TOO much light???

[Barnacle_Blenny]

I was thinking of modding my custom sealife fixture which has 4 x 96w PC's. I was thinking of either adding 2 x 70w Double Ended MHalide or 2 x 150w double ended MHalide. This is for my 72 gallon bow front tank. Do you think this a bit overkill. As far as coral I have it all from softies to sps to clams.

Thanks

[ October 19, 2004, 12:25 AM: Message edited by: Barnacle_Blenny ]

 

[ShaunW]

I don't think that it is too much light. But, I would be the wrong person to ask since I have about 9 to 9.5 watts/gallon on my tank,

.

I would go with the 150 HQI MH.

 

[jackson6745]

Barnacle,

1) That is defenitely not too much light
2) 70w DE's are useless
3) For a mixed reef with quite a few SPS seriously consider T5's.

I have a friend with a 72gal bow and he has 8x54w T5's over his reef. He keeps great color on all the SPS that I give him + his softies do great under the light too. I would suggest using an IC 660 balast and the Sunlight supply reflectors. Premiumaquatics.com has everything that you need

 

[eghatchny]

I don't think your setup will be overkill. I have 2 10000K 250W HQI's with 4 65W PC actinics on my 75 gal. All SPS on the higher sections and softies at the bottom.

 

[alrha]

i got 1300W on my 187gal (4x250W 10k & 2x150W 20k).
dont think it will be too much for you.

 

[pecan2phat]

I run dual 250w MHs and a pair of 55w PCs on a 55 gallon tank for 11 watts per gallon and I'm thinking of adding more PCs.
I'm surprised that your having success with your current configuration of PC lighting in regards to the SPS corals.

 

[jackson6745]

More light is not always better though
check out this thread. Take a look at "Smiths" pics. He experienced deeper colors from shortening his photoperiod from 10-8hrs per day.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=445508&perpage=25&pagenumber=4

[ October 19, 2004, 01:03 PM: Message edited by: jackson6745 ]

 

[marrone]

I've recently changed over my light from 2 55watt PC,10k & actinc, to 6 T-5 bulbs which are much more brighter than the PC's. I've cut down the amount of time that the lights are on, as some of the corals couldn't take the increased light. I've slowly built up the hours, that the lights are on, and have seen the corals doing better. I have mostly softies in my tank and have noticed that I can have the lights on less than before and the results seem to be better.

 

[Barnacle_Blenny]

Originally posted by pecan2phat:
I run dual 250w MHs and a pair of 55w PCs on a 55 gallon tank for 11 watts per gallon and I'm thinking of adding more PCs.
I'm surprised that your having success with your current configuration of PC lighting in regards to the SPS corals.

Right now I just have frags but they are growing. My green slimer (thanks VIC) has grown a quarter of an inch in a couple weeks. I kept it on the bottom as it is about a 7 inch frag. It will poke out of the water on top of my rock. My Clam T.Crocea is not only happy with the PC but growing as well.

 

[jackson6745]

Barnacle,

SPS+clams can be done with PC's but its not the best. If you keep your water quality high and extremely clear you will have better health of your SPS and also more light penetration. I have been through every lighting system imaginable over the last 2 years. Until you go with a brighter lighting system such halides or even T5's, you won't see what your missing.

The point of keeping SPS is so you have a little jungle of colorful sticks in your reef. Thats a lot easier to do under halides. There's no fun in turd brown sticks

 

[pecan2phat]

"Turd brown sticks"! You crack me up Rich!

 

[Barnacle_Blenny]

Jackson,

I must be doing something right since none of my sps is brown and is growing nicely. They have all improved coloration in my tank. I agree that MH will increase growth and maybe coloration as well it's pretty obvious since halides pack more watts in a smaller package. But I have disproved the myth that PC's are no good. A close friend of mine Bob fenner from wetwebmedia has also had the same results. For those that have power consumption or heat issues it is a viable option that will not just barely get by but perform well.

 

[ShaunW]

I run dual 250w MHs and a pair of 55w PCs on a 55 gallon tank for 11 watts per gallon and I'm thinking of adding more PCs.
I'm surprised that your having success with your current configuration of PC lighting in regards to the SPS corals.

That sucker must be BRIGHT. You definately win the "BLAST YOUR REEF TANK WITH MAN-MADE SUNLIGHT" award.

 

[cali_reef]

Originally posted by Barnacle_Blenny:
For those that have power consumption or heat issues it is a viable option that will not just barely get by but perform well.

I would go with two 150W DE pendents only, no supplements needed if you go with a 13,000K or higher bulb. You can keep one or two 55W PC actinic if you like to see your frag fluorescent before or after the MH light cycle. T5 had good reviews and I know a few people tried running insane number of tubes over their tank when they first arrive in the US, they all switched back to DE MH's after a few months. You can not match the growth with MH on a watt per watt basis. I use two 5 ft T5's as my actinic lights to supplement my three 250W DE with AB10,000K bulbs, I will be switching back to VHOs when the light bulbs are due for a change. Getting T5 bulbs is too difficult around here and I like the VHO actinic better anyway.

As for the theory PC and T5's are not hot, have anyone try touching one with it being on for a few hours? You get burn on the reflector just like MH. You will need a way to cool down the tank if If your room temp gets above 75 during the summer, any kind of light with sufficient output will be HOT.

 

[marrone]

I'm running 6 T-5 bulbs and the fixture is the same size as the 2-PC fixture and they give off much more light. As far as T-5 not being as good as MH well you will find alot of people switching over on Reef Central with just as good result at MH. There are also new T-5 bulbs out, Blue & Blue+, that have produced great results and you can get them from any of the mail order places. As for the heat the 6 T-5 that I'm running put out less heat than the 2-PC lights that I was running and the 2-PC fixtures had fans in them. All light bulbs give off heat, specially with reflectors, and if you touch them you'll get burn. Hey if I touch my 60 watt bulb above my stove I'll get a burn.