Need New Lights

Gumby · 04-08-2004, 07:58 AM

Hey All,
I noticed that my coraline algea is not as crisp colorwise as it once has been. I am 99.9% sure that its the lights. They are 1 year old.

Here is what I have; now I know that this is truly not enough wattage of light for many if any corals, but its all I can afford at the moment and I only have 1 coral - 1/2" dia watermelon shroom.

(1) 110 watt PC/VHO (? - 2 rectangular bulbs)
(1) 40watt (48" long bulb? for 75g tank)

The 40w is on a timer at the moment and I have been using it as the sunrise-set light (on 2pm/off midnight). I am not sure what bulb I currently have on it ,but it is much blue-er than the 110 bulbs.

Any suggestions on what Bulbs I should use to maximize the wattage?

Thanks for all of your help.

Travis · 04-08-2004, 09:08 AM

if your light bulbs- which sounds like 2x55W PCs - are a year old they probably are due for replacement. However, coralline algae health is more about your Ca/Alk balance than it is about lighting. Have you tested those recently? If not, can you? I just don;t want you to be disappointed when you replace your lights and the coralline doesn't come back around.

Gumby · 04-08-2004, 09:32 AM

Good Point Travis.

I'll have to test my CA tonight. I do not have an Alk tester.

So, what do you suggest as to the kinds of bulb to use?

Travis · 04-08-2004, 01:07 PM

Tough call, matter of personal preference... where did you get the lights, and do you have any idea what kelvin rating they were? and if so, did you like them?

Many PC bulbs have the K rating stamped on them, take a look.

A good mix of actinic and 10K is always nice. Since you've got the actinic NO light, maybe 1 10K and 1 50/50?

addict · 04-08-2004, 04:22 PM

If you don't have an Alk test, you can test Ca and pH, and that should give you a good idea of whether or not your Alk is in the ballpark of where it should be... as long as the pH is 8.2-8.3, and the Ca test is 350-450 you should be okay in the Alk department...
of course doing a dedicated Alk test is probably your best bet, but in a pinch this will let you know whether or not it's really out of whack.

jks1 · 04-08-2004, 07:18 PM

great point dave..

Gumby · 04-08-2004, 07:29 PM

According to my handy dandy Red Sea Mini Test Lab Kit for Calcium.......250

I'm going to the LFS tonight and I will take a sample and see if they can check the ALK for me.

They were out of Alk tester, but i picked up two new lights, my water had a yellow hue to them so I truly knew it was time.

I really liked what I had last time because it looked to me like it lit the tank up really well. I can tell the difference with the new lights. Damn the lights are expensive. $75 for two friggin 55w bulbs.

3000 lumens
67 CRI
9325 Kelvin

Travis · 04-08-2004, 10:32 PM

Red Sea test kit, eh? Might as well pick a number between 1 and 800. You'd likely be more accurate.

Sorry for the outburst... Get yourself a Seachem or Salifert kit. Please.

Craig Manoukian · 04-09-2004, 01:27 AM

If your CA is really 250 then your coraline will not grow and there is a good chance your water chemistry is out of balance.

04-08-2004, 07:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Gumby Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Miamisburg OH Posts: 418 View Gallery Karma Komment	Need New Lights Hey All, I noticed that my coraline algea is not as crisp colorwise as it once has been. I am 99.9% sure that its the lights. They are 1 year old. Here is what I have; now I know that this is truly not enough wattage of light for many if any corals, but its all I can afford at the moment and I only have 1 coral - 1/2" dia watermelon shroom. (1) 110 watt PC/VHO (? - 2 rectangular bulbs) (1) 40watt (48" long bulb? for 75g tank) The 40w is on a timer at the moment and I have been using it as the sunrise-set light (on 2pm/off midnight). I am not sure what bulb I currently have on it ,but it is much blue-er than the 110 bulbs. Any suggestions on what Bulbs I should use to maximize the wattage? Thanks for all of your help. __________________ Seeking Reefer Enlightenment i am the lorax, i speak for the trees 75g: 140+ lbs LR, 90+ lbs LS, 20+/- g sump (LR & Macro) coral beauty, bicolor blenny ,java scott damsel,2 clowns, 6 line wrasse and assorted hermits and snails 4 diff kinds of shrooms, 2 diff zooas, 2 diff star polyps and a frogspawn that is ready to split and a "free" Kenya tree. 2 - #4 Hydor Koralia's TERM II installed and pumping gunk Lighting - Current Extreme 260 watts - 2 T5 12k white (460nm) and 2 actinic with moon light on a timer for 8 to 9 hrs total.

04-08-2004, 09:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,701 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	if your light bulbs- which sounds like 2x55W PCs - are a year old they probably are due for replacement. However, coralline algae health is more about your Ca/Alk balance than it is about lighting. Have you tested those recently? If not, can you? I just don;t want you to be disappointed when you replace your lights and the coralline doesn't come back around. __________________ Help build the Encyclopedia of ReefKeeping Find over 1400 Reef Aquarium Articles at The Reef Aquarium Index

04-08-2004, 09:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
Gumby Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Miamisburg OH Posts: 418 View Gallery Karma Komment	Good Point Travis. I'll have to test my CA tonight. I do not have an Alk tester. So, what do you suggest as to the kinds of bulb to use? __________________ Seeking Reefer Enlightenment i am the lorax, i speak for the trees 75g: 140+ lbs LR, 90+ lbs LS, 20+/- g sump (LR & Macro) coral beauty, bicolor blenny ,java scott damsel,2 clowns, 6 line wrasse and assorted hermits and snails 4 diff kinds of shrooms, 2 diff zooas, 2 diff star polyps and a frogspawn that is ready to split and a "free" Kenya tree. 2 - #4 Hydor Koralia's TERM II installed and pumping gunk Lighting - Current Extreme 260 watts - 2 T5 12k white (460nm) and 2 actinic with moon light on a timer for 8 to 9 hrs total.

04-08-2004, 01:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,701 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Tough call, matter of personal preference... where did you get the lights, and do you have any idea what kelvin rating they were? and if so, did you like them? Many PC bulbs have the K rating stamped on them, take a look. A good mix of actinic and 10K is always nice. Since you've got the actinic NO light, maybe 1 10K and 1 50/50? __________________ Help build the Encyclopedia of ReefKeeping Find over 1400 Reef Aquarium Articles at The Reef Aquarium Index

04-08-2004, 04:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	If you don't have an Alk test, you can test Ca and pH, and that should give you a good idea of whether or not your Alk is in the ballpark of where it should be... as long as the pH is 8.2-8.3, and the Ca test is 350-450 you should be okay in the Alk department... of course doing a dedicated Alk test is probably your best bet, but in a pinch this will let you know whether or not it's really out of whack. __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

04-08-2004, 07:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
jks1 Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 876 View Gallery Karma Komment	great point dave.. __________________ John Tank: 29g glass Pumps: Mag5.0 return - (3) rio 100 PHs Lighting: (1) 150w XM 10K/(2) 30W actinics Equipment: Aqua C Urchin skimmer- CPR Fuge, Titanium Heater -Red Sea wavemaster Pro Tank: 210g 1/2" Acrylic, dual overflows, 75g glass sump w/ 20g fuge. Pumps: Mag24 return - (2) MAG24s running 2 closed loop systems. Lighting: (3) 400w XM 10K/(2) Custom Sealife 96w PC - 25w dimmable incandescent Moonlight Equipment: Aqua C EV180 skimmer - CR500 calc reactor - Titanium Heater - AquaLogic single Stage Temp Controller - Aquanetics 1/5Hp Chiller - Neptune sys aquacontroller

04-08-2004, 07:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
Gumby Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Miamisburg OH Posts: 418 View Gallery Karma Komment	According to my handy dandy Red Sea Mini Test Lab Kit for Calcium.......250 I'm going to the LFS tonight and I will take a sample and see if they can check the ALK for me. They were out of Alk tester, but i picked up two new lights, my water had a yellow hue to them so I truly knew it was time. I really liked what I had last time because it looked to me like it lit the tank up really well. I can tell the difference with the new lights. Damn the lights are expensive. $75 for two friggin 55w bulbs. 3000 lumens 67 CRI 9325 Kelvin __________________ Seeking Reefer Enlightenment i am the lorax, i speak for the trees 75g: 140+ lbs LR, 90+ lbs LS, 20+/- g sump (LR & Macro) coral beauty, bicolor blenny ,java scott damsel,2 clowns, 6 line wrasse and assorted hermits and snails 4 diff kinds of shrooms, 2 diff zooas, 2 diff star polyps and a frogspawn that is ready to split and a "free" Kenya tree. 2 - #4 Hydor Koralia's TERM II installed and pumping gunk Lighting - Current Extreme 260 watts - 2 T5 12k white (460nm) and 2 actinic with moon light on a timer for 8 to 9 hrs total. Last edited by Gumby : 04-08-2004 at 08:09 PM.

04-08-2004, 10:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,701 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Red Sea test kit, eh? Might as well pick a number between 1 and 800. You'd likely be more accurate. Sorry for the outburst... Get yourself a Seachem or Salifert kit. Please. __________________ Help build the Encyclopedia of ReefKeeping Find over 1400 Reef Aquarium Articles at The Reef Aquarium Index

04-09-2004, 01:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 18,352 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	If your CA is really 250 then your coraline will not grow and there is a good chance your water chemistry is out of balance. __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

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