Best light for CORAL GROWTH

caspar · 03/29/2009, 12:09 AM

Currently have 2 96w PC on a 30 gal tank. 1 bulb is a SUNPAQ 420 & 460 actinic the other is a 10k & 420nm actinic. Dont seem to be getting any growth. Have hammer coral, candy cane, xenia, polyps, toadstool and other mushrooms ricordia etc. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

MileHighFish · 03/29/2009, 12:37 AM

The light seems good for that size tank,whats your Cal & Alk like?

ehren78 · 03/29/2009, 02:57 AM

if you like PC try a couple or atleast 1 10000K bulb! You have too much blue

jbird69 · 03/29/2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ehren78
if you like PC try a couple or atleast 1 10000K bulb! You have too much blue

I agree. If all your light is actinic, you really have very little spectrum to encourage growth.

caspar · 03/29/2009, 09:30 AM

Milehighfish, Cal = 460 Alk = 8 - 9 dkh

Korrine · 03/29/2009, 09:49 AM

I was told by a friend of mine whose hobby is his side job to have 2 10,000k with 2 50/50's.

I need 4-- 24watt bulbs for mine.

8BALL_99 · 03/29/2009, 10:16 AM

So you have 3 parts actinic 1 part 10k. lol pretty sure thats your problem. Best growth would probably be all 6500k lights. It would look very yellow though. If it were me I'd either run two 10k bulbs or one 10k and one 50\50

125G Reefer · 03/29/2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 8BALL_99
So you have 3 parts actinic 1 part 10k. lol pretty sure thats your problem. Best growth would probably be all 6500k lights. It would look very yellow though. If it were me I'd either run two 10k bulbs or one 10k and one 50\50

In agreement.

Paulairduck · 03/29/2009, 09:57 PM

change one bulb to a 6500k PC

benmann71 · 03/29/2009, 10:15 PM

i would just go with 2 10,000k and 2 50/50's

caspar · 03/29/2009, 10:21 PM

so 2 10k & 2 50/50??
Someone give me something from experieance dont want alot of bad algae growth. give me examples of bulb types and time on duration....thanks

8BALL_99 · 03/29/2009, 11:11 PM

running 6500k or 10k bulbs don't cause algae problems. Excess nutrients, long photo periods, no grazing fish, ect cause algae problems.. Actinics are just for looks. They will help with color and just the overall look of the tank, But they don't do anything for growth. So if you want the max growth you can get. Loose the Actinics. Nothing wrong with 6500k Bulbs, Infact a ton of people running T5s have a couple mixed in with their other bulbs because they put out good par. You have 2 bulbs again IMO I'd run one 10k and one 50/50. This would give you good growth but still decent color. If you don't care about looks and just want best growth run 2 6500k bulbs. Could you have algae problems, Sure EVERYthing will grow faster under 6500k bulbs including algae.

caspar · 03/29/2009, 11:20 PM

So how long should I run them, say actinic's 12hrs and 10k's 10hrs or what length of time would be best?

8BALL_99 · 03/29/2009, 11:38 PM

Best is hard to say 7-10 hours is pretty much the standard. 12 hours is a pretty long photo period, But if your only running actinics for 2 of the 12 it doesn't really matter. If you do this for a dusk to dawn effect I don't really think it does anything. It would be more for you then the fish.

03/29/2009, 12:09 AM	#1
caspar Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somewhere over Here! Posts: 188	Best light for CORAL GROWTH Currently have 2 96w PC on a 30 gal tank. 1 bulb is a SUNPAQ 420 & 460 actinic the other is a 10k & 420nm actinic. Dont seem to be getting any growth. Have hammer coral, candy cane, xenia, polyps, toadstool and other mushrooms ricordia etc. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

03/29/2009, 12:37 AM	#2
MileHighFish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NM. Posts: 1,722	The light seems good for that size tank,whats your Cal & Alk like? __________________ See "Red House" for pics!! I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: Reef tank, 100 gal Lee Mar polished.. 60 sump.. 800 watts mh 20k radium..Ran on "Taiwan HQI Ballast" 330 watt VHO.. 48 watt compacts (dawn/dusk).. sps/lps tank..

03/29/2009, 09:49 AM	#6
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	I was told by a friend of mine whose hobby is his side job to have 2 10,000k with 2 50/50's. I need 4-- 24watt bulbs for mine. __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

03/29/2009, 10:16 AM	#7
8BALL_99 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toney, AL Posts: 3,724	So you have 3 parts actinic 1 part 10k. lol pretty sure thats your problem. Best growth would probably be all 6500k lights. It would look very yellow though. If it were me I'd either run two 10k bulbs or one 10k and one 50\50 __________________ The problem with political jokes is they get elected. OK, so what's the speed of dark? Why do we drive on the parkway and park in the driveway? Isn't is it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do "practice"? Current Tank Info: Custom Starfire 300,92Gallon,35 Gallon Hex,Two 40Gallons,125Gallon,

03/29/2009, 11:11 PM	#12
8BALL_99 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toney, AL Posts: 3,724	running 6500k or 10k bulbs don't cause algae problems. Excess nutrients, long photo periods, no grazing fish, ect cause algae problems.. Actinics are just for looks. They will help with color and just the overall look of the tank, But they don't do anything for growth. So if you want the max growth you can get. Loose the Actinics. Nothing wrong with 6500k Bulbs, Infact a ton of people running T5s have a couple mixed in with their other bulbs because they put out good par. You have 2 bulbs again IMO I'd run one 10k and one 50/50. This would give you good growth but still decent color. If you don't care about looks and just want best growth run 2 6500k bulbs. Could you have algae problems, Sure EVERYthing will grow faster under 6500k bulbs including algae. __________________ The problem with political jokes is they get elected. OK, so what's the speed of dark? Why do we drive on the parkway and park in the driveway? Isn't is it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do "practice"? Current Tank Info: Custom Starfire 300,92Gallon,35 Gallon Hex,Two 40Gallons,125Gallon,

03/29/2009, 02:57 AM	#3
ehren78 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 48145 Posts: 249	if you like PC try a couple or atleast 1 10000K bulb! You have too much blue

03/29/2009, 09:30 AM	#5
caspar Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somewhere over Here! Posts: 188	Milehighfish, Cal = 460 Alk = 8 - 9 dkh

03/29/2009, 09:57 PM	#9
Paulairduck I LOVE FREE FRAGS!!! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 2,909	change one bulb to a 6500k PC

03/29/2009, 10:15 PM	#10
benmann71 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Mishawaka, Indiana Posts: 19	i would just go with 2 10,000k and 2 50/50's

03/29/2009, 10:21 PM	#11
caspar Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somewhere over Here! Posts: 188	so 2 10k & 2 50/50?? Someone give me something from experieance dont want alot of bad algae growth. give me examples of bulb types and time on duration....thanks

03/29/2009, 11:20 PM	#13
caspar Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somewhere over Here! Posts: 188	So how long should I run them, say actinic's 12hrs and 10k's 10hrs or what length of time would be best?

03/29/2009, 11:38 PM	#14
8BALL_99 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toney, AL Posts: 3,724	Best is hard to say 7-10 hours is pretty much the standard. 12 hours is a pretty long photo period, But if your only running actinics for 2 of the 12 it doesn't really matter. If you do this for a dusk to dawn effect I don't really think it does anything. It would be more for you then the fish. __________________ The problem with political jokes is they get elected. OK, so what's the speed of dark? Why do we drive on the parkway and park in the driveway? Isn't is it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do "practice"? Current Tank Info: Custom Starfire 300,92Gallon,35 Gallon Hex,Two 40Gallons,125Gallon,