PC's for a 29 gallon nanoreef (Which Bulbs)

coralreeferhead · 12/08/2008, 08:35 PM

I have a 29 gallon nano reef with a 30" power compact light. It's time to replace the bulbs and I was wondering if anybody has a good combo for color and coral growth.

(Only 2 Bulbs so they gotta count!)

redfishsc · 12/08/2008, 10:29 PM

Growth: one 6500K bulb and one 10,000K bulb. This will grow most any coral since the color combo is nearly perfect. But, your tank will look like a bucket of urine. Lots of yellow.

Looks: One 10,000K bulb and one "true" 420nm actinic. Nothing, and I mean nothing (that I've ever seen or heard of) makes coral color pop like true 420nm actinic. Problem is, 420nm actinics only put out about half the par (or a third, depending on the brand) of good 10,000K bulbs.

Compromise: One 10,000K and one "blue" 460nm. The 460nm provides more PAR and will give you better growth. This is what most "50/50" bulbs are. The blue on the 460nm tube doesn't quite make colors pop like the 420nm actinics, but still looks good.

This is why I don't like PC's (other than they just don't produce the amount of PAR that a similar wattage T5HO does). You just don't get good bulb choices.

With a T5 setup, you can get just about every color except lime sherbet green with all sorts of great PAR output.

coralreeferhead · 12/09/2008, 09:43 AM

If my tank is only 20" deep, would the PAR from a 420nm actinic be enough to go that deep? I do have SPS corals at the top that are doing great under 1 50/50 and 1 460nm actinic but at the bottom of the tank, there are only softies.

I am always looking for light suggestions. You never know when you'll hit that magic sweet spot bulb combo.

What's the difference between 460nm and 420nm?

12/08/2008, 08:35 PM	#1
coralreeferhead Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norwalk, Iowa Posts: 136	PC's for a 29 gallon nanoreef (Which Bulbs) I have a 29 gallon nano reef with a 30" power compact light. It's time to replace the bulbs and I was wondering if anybody has a good combo for color and coral growth. (Only 2 Bulbs so they gotta count!) __________________ Most people never use their initiative because nobody ever told them to. Current Tank Info: 180G Mixed Reef, Radions, Apex, Awesome Sauce

12/08/2008, 10:29 PM	#2
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Growth: one 6500K bulb and one 10,000K bulb. This will grow most any coral since the color combo is nearly perfect. But, your tank will look like a bucket of urine. Lots of yellow. Looks: One 10,000K bulb and one "true" 420nm actinic. Nothing, and I mean nothing (that I've ever seen or heard of) makes coral color pop like true 420nm actinic. Problem is, 420nm actinics only put out about half the par (or a third, depending on the brand) of good 10,000K bulbs. Compromise: One 10,000K and one "blue" 460nm. The 460nm provides more PAR and will give you better growth. This is what most "50/50" bulbs are. The blue on the 460nm tube doesn't quite make colors pop like the 420nm actinics, but still looks good. This is why I don't like PC's (other than they just don't produce the amount of PAR that a similar wattage T5HO does). You just don't get good bulb choices. With a T5 setup, you can get just about every color except lime sherbet green with all sorts of great PAR output. __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

12/09/2008, 09:43 AM	#3
coralreeferhead Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norwalk, Iowa Posts: 136	If my tank is only 20" deep, would the PAR from a 420nm actinic be enough to go that deep? I do have SPS corals at the top that are doing great under 1 50/50 and 1 460nm actinic but at the bottom of the tank, there are only softies. I am always looking for light suggestions. You never know when you'll hit that magic sweet spot bulb combo. What's the difference between 460nm and 420nm? __________________ Most people never use their initiative because nobody ever told them to. Current Tank Info: 180G Mixed Reef, Radions, Apex, Awesome Sauce