is 20,000K 250watt metal halide bulbs bad for sps like birdsnests?

brad7373 · 01/13/2009, 06:07 PM

or is it just a high blue color and its still getting the correct intensity of light?

aquaman67 · 01/13/2009, 06:31 PM

People report getting better growth under 10K bulbs but 20K will be fine, just bluer/purpler....

brad7373 · 01/13/2009, 06:56 PM

does it affect anything though? slower growth because my birdsnest lately hasnt been doing well starting to bleach so i got new bulbs hoping these will help and keeping up on nice waterchanges and calcium as always

brad7373 · 01/13/2009, 08:33 PM

bump

James77 · 01/13/2009, 10:08 PM

how about alkalinity, magnesium and phosphate?

spleify · 01/13/2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James77
how about alkalinity, magnesium and phosphate?

+1 on this info, alk stability in acceptable NSW levels is very important.

Is this a green, or pink birdsnest? Pink birdsnest will turn more of a maroonish/brownish color under 20K bulbs.
Birdsnests definitely hold there color better under lower kelvin bulbs.

HTH

Toddrtrex · 01/13/2009, 10:29 PM

Assuming that your levels are on, there shouldn't be any issue with using 20K bulbs at all.

I have 2*250 over my 58 (( 20K XMs )) and I have great growth and color.

My pink birdsnest still has a great pink color to it, and I have had it for about 9 months now. Here is a fairly recent shot of it.

Tswifty · 01/13/2009, 10:33 PM

IME... Birdsnests are extremely intolerant of Alk swings.

I also have a few under 250w 20k lighting. They are all low in the tank though, near the sandbed... out of the direct light. I've had them in high lighting before, just like the color better when they aren't getting nuked.

Toddrtrex · 01/13/2009, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tswifty8
IME... Birdsnests are extremely intolerant of Alk swings.

I also have a few under 250w 20k lighting. They are all low in the tank though, near the sandbed... out of the direct light. I've had them in high lighting before, just like the color better when they aren't getting nuked.

How wide of a swing? The reason I ask is that after my back surgery my Alk got fairly low (( 1.5 Meq/L -- normally keep it at 3 )), and my birdsnest looked fine, in fact the only thing that looked off was my cap, which was getting some patchy spots. I was shocked that things didn't work worse, but then maybe I caught it soon enough.

spleify · 01/13/2009, 11:22 PM

I was reading a thread in the SPS forum, and they were saying how pink birdsnest didn't like the higher kelvin bulbs, this is what I attributed my color shift to.
I wonder if it may be do to, to high lighting. I have mine at the top of the tank getting blasted by my 250W MH

Toddrtrex · 01/13/2009, 11:24 PM

Hmm, that is odd, mine seems pretty happy with them. Mine is about 6 inches away from my bulbs --- it is pretty much in the center of the two bulbs.

spleify · 01/13/2009, 11:31 PM

I'm not even running 20K I have 14K which makes it even stranger.

Toddrtrex · 01/13/2009, 11:36 PM

That is strange.

It seems that the more success I have, and the more I learn, that I find out that nothing makes sense when it comes to SPS.

I am starting to think that luck plays a huge role.

spleify · 01/13/2009, 11:45 PM

The very first pic in this thread is what mine looks like.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2#post14151022

Toddrtrex · 01/13/2009, 11:47 PM

Wow, that looks really good. Love that color. I would be happy if mine looked like that.

Tswifty · 01/13/2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toddrtrex
How wide of a swing? The reason I ask is that after my back surgery my Alk got fairly low (( 1.5 Meq/L -- normally keep it at 3 )), and my birdsnest looked fine, in fact the only thing that looked off was my cap, which was getting some patchy spots. I was shocked that things didn't work worse, but then maybe I caught it soon enough.

Mine went the other... went upwards... everything was fine, but my birds nests melted away rapidly.

I lost an ORA Green and a regular old Pink when it happened.

Toddrtrex · 01/13/2009, 11:53 PM

Hmmm, perhaps higher is worse, since I didn't have that much ill effects with it being lower --- short term.

Tswifty · 01/13/2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toddrtrex
in fact the only thing that looked off was my cap, which was getting some patchy spots.

That's funny you say that... err well not funny, but ironic... I came home from a trip to Ohio today, and noticed one of my caps had the same thing going on. Some white patchy spots on the ends.

I immediately tested the alk, and it was down to 6.7 dkKH... I usually keep it in the 9-10 dKH range.

I'm slowly going to work it back up over the next 3 days (does it matter how fast I jump it btw?), but hope I don't lose anything. One of the additions was the ORA Bird's of Paradise.

Toddrtrex · 01/14/2009, 12:05 AM

That is funny. At first I thought I had a new bug, but haven't added anything to the tank in a while.

What I did, was to add 130 ml of each two part -- normal for me is 100 -- for about 4 days, then I retested and it was back to normal. The cap looks good as new now --- was surprised how quickly it recovered.

Tswifty · 01/14/2009, 01:57 AM

I just tested my levels, and a water change bumped it up to 7.7

My Nitrates are too high though right now... oh the headaches of a skimmerless, sumpless, 20g SPS tank!

btw... do you have any videos of your clowns in your nem? I'm thinking in the new tank a Haddoni may be the best decision. I think I remember you saying that yours had also been relatively peaceful in the tank correct?

You could always pop over to my thread to answer as well.

There's been a little bit of nem talk mixed in tonight.

Toddrtrex · 01/14/2009, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tswifty8
I just tested my levels, and a water change bumped it up to 7.7

My Nitrates are too high though right now... oh the headaches of a skimmerless, sumpless, 20g SPS tank!

btw... do you have any videos of your clowns in your nem? I'm thinking in the new tank a Haddoni may be the best decision. I think I remember you saying that yours had also been relatively peaceful in the tank correct?

You could always pop over to my thread to answer as well.

There's been a little bit of nem talk mixed in tonight.

I don't have any videos of it, just pictures.

Short answer, yes my Haddonis have been peaceful.

he he he. I have been meaning to check out your thread. I will do that tomorrow at work.

And will make more comments, about time for me to head to bed.

brad7373 · 01/15/2009, 01:21 AM

how do you raise or monitor your alkalinity?

spleify · 01/15/2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by brad7373
how do you raise or monitor your alkalinity?

Get a good Alk test kit, Salifert, Elos, even API should get you reasonably close results. Alk should be maintained with some sort of Kalk in your top off or a two part.

Two Part

Ca, Mag, Alk

Water parameters

HTH

Spleify

01/13/2009, 06:07 PM	#1
brad7373 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: new york, new york Posts: 374	is 20,000K 250watt metal halide bulbs bad for sps like birdsnests? or is it just a high blue color and its still getting the correct intensity of light?

01/13/2009, 10:08 PM	#5
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	how about alkalinity, magnesium and phosphate? __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

01/13/2009, 10:29 PM	#7
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Assuming that your levels are on, there shouldn't be any issue with using 20K bulbs at all. I have 2*250 over my 58 (( 20K XMs )) and I have great growth and color. My pink birdsnest still has a great pink color to it, and I have had it for about 9 months now. Here is a fairly recent shot of it. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

01/13/2009, 10:33 PM	#8
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	IME... Birdsnests are extremely intolerant of Alk swings. I also have a few under 250w 20k lighting. They are all low in the tank though, near the sandbed... out of the direct light. I've had them in high lighting before, just like the color better when they aren't getting nuked. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

01/13/2009, 11:22 PM	#10
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	I was reading a thread in the SPS forum, and they were saying how pink birdsnest didn't like the higher kelvin bulbs, this is what I attributed my color shift to. I wonder if it may be do to, to high lighting. I have mine at the top of the tank getting blasted by my 250W MH __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

01/13/2009, 06:31 PM	#2
aquaman67 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,629	People report getting better growth under 10K bulbs but 20K will be fine, just bluer/purpler....

01/13/2009, 06:56 PM	#3
brad7373 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: new york, new york Posts: 374	does it affect anything though? slower growth because my birdsnest lately hasnt been doing well starting to bleach so i got new bulbs hoping these will help and keeping up on nice waterchanges and calcium as always

01/13/2009, 08:33 PM	#4
brad7373 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: new york, new york Posts: 374	bump

01/13/2009, 11:24 PM	#11
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Hmm, that is odd, mine seems pretty happy with them. Mine is about 6 inches away from my bulbs --- it is pretty much in the center of the two bulbs. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

01/13/2009, 11:31 PM	#12
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	I'm not even running 20K I have 14K which makes it even stranger. __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

01/13/2009, 11:36 PM	#13
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	That is strange. It seems that the more success I have, and the more I learn, that I find out that nothing makes sense when it comes to SPS. I am starting to think that luck plays a huge role. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

01/13/2009, 11:45 PM	#14
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	The very first pic in this thread is what mine looks like. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2#post14151022 __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

01/13/2009, 11:47 PM	#15
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Wow, that looks really good. Love that color. I would be happy if mine looked like that. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

01/13/2009, 11:53 PM	#17
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Hmmm, perhaps higher is worse, since I didn't have that much ill effects with it being lower --- short term. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

01/14/2009, 12:05 AM	#19
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	That is funny. At first I thought I had a new bug, but haven't added anything to the tank in a while. What I did, was to add 130 ml of each two part -- normal for me is 100 -- for about 4 days, then I retested and it was back to normal. The cap looks good as new now --- was surprised how quickly it recovered. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

01/14/2009, 01:57 AM	#20
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	I just tested my levels, and a water change bumped it up to 7.7 My Nitrates are too high though right now... oh the headaches of a skimmerless, sumpless, 20g SPS tank! btw... do you have any videos of your clowns in your nem? I'm thinking in the new tank a Haddoni may be the best decision. I think I remember you saying that yours had also been relatively peaceful in the tank correct? You could always pop over to my thread to answer as well. There's been a little bit of nem talk mixed in tonight. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

01/15/2009, 01:21 AM	#22
brad7373 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: new york, new york Posts: 374	how do you raise or monitor your alkalinity?