Lighting question - Aquarium Advice

Saltar · 01-13-2008, 09:42 AM

I want to start with some easy corals and I want alot of coraline algae growth.

I have the Ice Cap Electroninc Ballasts (430):

Current setup:

2 - 48 inch Super Actinic (110W)
1 - 36 inch Super Actinic (95W)

Also have 1 PC retro:

Current setup:

1 - 36 inch 10k (96W)

What would you suggest for lighting changes? Change the PC to super actinic or change one of the VHOs to 10k or 7k. Thanks for any help.

Or will I need to but more lighting period?

ccCapt · 01-13-2008, 10:20 AM

What size tank and what coral do you have in mind?
Looking at your lighting now, you have virtually no PAR (brightness). Actinics pretty much only add color and no PAR. Basically, you are lighting your tanks inhabitants with 1 96w pc bulb which isn't much.

Saltar · 01-13-2008, 10:33 AM

55 gallon tank. Would like shrooms and polyps mostly for now.

So what should I do on the lighting change some of the actinics?

ccCapt · 01-13-2008, 12:45 PM

You can just swap out the 36" actinic for a 10K Aquasun of something similiar. If you like that blue look, the 50/50 Actinic Whilte would work too.

Saltar · 01-13-2008, 01:58 PM

If I changed all the VHOs to 50/59 what corals could I get?

ccCapt · 01-13-2008, 06:21 PM

I would think you can keep just about anything except some of the higher light demanding SPS.

**melosu58** · 01-13-2008, 08:54 PM

I keep 2 50/50 and two super actinics and can keep most corals except as CCCapt said the higher SPS corals. You can view my tank and see the color.

**Ziggy953** · 01-14-2008, 03:34 AM

I think if it were me I would go with 1 URI VHO Aquasun and one super actinic and the PC a 96w 50/50. That is just me. As cccapt said you are not getting much usable light in the tank. I'm sure it looks pretty wild with all that blue.

Saltar · 01-14-2008, 09:32 AM

Thanks for the help. For the meantime I have replaced the 36" with a 10k. I also have a 48" white actinic I could put in place of one of the super actinics. Think that woudl be better? At least until I can find some 50/50. Every where I check they are sold out any suggestions? Also the PC is the European 2 pin version. I am unable to find any bulbs whatsoever for it any suggestions there as well?

01-13-2008, 09:42 AM	#1
Saltar Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 18	Lighting question I want to start with some easy corals and I want alot of coraline algae growth. I have the Ice Cap Electroninc Ballasts (430): Current setup: 2 - 48 inch Super Actinic (110W) 1 - 36 inch Super Actinic (95W) Also have 1 PC retro: Current setup: 1 - 36 inch 10k (96W) What would you suggest for lighting changes? Change the PC to super actinic or change one of the VHOs to 10k or 7k. Thanks for any help. Or will I need to but more lighting period?

01-13-2008, 10:20 AM	#2
ccCapt SW 10 & Over Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,678 Images: 3	What size tank and what coral do you have in mind? Looking at your lighting now, you have virtually no PAR (brightness). Actinics pretty much only add color and no PAR. Basically, you are lighting your tanks inhabitants with 1 96w pc bulb which isn't much. __________________ 125g reef See My Tank Info Check out The build project /Larry

01-13-2008, 12:45 PM	#4
ccCapt SW 10 & Over Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,678 Images: 3	You can just swap out the 36" actinic for a 10K Aquasun of something similiar. If you like that blue look, the 50/50 Actinic Whilte would work too. __________________ 125g reef See My Tank Info Check out The build project /Larry

01-13-2008, 06:21 PM	#6
ccCapt SW 10 & Over Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,678 Images: 3	I would think you can keep just about anything except some of the higher light demanding SPS. __________________ 125g reef See My Tank Info Check out The build project /Larry

01-13-2008, 08:54 PM	#7
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,692 Images: 80	I keep 2 50/50 and two super actinics and can keep most corals except as CCCapt said the higher SPS corals. You can view my tank and see the color. __________________ View My Tanks http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...8/melosu58.jpg Click here to Visit FantasyReef

01-13-2008, 10:33 AM	#3
Saltar Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 18	55 gallon tank. Would like shrooms and polyps mostly for now. So what should I do on the lighting change some of the actinics?

01-13-2008, 01:58 PM	#5
Saltar Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 18	If I changed all the VHOs to 50/59 what corals could I get?

01-14-2008, 03:34 AM	#8
Ziggy953 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sumerduck, Virginia Posts: 3,915 Images: 5	I think if it were me I would go with 1 URI VHO Aquasun and one super actinic and the PC a 96w 50/50. That is just me. As cccapt said you are not getting much usable light in the tank. I'm sure it looks pretty wild with all that blue. __________________ Happy Reefing! *120 Build in progress 6/18/08* Visit our Article section for answers on a variety of topics. LFS, PWC, PH RO/DI what in the world? Look here! Pods, algae and more!

01-14-2008, 09:32 AM	#9
Saltar Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 18	Thanks for the help. For the meantime I have replaced the 36" with a 10k. I also have a 48" white actinic I could put in place of one of the super actinics. Think that woudl be better? At least until I can find some 50/50. Every where I check they are sold out any suggestions? Also the PC is the European 2 pin version. I am unable to find any bulbs whatsoever for it any suggestions there as well?

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