Actinic lights

chocolates mom · 06/04/2006, 11:21 AM

I have 2 - 65 watt actinic lights and 2-65 watt 10,000K stright pin compact floursecent lamps. LFS told me to run just he actinic lights on from morning until appox 3 or 4 in the afternnoon and then turn on the other lights. Does this make sense?

hairymushroom · 06/04/2006, 11:34 AM

MOst people generally have their actinics on roughly an hour before they switch on their main lights ( yours being the 10 000k's ) and turn them off an hour after their 'daylight bulbs' to simulate the dawn and dusk effect.

chocolates mom · 06/04/2006, 11:37 AM

so do I run the Actinics for an hour and turn them off and then turn my other lights on or run both at the same time?

hairymushroom · 06/04/2006, 11:43 AM

Run them at the same time.

boilermaker1 · 06/04/2006, 12:16 PM

Same time...
example:
Turn the actinics on at 9am
turn the daylights on at 10
turn the daylights off at 6pm
turn the actinics off at 7

chocolates mom · 06/04/2006, 12:20 PM

Thanks. Are actinic lights ok? I don't know if the LFS recommended them because they would work well for me or because that is what they had in stock. I have noticed they my algae growth had been a lot higher since I got the new lights

boilermaker1 · 06/04/2006, 12:24 PM

the increase in light intensity over standard fluorescent tubes is whats causing the algae to kick up.
The blue wavelengths actinics give off both helps the color of everything in the tank (by supplementing the yellowish color of the daylights), but its also the spectrum corals need to grow.

Alfinus · 06/04/2006, 12:34 PM

With the increased lighting you will notice an increase in algae growth, since your tank is young this is a normal part of the tanks natural cycle. Just kept doing weekly water changes and watch your nitrates, plus be sure to get some snails and other clean-up critters to help kept the algae under some control. If your water paraimeters are good you should evenutally notice the algae growth decline as the tank matures. If the algae gets much worse or doesn't go away then you may have a nutrient problem ( nitrates/phosphates )-Then i would suggest less feedings, water changes and a phosphate remover like PhosBan. But for now I would suggest watching the nitrates and do water changes, as the algae is going to be a natural part of the tanks cycle.
P.S.- Are you using RO/DI water, as some nutrients can come from tap water, and I would test the water before I add it to be sure even if its said to be ok.

boogie1986 · 06/04/2006, 02:34 PM

chocolates mom,

I just upgraded my lighting from a single 40 watt 50/50 strip light that came with the tank that I bought, to a Current Orbit 48" 4x96 watt PC's. I noticed the same algae flare up that you mentioned with the algae, as it's now starting to become noticeable on the sand and on parts of the glass

chocolates mom · 06/04/2006, 05:47 PM

yes i've got it on the sand too

06/04/2006, 11:21 AM	#1
chocolates mom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Abbotsford British Columbia Posts: 302	Actinic lights I have 2 - 65 watt actinic lights and 2-65 watt 10,000K stright pin compact floursecent lamps. LFS told me to run just he actinic lights on from morning until appox 3 or 4 in the afternnoon and then turn on the other lights. Does this make sense?

06/04/2006, 11:34 AM	#2
hairymushroom Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 315	MOst people generally have their actinics on roughly an hour before they switch on their main lights ( yours being the 10 000k's ) and turn them off an hour after their 'daylight bulbs' to simulate the dawn and dusk effect.

06/04/2006, 11:37 AM	#3
chocolates mom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Abbotsford British Columbia Posts: 302	so do I run the Actinics for an hour and turn them off and then turn my other lights on or run both at the same time?

06/04/2006, 11:43 AM	#4
hairymushroom Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 315	Run them at the same time.

06/04/2006, 12:16 PM	#5
boilermaker1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chantilly, VA Posts: 784	Same time... example: Turn the actinics on at 9am turn the daylights on at 10 turn the daylights off at 6pm turn the actinics off at 7

06/04/2006, 12:20 PM	#6
chocolates mom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Abbotsford British Columbia Posts: 302	Thanks. Are actinic lights ok? I don't know if the LFS recommended them because they would work well for me or because that is what they had in stock. I have noticed they my algae growth had been a lot higher since I got the new lights

06/04/2006, 12:24 PM	#7
boilermaker1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chantilly, VA Posts: 784	the increase in light intensity over standard fluorescent tubes is whats causing the algae to kick up. The blue wavelengths actinics give off both helps the color of everything in the tank (by supplementing the yellowish color of the daylights), but its also the spectrum corals need to grow.

06/04/2006, 12:34 PM	#8
Alfinus Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 20	With the increased lighting you will notice an increase in algae growth, since your tank is young this is a normal part of the tanks natural cycle. Just kept doing weekly water changes and watch your nitrates, plus be sure to get some snails and other clean-up critters to help kept the algae under some control. If your water paraimeters are good you should evenutally notice the algae growth decline as the tank matures. If the algae gets much worse or doesn't go away then you may have a nutrient problem ( nitrates/phosphates )-Then i would suggest less feedings, water changes and a phosphate remover like PhosBan. But for now I would suggest watching the nitrates and do water changes, as the algae is going to be a natural part of the tanks cycle. P.S.- Are you using RO/DI water, as some nutrients can come from tap water, and I would test the water before I add it to be sure even if its said to be ok.

06/04/2006, 02:34 PM	#9
boogie1986 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 68	chocolates mom, I just upgraded my lighting from a single 40 watt 50/50 strip light that came with the tank that I bought, to a Current Orbit 48" 4x96 watt PC's. I noticed the same algae flare up that you mentioned with the algae, as it's now starting to become noticeable on the sand and on parts of the glass

06/04/2006, 05:47 PM	#10
chocolates mom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Abbotsford British Columbia Posts: 302	yes i've got it on the sand too