Considering a switch from MH...But to What?

cwschoon · 01/18/2008, 07:54 AM

One of my tanks is a 75 with 175wt 10,000K bulbs. Am re-designing it and want mushrooms, zoo's, leathers, softies and lots of rock...maybe clams but I know they like MH...One of my main priorities is corraline algae and I do believe that halides does not suit the formation of corraline algae. If I am wrong, please correct me and save me $$$.
Any advice?? I really do want those deep purples, pinks, etc to compliment what really is going to be a "fish/softie/invert" tank.
Premium Aquatics has the Current USA line...T5 w. either 4 x 54 wt or 8 x 54 wt.
Thanks.

cwschoon · 01/18/2008, 08:04 AM

Are you reefers awake yet??

tgunn · 01/18/2008, 08:11 AM

Before dropping a whole load of dough on a completely new lighting system, why don't you give 20,000k bulbs a shot?

I was running 10,000k 250w Reeflux bulbs up until a few weeks ago and had next to no coralline.

I've recently switched to 20,000k 250w Radium bulbs and in the short time I've had them the corraline has really taken off on the overflow. The 20,000k bulbs are definitely dimmer than the 10,000k ones.

Something to think about.

Tyler

cwschoon · 01/18/2008, 08:14 AM

Thanks for the reply Tyler. I do have a pair of 14000K...How about those?

tgunn · 01/18/2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cwschoon
Thanks for the reply Tyler. I do have a pair of 14000K...How about those?

No problem.

I ran 14k 250w coralvue bulbs before and found I got plenty of corraline with those too.

I find that corraline tends to grow quickest when the light isn't blinding. My 10k bulbs were definitely blindingly bright.

Now, that said, I know there are plenty of tanks out there with lots of light and corraline.

It's certainly worth a shot though.

Tyler

cwschoon · 01/18/2008, 08:24 AM

Thanks again.
Craig.

WarrenG · 01/18/2008, 10:09 AM

The note about more corraline in light that's not blinding... I remember collecting some rock in water about 3 feet deep. There was no corraline on the (top) side facing the sun but good amounts on the sides and some underneath.

corbett_n · 01/18/2008, 10:31 AM

Go t5

Tom Fay · 01/18/2008, 10:55 AM

In my experience, less intense light will help you grow coraline. I don't think the source of the light matters (MH vs. fluorescent), but rather the spectrum and intensity. I had some live rock in a 10 gallon aquarium illuminated by only a 15 watt fluorescent plant light from Home Depot, and coraline algae was growing like crazy, on the rock and on the glass. The water was shared with my main tank. When I moved the rock to my main tank the coraline slowly turned either a lighter shade of purple or white. That rock is at the bottom of a 29" tall aquarium illuminated by 2 x 150 watt 14K MH. All the rock in main tank has coraline growing but on the undersides or shaded areas.

barjam · 01/18/2008, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Premium Aquatics has the Current USA line...T5 w. either 4 x 54 wt or 8 x 54 wt.

Quote:

that halides does not suit the formation of corraline

That is wrong, light source doesn't matter much. If anything the T5s will bleach coraline easier because the "blue bulbs" load a ton of par (not the case with MH).

Coraline did not grow well (on top of the rocks) using 4x54 in my setup. Eventually it does grow but it takes forever it seems (in the lit areas).

Also before wasting a bunch of money on a T5 setup go look at one....you may find that the colors of the bulbs and the lack of shimmer aren't to your liking, they certainly aren't to mine.

Replace your 10k with a 20k (half the par generally). I don't do clams so I have no opinion there. In the interim just raise your lights higher.

ReefWreak · 01/18/2008, 12:17 PM

Go with VHO for best coloration

cwschoon · 01/18/2008, 04:30 PM

Thanks for all of the opinions. Using 10000K now but think I have some 14000K and may try those. Does anyone think the diff using 14000K MH or T5 will be significant? My opinion-and others-does seem to be that 10000K is a detriment to good corraline growth. As noted above, Current USA T5's from Premium look good and the price is not much more than 2 x 20000K MH bulbs.

01/18/2008, 07:54 AM	#1
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	Considering a switch from MH...But to What? One of my tanks is a 75 with 175wt 10,000K bulbs. Am re-designing it and want mushrooms, zoo's, leathers, softies and lots of rock...maybe clams but I know they like MH...One of my main priorities is corraline algae and I do believe that halides does not suit the formation of corraline algae. If I am wrong, please correct me and save me $$$. Any advice?? I really do want those deep purples, pinks, etc to compliment what really is going to be a "fish/softie/invert" tank. Premium Aquatics has the Current USA line...T5 w. either 4 x 54 wt or 8 x 54 wt. Thanks.

01/18/2008, 08:04 AM	#2
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	Are you reefers awake yet??

01/18/2008, 08:11 AM	#3
tgunn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cupertino, CA USA Posts: 4,027	Before dropping a whole load of dough on a completely new lighting system, why don't you give 20,000k bulbs a shot? I was running 10,000k 250w Reeflux bulbs up until a few weeks ago and had next to no coralline. I've recently switched to 20,000k 250w Radium bulbs and in the short time I've had them the corraline has really taken off on the overflow. The 20,000k bulbs are definitely dimmer than the 10,000k ones. Something to think about. Tyler

01/18/2008, 08:14 AM	#4
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	Thanks for the reply Tyler. I do have a pair of 14000K...How about those?

01/18/2008, 08:24 AM	#6
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	Thanks again. Craig.

01/18/2008, 10:09 AM	#7
WarrenG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sunnyvale, CA Posts: 738	The note about more corraline in light that's not blinding... I remember collecting some rock in water about 3 feet deep. There was no corraline on the (top) side facing the sun but good amounts on the sides and some underneath.

01/18/2008, 10:31 AM	#8
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	Go t5

01/18/2008, 10:55 AM	#9
Tom Fay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 120	In my experience, less intense light will help you grow coraline. I don't think the source of the light matters (MH vs. fluorescent), but rather the spectrum and intensity. I had some live rock in a 10 gallon aquarium illuminated by only a 15 watt fluorescent plant light from Home Depot, and coraline algae was growing like crazy, on the rock and on the glass. The water was shared with my main tank. When I moved the rock to my main tank the coraline slowly turned either a lighter shade of purple or white. That rock is at the bottom of a 29" tall aquarium illuminated by 2 x 150 watt 14K MH. All the rock in main tank has coraline growing but on the undersides or shaded areas.

01/18/2008, 12:17 PM	#11
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	Go with VHO for best coloration

01/18/2008, 04:30 PM	#12
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	Thanks for all of the opinions. Using 10000K now but think I have some 14000K and may try those. Does anyone think the diff using 14000K MH or T5 will be significant? My opinion-and others-does seem to be that 10000K is a detriment to good corraline growth. As noted above, Current USA T5's from Premium look good and the price is not much more than 2 x 20000K MH bulbs.