lighting arrangement question

Mavrk · 02/09/2008, 12:23 AM

I have four HO T5s with individual reflectors (2 ballasts). I currently have two 10000K bulbs in the back and two actinic bulbs in the front. I am starting to add coral and the placement is more towards the front (or at least front side of the middle). I am wondering if I should rearrange the bulbs. I want the actinics on the same ballast, but that is easy enough to re-wire. Should I leave the bulbs as they are, or should I stagger them, or should I reverse them?

So my options are (from back to front):
1. 10K,10K,Act,Act (current setup
2. Act,Act,10K,10K
3. 10K,Act,10K,Act
4. Act,10K,Act,10K

I get the feeling that 2 and 4 probably would not look as good, but I could be wrong.

Your opinions are valuable and your help greatly apprecated.

Thanks.

Milhouse · 02/09/2008, 12:30 AM

I'd go with either 4 or just go Actinic, 10k, 10k, Actinic. You have to realize that the 10ks are more than likely going to severly over power the actinics. So I'm honestly not sure how much of a difference this will make. I think you should mix the bulbs up and get some different ones. Check out the T5 thread in the lighting section for some suggestions.

Mavrk · 02/09/2008, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Milhouse
I'd go with either 4 or just go Actinic, 10k, 10k, Actinic. You have to realize that the 10ks are more than likely going to severly over power the actinics. So I'm honestly not sure how much of a difference this will make. I think you should mix the bulbs up and get some different ones. Check out the T5 thread in the lighting section for some suggestions.

Oh yeah I forgot those combinations:
5. Act,10K,10K,Act
6. 10K,Act,Act,10K

I definately notice the difference with Actinics and like the coloring they add. I will check out the T5 forum as well.

snagged by reef · 02/09/2008, 09:56 AM

i have mine set up as...actinic,actinic,10k,actinic on a 55 and i have many sps that are thriving. my lfs kee[s them under 14k MH and about 2 weeks after i bring them home, the color starts to really pop.

Roy G. Biv · 02/09/2008, 10:07 AM

I Like #4. This way one 10k is not wasted in the back. #2 would show a line in the water if you did a sunrise/sunset.

speedo2wet · 02/09/2008, 10:19 AM

I think mine is set up like #4. which come on all at once but I do have two smaller half/half bulbs that come on first then the main and for just a few hours I have some other 95k bulbs (home depot) special that come on to give the red spectrum to the water. everything seems to be growing and thriving but my tree type coral is very picky and seems to only come out when it wants to and I noticed if the temp gets like 72 it really opens up but when it hangs around 77-78-79 which is where I keep it. it stays closed up alot and comes out on occasion. I have looked and read as much as I could and found out that is just how they are.

Mavrk · 02/09/2008, 03:14 PM

Okay, I have set it up like #4. I did not bother rewiring.

I used to have the actinics come on first and go off last. Now I have the back come on first and the front go off last. I like this set up better because I can now see the colors better during "sunrise" and "sunset".

02/09/2008, 12:23 AM	#1
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	lighting arrangement question I have four HO T5s with individual reflectors (2 ballasts). I currently have two 10000K bulbs in the back and two actinic bulbs in the front. I am starting to add coral and the placement is more towards the front (or at least front side of the middle). I am wondering if I should rearrange the bulbs. I want the actinics on the same ballast, but that is easy enough to re-wire. Should I leave the bulbs as they are, or should I stagger them, or should I reverse them? So my options are (from back to front): 1. 10K,10K,Act,Act (current setup 2. Act,Act,10K,10K 3. 10K,Act,10K,Act 4. Act,10K,Act,10K I get the feeling that 2 and 4 probably would not look as good, but I could be wrong. Your opinions are valuable and your help greatly apprecated. Thanks.

02/09/2008, 12:30 AM	#2
Milhouse Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 722	I'd go with either 4 or just go Actinic, 10k, 10k, Actinic. You have to realize that the 10ks are more than likely going to severly over power the actinics. So I'm honestly not sure how much of a difference this will make. I think you should mix the bulbs up and get some different ones. Check out the T5 thread in the lighting section for some suggestions.

02/09/2008, 09:56 AM	#4
snagged by reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 157	i have mine set up as...actinic,actinic,10k,actinic on a 55 and i have many sps that are thriving. my lfs kee[s them under 14k MH and about 2 weeks after i bring them home, the color starts to really pop.

02/09/2008, 10:07 AM	#5
Roy G. Biv Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,646	I Like #4. This way one 10k is not wasted in the back. #2 would show a line in the water if you did a sunrise/sunset.

02/09/2008, 10:19 AM	#6
speedo2wet Sharks!!!! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Apopka, Florida Posts: 478	I think mine is set up like #4. which come on all at once but I do have two smaller half/half bulbs that come on first then the main and for just a few hours I have some other 95k bulbs (home depot) special that come on to give the red spectrum to the water. everything seems to be growing and thriving but my tree type coral is very picky and seems to only come out when it wants to and I noticed if the temp gets like 72 it really opens up but when it hangs around 77-78-79 which is where I keep it. it stays closed up alot and comes out on occasion. I have looked and read as much as I could and found out that is just how they are.

02/09/2008, 03:14 PM	#7
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	Okay, I have set it up like #4. I did not bother rewiring. I used to have the actinics come on first and go off last. Now I have the back come on first and the front go off last. I like this set up better because I can now see the colors better during "sunrise" and "sunset".