Lighting ?

LPDK91 · 01/24/2010, 11:27 PM

Im using a 250 mh bulb on my 92 gallon corner tank. All coral and fish are doing great. I love the shimmer I get with the Mh lighting but Im not getting the popping bright color from the coral. I added a few Blue Flordia Rics a few months ago. They are splitting and doing well but the color is dull. Any sugestion on a lighting secondary that will bring out the color on my coral?

justurmom · 01/25/2010, 02:44 AM

what bulb you using for the metal halide? try a radium 20k, that will definitly bring the pop out of your corals.

Chiefsurfer · 01/25/2010, 07:55 AM

^agree. IT may depend on the bulb. If you want supplimental lighting, you can go with T5's. There are a lot of different actinic bulbs out there to make certain things pop. Do you have a hood, or is the MH in a fixture, or a pendant? From what I have heard is VHO/T8 have good actinics too.

LPDK91 · 01/25/2010, 10:22 AM

I have a pendant. It is haning from the canopy.

garzaci · 01/25/2010, 10:28 AM

You can supplement with T5s

thegrun · 01/25/2010, 10:44 AM

Add a couple of actinic bulbs or switch to a Radium 20K bulb (I run both).

01/24/2010, 11:27 PM	#1
LPDK91 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: ASHLAND OHIO Posts: 253	Lighting ? Im using a 250 mh bulb on my 92 gallon corner tank. All coral and fish are doing great. I love the shimmer I get with the Mh lighting but Im not getting the popping bright color from the coral. I added a few Blue Flordia Rics a few months ago. They are splitting and doing well but the color is dull. Any sugestion on a lighting secondary that will bring out the color on my coral?

01/25/2010, 07:55 AM	#3
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	^agree. IT may depend on the bulb. If you want supplimental lighting, you can go with T5's. There are a lot of different actinic bulbs out there to make certain things pop. Do you have a hood, or is the MH in a fixture, or a pendant? From what I have heard is VHO/T8 have good actinics too. __________________ Chief Current Tank: 20 Gallon tall, 4-bulb t5 HO, Eshopps psk75H, ac-70 fuge. So far, green clown goby, striped goby, more gorillas than I wish I had, 5 SPS frags, 3 LPS Frags, 1 Softee, Turkey Wing Clam. Plan for the future: 120 gallon 4ft glass tank. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tall Reef Tank

01/25/2010, 10:28 AM	#5
garzaci Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Richlands, NC Posts: 241	You can supplement with T5s __________________ Carlos No tank at all. Sold everything when I got stationed in Okinawa. Planning for when I return though. Current Tank Info: 20 gal reef tank

01/25/2010, 02:44 AM	#2
justurmom Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 105	what bulb you using for the metal halide? try a radium 20k, that will definitly bring the pop out of your corals.

01/25/2010, 10:22 AM	#4
LPDK91 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: ASHLAND OHIO Posts: 253	I have a pendant. It is haning from the canopy.

01/25/2010, 10:44 AM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Add a couple of actinic bulbs or switch to a Radium 20K bulb (I run both).