Lighting Color In Frag Tank?

Rcpilot · 12-25-2007, 02:39 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, 03:36 AM

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

Witfull · 12-25-2007, 05:45 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, 05:59 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, 11:00 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, 02:23 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, 09:57 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, 02:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rcpilot Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arvada, CO. Posts: 297 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

12-25-2007, 03:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
dobejazz Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,248 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, 11:00 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, 02:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rcpilot Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arvada, CO. Posts: 297 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!!

12-25-2007, 09:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,591 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. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

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