my lighting plans, is it good? and bulb questions

HermitCrabFan · 05/15/2008, 05:04 PM

so from a suggestion in another thread I've decided to go with an icecap 660 ballast, 4 47 inch icecap reflectors, 4 sets of icecap endcaps and standoffs and 4 sets of lamp clips. I think that's everything I'll need.

any opinions good or bad about these items?

I plan to shove all these into a hood I'm going to make for a 55 gallon tank. hood will be 49 x 13 inside and about 7 inches high.

as far as bulbs go I'd like to know what would be best to put in. I don't know what each K rating bulb is best for growing what.

I'd like something that's not super blue, I want my sand to look really bright white with a nice tint of blue to the water.

also when I do add the new lighting, should I have it come on only for short times during the first week or something so it doesn't bleach my coraline or does that not matter?

kgross · 05/15/2008, 06:21 PM

Sounds like a pretty good setup.

Bulbs, well it really depends on what you want your tank to look like, some people really like blue tanks, others like their tanks with more of a white light.

Once you have it on, yes start out with a short photo period and take a couple of weeks to go back up to normal.

Kim

HermitCrabFan · 05/15/2008, 09:11 PM

thanks for the reply

that's kinda my problem though, I don't know what to really expect from each type of light, or if I should double up certain lights or just do 4 different lights.

should I put in one down in the 6000k range or keep them all up in the 10000k+ range.

all my lighting consists of now is a couple 20 watt fluorescents in a 15ish year old freshwater fixture.

kgross · 05/15/2008, 09:14 PM

I would start with 1 10,000k bulb, 1 14,000k type bulb and 2 of the blue/actinic type bulbs.

HermitCrabFan · 05/15/2008, 11:41 PM

how are the UVL brand bulbs?

I was thinking of doing 10000k, 12000k, 14000k, and their 100% Blue spectrum super actinic. using their variable high output bulbs, those would work with the icecap ballast I assume?

I don't know if that will be too blue, I'd like just a light hint of blue, but I certainly don't want it to be yellowish or something.

hope I'm not being too repetitive in my questions, I just really don't want extra bulbs and stuff laying around.

kgross · 05/16/2008, 11:43 AM

I don't know how good the UVL T5 bulbs are but if they are close to the T12 bulbs they are great.

I think that would be a good mix.

Kim

05/15/2008, 05:04 PM	#1
HermitCrabFan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 35	my lighting plans, is it good? and bulb questions so from a suggestion in another thread I've decided to go with an icecap 660 ballast, 4 47 inch icecap reflectors, 4 sets of icecap endcaps and standoffs and 4 sets of lamp clips. I think that's everything I'll need. any opinions good or bad about these items? I plan to shove all these into a hood I'm going to make for a 55 gallon tank. hood will be 49 x 13 inside and about 7 inches high. as far as bulbs go I'd like to know what would be best to put in. I don't know what each K rating bulb is best for growing what. I'd like something that's not super blue, I want my sand to look really bright white with a nice tint of blue to the water. also when I do add the new lighting, should I have it come on only for short times during the first week or something so it doesn't bleach my coraline or does that not matter?

05/15/2008, 06:21 PM	#2
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	Sounds like a pretty good setup. Bulbs, well it really depends on what you want your tank to look like, some people really like blue tanks, others like their tanks with more of a white light. Once you have it on, yes start out with a short photo period and take a couple of weeks to go back up to normal. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

05/15/2008, 09:14 PM	#4
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	I would start with 1 10,000k bulb, 1 14,000k type bulb and 2 of the blue/actinic type bulbs. __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

05/16/2008, 11:43 AM	#6
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	I don't know how good the UVL T5 bulbs are but if they are close to the T12 bulbs they are great. I think that would be a good mix. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

05/15/2008, 09:11 PM	#3
HermitCrabFan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 35	thanks for the reply that's kinda my problem though, I don't know what to really expect from each type of light, or if I should double up certain lights or just do 4 different lights. should I put in one down in the 6000k range or keep them all up in the 10000k+ range. all my lighting consists of now is a couple 20 watt fluorescents in a 15ish year old freshwater fixture.

05/15/2008, 11:41 PM	#5
HermitCrabFan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 35	how are the UVL brand bulbs? I was thinking of doing 10000k, 12000k, 14000k, and their 100% Blue spectrum super actinic. using their variable high output bulbs, those would work with the icecap ballast I assume? I don't know if that will be too blue, I'd like just a light hint of blue, but I certainly don't want it to be yellowish or something. hope I'm not being too repetitive in my questions, I just really don't want extra bulbs and stuff laying around.