MH without actinic supplements

carb850 · 08/28/2007, 08:44 PM

Taking tank size and wattage out of the equation. How many run a MH with high kelvin rating and no fluorescent actinic supplements? Do you miss the few hours of having pure actinic lighting both in the morning and evening? By running a MH only, what is the photo period? Someone told me that some corals need 12 hours of lighting and by going MH only you would need to run it a full 12hours vs kicking it on for some shorter photo period after the actinics kick on.

GobyJohnKenobi · 08/28/2007, 09:35 PM

I run only a 150W 14k Hamilton over my 30.

I thought I'd miss the actinic only "dawn\dusk", but I don't. I run the light 10 - 12 hours depending on when I'm around.

Colors are great and everything fluoresces nicely under the 14k.
The corals don't seem to miss the actinic dawn\dusk either. They definitely don't miss the PCs.

I do miss the moonlights.

carb850 · 08/29/2007, 09:44 PM

Thanks GobyJohn.

Anyone else want to chime in about running MH only?

JCTewks · 08/29/2007, 09:53 PM

I do it..one 175w Hamy 14K over my 26gal BF. Looks great color wise...but I do sometimes miss the dusk ( I am usually not around the tank at "dawn"). The MH shutting off abruptly as i'm sitting next to it everynight is a little less pleasing as the blue staying on a little while longer. but overall, I'm much happier using the one MH versus the PC's.

seattlerob · 08/29/2007, 09:59 PM

I have 2x250w 14.5k over my 90g, and currently only run the photo period for 8 hrs. Using megachrome bulbs now, and phoenix 14ks before. But next I'm going to try 20k bulbs as I'd like to get a little more blue.

hth,
rob

hyperfocal · 08/29/2007, 10:24 PM

Noticed any change in growth rates? I've heard that 10K bulbs are more 'nutritious'

JCTewks · 08/29/2007, 10:59 PM

10K will def give more growth, as well as better PAR. I only have room over my tank for 1 MH in a good reflector...so the 14K hamilton does the job nicely...I don't think that the corals could take the PAR of a 175w XM 10K anyway

08/28/2007, 08:44 PM	#1
carb850 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 2,042	MH without actinic supplements Taking tank size and wattage out of the equation. How many run a MH with high kelvin rating and no fluorescent actinic supplements? Do you miss the few hours of having pure actinic lighting both in the morning and evening? By running a MH only, what is the photo period? Someone told me that some corals need 12 hours of lighting and by going MH only you would need to run it a full 12hours vs kicking it on for some shorter photo period after the actinics kick on.

08/29/2007, 10:24 PM	#6
hyperfocal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edge of oblivion Posts: 1,708	Noticed any change in growth rates? I've heard that 10K bulbs are more 'nutritious' __________________ "Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent." -- Voltaire Current Tank Info: getting back into the hobby

08/28/2007, 09:35 PM	#2
GobyJohnKenobi Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	I run only a 150W 14k Hamilton over my 30. I thought I'd miss the actinic only "dawn\dusk", but I don't. I run the light 10 - 12 hours depending on when I'm around. Colors are great and everything fluoresces nicely under the 14k. The corals don't seem to miss the actinic dawn\dusk either. They definitely don't miss the PCs. I do miss the moonlights.

08/29/2007, 09:44 PM	#3
carb850 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 2,042	Thanks GobyJohn. Anyone else want to chime in about running MH only?

08/29/2007, 09:53 PM	#4
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	I do it..one 175w Hamy 14K over my 26gal BF. Looks great color wise...but I do sometimes miss the dusk ( I am usually not around the tank at "dawn"). The MH shutting off abruptly as i'm sitting next to it everynight is a little less pleasing as the blue staying on a little while longer. but overall, I'm much happier using the one MH versus the PC's.

08/29/2007, 09:59 PM	#5
seattlerob Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 464	I have 2x250w 14.5k over my 90g, and currently only run the photo period for 8 hrs. Using megachrome bulbs now, and phoenix 14ks before. But next I'm going to try 20k bulbs as I'd like to get a little more blue. hth, rob

08/29/2007, 10:59 PM	#7
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	10K will def give more growth, as well as better PAR. I only have room over my tank for 1 MH in a good reflector...so the 14K hamilton does the job nicely...I don't think that the corals could take the PAR of a 175w XM 10K anyway