Do you supplement your MH's?

reefnewbie54321 · 04/23/2006, 04:15 PM

Just was wondering if everyone out there uses seperate actinics for there tanks ... does anyone just use MH's that are 14k or 20k?

Ti · 04/23/2006, 05:20 PM

yes 2 all

mr pink floyd · 04/23/2006, 05:24 PM

im waiting to recieve a fixture wit ha 20k bulb and 2 65 watt PC actinics, so yes i will, btu i will change out one of the actinics wit ha 50/50, so my softies on the sides will get light, because wit ha single 150DE in the fixture they will be in shadow

reefnewbie54321 · 04/23/2006, 06:14 PM

I want to run 2x 175w Halides w/ 2 65w PC Actinics, I still am unsure If I could get away w/ using just the MH's w/ 20k bulbs. Its a Zoo and Shroom Tank so I would just place all my zoos under the halides and my shrooms in the shade .... they like the shade better anyways

mr pink floyd · 04/23/2006, 06:40 PM

halides for zoos and shrooms????

id just get a PC fixture, its cheaper, and they will grow fine.

with that kind of lighting you can keep sps, not only shrooms and zoos

how big is the tank?

ericgreathouse · 04/25/2006, 07:15 PM

I'm using 2 400W 20K bulbs on my 180G tank. It looks fine, the only reason that I would add flourescents is to have a longer photo period for my own viewing.

smatter · 04/25/2006, 08:53 PM

Supplemental actinics are for our own pleasure. If your halides provide the proper spectrum for growth that is all that is important. I use a 10K DE 250W Aqualine Buschke. The corals love it and that's all that matters to me.

dippin61 · 04/26/2006, 04:58 AM

yeh.. i run a MH 14k hammy 250w with a 110w VHO 50/50 and 110w VHO actinic.

12pm actinics come on
2pm the 50/50 comes on
4pm the MH comes on
9pm the MH goes out
10pm the 50/50 goes out, then at midnight the actinic goes out.

i purposely start my light cycle late cuz thats when i get to view it the most. and i use the VHO's so i can see my tank for nearly 8 hours a day with light. im guilty of staring at my tank from the couch too much

amheck · 04/26/2006, 06:06 AM

mr pink floyd, what fixture are you getting? I was looking for pendants with both the MH bulbs and the PC/T5 bulbs, and they are few and far between. I sort wanted the additional flourescent bulbs for the extra actinic pop and for the dawn to dusk.

04/23/2006, 04:15 PM	#1
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	Do you supplement your MH's? Just was wondering if everyone out there uses seperate actinics for there tanks ... does anyone just use MH's that are 14k or 20k?

04/23/2006, 05:20 PM	#2
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	yes 2 all __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

04/26/2006, 04:58 AM	#8
dippin61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,897	yeh.. i run a MH 14k hammy 250w with a 110w VHO 50/50 and 110w VHO actinic. 12pm actinics come on 2pm the 50/50 comes on 4pm the MH comes on 9pm the MH goes out 10pm the 50/50 goes out, then at midnight the actinic goes out. i purposely start my light cycle late cuz thats when i get to view it the most. and i use the VHO's so i can see my tank for nearly 8 hours a day with light. im guilty of staring at my tank from the couch too much __________________ Reefers Law: It can take about 48 hours to brown, and 48 weeks to color back up! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon BB Low Iron Glass, Dual 110w VHO Actinics, 250w PFO MH 20k XM

04/23/2006, 05:24 PM	#3
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	im waiting to recieve a fixture wit ha 20k bulb and 2 65 watt PC actinics, so yes i will, btu i will change out one of the actinics wit ha 50/50, so my softies on the sides will get light, because wit ha single 150DE in the fixture they will be in shadow

04/23/2006, 06:14 PM	#4
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	I want to run 2x 175w Halides w/ 2 65w PC Actinics, I still am unsure If I could get away w/ using just the MH's w/ 20k bulbs. Its a Zoo and Shroom Tank so I would just place all my zoos under the halides and my shrooms in the shade .... they like the shade better anyways

04/23/2006, 06:40 PM	#5
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	halides for zoos and shrooms???? id just get a PC fixture, its cheaper, and they will grow fine. with that kind of lighting you can keep sps, not only shrooms and zoos how big is the tank?

04/25/2006, 07:15 PM	#6
ericgreathouse Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Danville, Ca Posts: 103	I'm using 2 400W 20K bulbs on my 180G tank. It looks fine, the only reason that I would add flourescents is to have a longer photo period for my own viewing.

04/25/2006, 08:53 PM	#7
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	Supplemental actinics are for our own pleasure. If your halides provide the proper spectrum for growth that is all that is important. I use a 10K DE 250W Aqualine Buschke. The corals love it and that's all that matters to me.

04/26/2006, 06:06 AM	#9
amheck Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: St. Pete, FL Posts: 1,721	mr pink floyd, what fixture are you getting? I was looking for pendants with both the MH bulbs and the PC/T5 bulbs, and they are few and far between. I sort wanted the additional flourescent bulbs for the extra actinic pop and for the dawn to dusk.