Need Advice on Lighting - Halide/Actinic Combo

brikeibur

brikeibur

Member
Ok, so I am working on setting up a 76G half circle tank with the following dimensions:
76 Gal. L 45.5 x W 25 x H 23

I recently purchased the following lights for the tank:
2 x 250watt Metal Halide HQI Retro Kit
(it comes with the two reflectors, protective shields, two 250 watt double ended 15K Halide bulbs, two electronic ballasts, and all the other essentials so they are 'plug and play' upon arrival)

I am going to mount these into the top of my hood I am currently making for the tank (we are building the stand/canopy).

I would also like to get some actinic lights, as I love how they make the tank look and make the corals 'pop' in color. I am also planning to add some LEDs to the top for a 'nighttime' glow.

I have a few questions on this however:

1. What kind of actinics should I get to go with the lighting I have recently purchased?

2. Since my tank is a half circle, I was thinking of putting a long one in the back and a short one in the front (like say 36" actinic in the back of the tank, and on the front side say a 24" actinic - since the front is not as wide as the back will be). Should I do two long ones in the back and two in the front and have 4 total actinics? I just don't know how many I should have...

3. Do I need to run both the actinics and halides together, and for about how long a day? Or can I run the halides for say, 6 hours, and then leave on the actinics until we go to bed (say 4 more hours or so), then hit the LEDs? ...I just know that running the lights for too long will cause unwanted algae and I also don't want to kill my corals...

4. Before I begin building the hood/canopy, I am curious as to what height I should have the preferred lighting mounted above the water to avoid having it too far or too close (and causing the water to get too hot)?

I am sure I will have more questions as I learn more, but for now these are the items that come to mind. I just want to know about the actinics so I can begin pricing and searching for which ones to buy.

Thanks in advance for all your suggestions and advice!!!

:wave: I look forward to hearing from ya!
 
BigAl07

BigAl07

Administrator
RS STAFF
Talking about a LOT of questions. Honestly for most of your questions ONE answer will work:

"What you want!" There are no real RULES to go by. If you want to run 2 lights then run 2 lights. My theory is the pack as many as I can within reason.

About timing. A general rule (not a hard and FAST rule) is to have Actinics come on an hour or so before DAYLIGHTS and then they are ALL on for say 8 hours or so then DAYLIGHTS go off. Leave ACTINICS on for an additional hour. This gives a decent Dusk to Dawn look.

As for how HIGH off the water that's really just trial and error. Since you're designing and building it all yourself why not make it a system that can be adjusted if needed. I'd say something like 4" would be a MIN above the water.

Hope this helps :) Sounds like a SWEET set-up :)
 
Clownfish518

Clownfish518

Razorback
PREMIUM
For my MH/Actinic Combo fixture, here is what I do.

9:00 AM - T5s turn on
10:00 AM - Right side MH turns on
11:00 AM - Left side MH turns on

7:00 PM - Right side MH turns off
8:00 PM - Left side MH turns off
9:00 PM - T5s turn off

5:00 PM - Fuge light turns on
10:00 AM - Fuge light turns off

I use the Phoenix 14k DE 150w bulb. This bulb absolutely rocks. If you don't do T5s only, which I am a total fan of, this bulb has a great look. If you check out the reviews by Sanjay Joshi, this bulb seems to be the best balanced one on the market for efficiency, PAR, and long term performance.

For my supplemental, I have two looks I like. The first one is a UVL Super Actinic on one side, ATI Blue Plus on the other. This spreads the spectrum out and makes things really pop. If I want a little less blue, then I go UVL Super Actinic and UVL Actinic White.

Both the Blue + and Actinic White put out 420 nm light (actinic), but the Blue + also puts out 460 nm light, and the Actnic White 12k light. It's the same thing as with a pure T5 fixture, mixing up spectrum to bring out the colors in the tank

I run my fuge light 18 hours a day to help control algae. Managing algae by photoperiod is not very effective IME. The "bad" algaes thrive on very poor light, while the good algaes need bright light.

The key to managing algae is not light, it is water quality - nitrates and phosphates

HTH
 
BigAl07

BigAl07

Administrator
RS STAFF
Clownfish518 GREAT reply! Man your replay makes mine look like "Cliff's Notes".

Yeah the Phoenix bulbs ROCK! I'm running AquaMaxx (guy left Phoneix to start this company) and LOVE Them!!
 
brikeibur

brikeibur

Member
Thanks guys!! I appreciate your responses...lol. It was a lot of questions huh... lol. I know I am going to have more as I get further in...so for now I think you guys covered me.

Thanks a ton!!!! YOU ROCK!!
 
brikeibur

brikeibur

Member
Clownfish518,

Is there any way you could post some pics of your tank with only the actinics on, so I will know if that is the colors I am looking for, or if I prefer whiter or bluer or what?

I want to promote healthy growth among my corals as well, and I have 2-250w 15k HQI's that will be using for the main lighting, so does that mean that I should go with the Actinic whites in combo with my HQIs and perhaps run some super blue ones later on - after the corals have had a healthy dose of the 'whites'. Or are these Actinic white lights less than 15k, as I know 10k is usually suggested for the best coral growth and higher numbers for color.

I don't want to go for color and sacrifice good coral growth ya know. I can always run some super blue actinics after my HQIs go off....just for me to admire.

Thanks.
 
Clownfish518

Clownfish518

Razorback
PREMIUM
Sure.

Right now the setup is 2 Phoenix 150w 14k bulbs, and 2 39w ATI Blue Plus bulbs as supplementals. Have been waiting for evening for the lights to turn off.

Here is the tank; on the left is with one Phoenix on, on the right with only the T5s. I laid some window screen material across the eggcrate so that the anemone will slowly adjust to the new lighting, I still have some on now. The tank will get a little lighter when I finish getting it off. I am still playing a little with combinations - will try the Aquablue Special tomorrow. One thing about having T5 fixtures, I have some spare bulbs and can switch things up a bit without spending any money

Let me know what you think. My camera seems to tint things a little bluer than in person.

100_0390.jpg
 
brikeibur

brikeibur

Member
Thanks Clownfish!!!

I love your tank...you did a great job on the rockwork!

I like the amount of blue it has...very nice. I think I may try two of the Blue Plus T5s and go from there..... Add more if needed at a later time, etc...

Thank you so much for the pic and the response....they both have really helped.

...until my next question...
BYE!!!
 
Wakeskater02

Wakeskater02

Member
Speaking of blue light, have you guys seen somewhere on here it might be in the FTS thread, the tank with the Red spectrum lighting on his tank! It looks amazing!
 
brikeibur

brikeibur

Member
Ok, so our light on our nano went out today....hoping it's the bulb and not the sunpaq lighting fixture....

It is a 75w halide though, so I will have to order another bulb for it, nowhere around here carries 75w hqi's.

So...we went to the lfs and bought a coralife aqualight t5 fixture. It comes with a 10k daylight bulb and an actinic blue bulb. Not sure about much more on it.... It seems to do good. It is 24" long. The original plan was to buy two of these anyway...for the 76g half circle...and put a shorter one (the 24") in the front and a long one (36") in the back, where it is flat. I will want to eventually replace the 10k light with another blue light though...

You guys have any thoughts on these fixtures before I go and buy the 36" one?

I believe the 24" light is two 14w T5s, and the 36" is two 21w T5s.

The link to the 24" Coralife is HERE.
...and the 36" Coralife T5 is HERE.

Thanks all!!
 
brikeibur

brikeibur

Member
Thanks Clownfish......it is a relief to hear that it does not require something 'special' and carry that 'special' pricetag with it... lol.
 
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