One Last Question. . . I promise

megatron_55 · #1 04-11-2005, 07:18 AM

Okay you guys . . . Went to diff. stores and everyone had diff. opinions . . . Im confused!! Now this is where you guys come in . . . I have a 27gal mixed reef that I will be tearing down to make it a sps (acro's galore) + maxima clams setup. . . Now my tank is . . 36L"x12Hx14W

Now this is what Im planning to do for my lighting . . .

2x150 watt DE MH setup . . . Both 10,000k NO ACTINICS

U guys think that should be enough light?? How bout the actinics?? I won't have them so would that be bad for my tank?? LMK u guys I need help!!

Anyone who here have a reef tank who's lighting doesn't include actinics??? LMK about it . . . Thanks

hockey nut · #2 04-11-2005, 07:57 AM

Sounds like your lighting should be fine.

Atinics are more for colour and effect with some benificial trates but for clams you might want atinic eventually. Time will tell. It's a colour thing.

It is always trial and error when it comes to lighting and sps. Some sps will not mind the light you have and some will need more light. AGAIN TIME WILL TELL.
I can't see why you would not be ok with dual 150 wt HQI's in a 3 ft tank.

If I'm wrong someone will mention somthing soon enough I'm sure.

Happy reefing.

Samw · #3 04-11-2005, 09:34 AM

Hey, where can you get that canopy with 10000K lamps? I thought it came with 20000K lamps.

I didn't notice any photosynthesis in my tank when I had my actinics on. I measured the O2 levels in my tank and it did not rise when I had only my actinics on. I would never buy Actinics again. For supplementation, I would use 55W GE 9325K PC because it offers usable light and produces more vivid colors to my eyes and camera. My MH are nice and white but to bring out the purples and reds and blues and greens, etc, that PC bulb does it for me.

Check this out. Its hard to believe but they are the same tank with different bulbs:

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...ifference.html

BEFORE 9325K

AFTER 9325K

To me, your MH is your main source of light already. So now, all you need in your supplementation is to make your tank look vivid. Unless of course, you'd rather have a blue tank.

danny zubot · #4 04-11-2005, 02:49 PM

Wow, what a difference Sam, nice pics!

rickjames · #5 04-11-2005, 03:06 PM

Your tank doesn't need actinics, many clams and SPS corals are just below the surface in the wild, and the sunlight from a clear day has a colour of about 5500K at the surface.

I don't run actinics in my current setup with my MH lights, but my new setup will have them as I like the dusk/dawn effect you can do with them.