ATO unit can make that chore much more manageable. I'd not hang a 250 watt 2' above the tank either. Mine are at 13" and will soon be dropped to about 8"