Lighting Color In Frag Tank?

Rcpilot · 12-25-2007, 01:39 AM

I'm setting up a 20g high frag tank. I'm going to use my old Coralife PC light. It's got 2 bulbs right now. One is 65w True Actinic and the other is 65w 10,000K.

I don't care WHAT this tank looks like. It's not meant to be pleasing to the eyes. I want maximum coral growth. I am planning to grow zoas, mushrooms, SPS and LPS. No softies or anenomes.

I think I should go ahead and keep the 10K light. But should I keep the actinic too? Do these corals NEED that spectrum to grow, or is that just for our eyes to make it look pretty? It would be great if I could just use what I got, but I'm not sure if they need that blue spectrum from the actinic. If I could get better growth from another 10K or even a 6500K, then I'd dump the actinic and go with one of the lower K light.

OR:
Keep the actinic and dump the 10K for a 6500K? Or 8000K?

Thanks

dobejazz · 12-25-2007, 02:36 AM

I think 6500k will give you the best growth from what I have read or even 2 10k

Witfull · 12-25-2007, 04:45 AM

spectrum affects the color of the corals. 2-10k's will give growth, but the actinic will color them up more.

Edd13 · 12-25-2007, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witfull

spectrum affects the color of the corals. 2-10k's will give growth, but the actinic will color them up more.

this is true ... 6500 k produce sick amounts of growth but they are dull or even brown

zimboy · 12-25-2007, 10:00 AM

grow em in your frag tank under 6.5k until they have reached the right size, then put em under 20k to colour them up.

Rcpilot · 12-25-2007, 01:23 PM

Thanks for the help.

Since I already have a 10K--how about I just replace the actinic with a 6500K? Then I'd have a 10K and a 6500K. I'd only have to buy one bulb that way.

Merry Christmas fellow reefers!!

BigAl07 · 12-25-2007, 08:57 PM

I'm going to be running a set of Current bulbs in my Frag tank (Same light fixture I think) and I have ordered 22" SunPaq Dual Daylight 6700ºK/10000ºK 65W which should give me the best of both worlds. My coralife fixture is actually a 21" fixture but I measured and the 22" Current bulbs should fit. They are on order (Thanks AQTCJAK) and should be here any day now.

12-25-2007, 01:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rcpilot Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arvada, CO. Posts: 282 View Gallery Karma Komment	Lighting Color In Frag Tank? I'm setting up a 20g high frag tank. I'm going to use my old Coralife PC light. It's got 2 bulbs right now. One is 65w True Actinic and the other is 65w 10,000K. I don't care WHAT this tank looks like. It's not meant to be pleasing to the eyes. I want maximum coral growth. I am planning to grow zoas, mushrooms, SPS and LPS. No softies or anenomes. I think I should go ahead and keep the 10K light. But should I keep the actinic too? Do these corals NEED that spectrum to grow, or is that just for our eyes to make it look pretty? It would be great if I could just use what I got, but I'm not sure if they need that blue spectrum from the actinic. If I could get better growth from another 10K or even a 6500K, then I'd dump the actinic and go with one of the lower K light. OR: Keep the actinic and dump the 10K for a 6500K? Or 8000K? Thanks __________________ President - Tiny Tank Club You can't culture hair algae like this! Don't even try....... ROOKIE!!

12-25-2007, 02:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
dobejazz Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,147 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting Color In Frag Tank? I think 6500k will give you the best growth from what I have read or even 2 10k __________________ Kelli

12-25-2007, 10:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
zimboy Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 296 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting Color In Frag Tank? grow em in your frag tank under 6.5k until they have reached the right size, then put em under 20k to colour them up.

12-25-2007, 01:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rcpilot Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arvada, CO. Posts: 282 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting Color In Frag Tank? Thanks for the help. Since I already have a 10K--how about I just replace the actinic with a 6500K? Then I'd have a 10K and a 6500K. I'd only have to buy one bulb that way. Merry Christmas fellow reefers!! __________________ President - Tiny Tank Club You can't culture hair algae like this! Don't even try....... ROOKIE!!

12-25-2007, 08:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 8,844 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting Color In Frag Tank? I'm going to be running a set of Current bulbs in my Frag tank (Same light fixture I think) and I have ordered 22" SunPaq Dual Daylight 6700ºK/10000ºK 65W which should give me the best of both worlds. My coralife fixture is actually a 21" fixture but I measured and the 22" Current bulbs should fit. They are on order (Thanks AQTCJAK) and should be here any day now. __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

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