Reef lighting question

[spoonmerlin]

I have a standard size 65 [acronym:d8272f9337="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:d8272f9337]. 36" long

I am upgrading my lighting from 2 96 watt Power Compacts to 4 96s and if I can get it to fit I'll add my 2 65 watt Power Compacts too.

I was wondering what would be the best bulb options.

I was thinking of 3 96 watt 10k daylights + 1 55 watt 10K (I have)

and 1 96 watt Actinic and a 65 watt Actinic.

Is this enough on the Actinic? I want to keep corals and also want to know if this is enough light for everything or is there some that require more then this. This is 7.6 watts per [acronym:d8272f9337="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:d8272f9337] of Power compact.

Any other Ideas on Bulb combos. The 65s I have already and only 1 each The 96 I can pretty much go with any combo of 10k and Actinic.

[fishfreek]

The actinic lighting is more for your preference in tank apperance. The actinic light will bring out the natural colors of many of our fish and corals aswell. I recently went from 1:1 ratio of 10K to actinic to a 1.5:1 ratio of 10K to actinic and my corals have had no negitive effects.

Basicly I had 2 96W 10K's and 2 96W actinics but now I have 2 96W 10K and 2 96W 50/50 bulbs.

[darb2]

I think the actinic does a bit more than fishfreek does. But I also use a 1.5:1 ratio

[spoonmerlin]

I think I'll go with 2 10k, a 50/50 10k/actinic and a regular actinic. That would be 5/3.

Also Anyone have a good suggestion on going from 1 10k and 1 actinic to this so I don't light shock the few things I have. I have read some on this and it sounds like I should due a gradual increase instead of all at once.

Would a sequence like this work. a new 10k and 50/50 for a week, then add the actinic for another week and then add the last 10k. Or do I need to make the distinctions greater like every 3 days add more light by changing the timers or something.

I'm not sure how light sensetive Live rock, 1 soft coral and an anemone are. I don't think the fish will care much.

[fishfreek]

What you can do is add all the light at once and then reduce your photo exposure. Instead of running lights for say 12 hours a day run them for only 8. Then after a week or so up that to 9 hours and slowly do this till your back at 12.