What do you think of this light set up?

[Mike&Pam]

I've been researching an upgrade in lighting recently. I think I've finally narrowed it down to a good system for a reasonable price. How's this for my 90gal (24" deep) mixed reef (i.e. sps, softies, etc.)

2x250watt PFO 6500K (iwasaki bulbs) (on regular pfo mh ballast)
2x96 power compact actinics (to eliminate the yellow look)

Will the pc's adequately compensate the yellow look that usually comes along with the 6500k? iwasaki's?

 

[Anonymous]

"Adequately" is really a matter of taste, so it's hard to quantify. My tank runs with 2 250w iwasakis and a pair of 110w VHO actinics, and I think they do an okay job of balancing the look of the lighting -- but you may not. Unfortunately, this is one of those things that everyone has a different, personal opinion on, and the only way you'll be able to answer the question to your own satisfaction is to look at different setups with similiar lighting. If you can fine one in person, all the better; but if not, check out folks personal web sites and odds are you'll find a number of tanks with lighting similiar to what you're talking about.

 

[Mike&Pam]

cjdevito--
How do I go about finding people's websites with similar lighting set ups?

 

[Anonymous]

Probably the two easiest ways would be to either:

1)Ask. Titling a thread like 'Need pics of tanks lit with iwasakis and PCs' would probably get you a couple of folks showing you their pictures.

2)Check people's profiles and signature links. A lot will have links to photos of their tanks. This is a bit more hit and miss, though, no guarantee they have a light set up like you're interested in.

I'll get you started off, though. Here's a pic of my 60g lit with 2 250w iwasakis and 2 110w VHO actinics. Nothing in it but curing rock when I took this.

 

[fish_who?]

I think that setup is fine. I had a 60 gallon (upgraded to 125 and different K of lights), with 2 250w 65k's on a PFO ballast with 2 55 watt pc actinic. The 55 watts were fine, cleared up the yellow no problem


Here is a pic of it last month.

 

[mariner]

If you like the bluish look, try the 250 12k's. They have worked great for me. The coraline really lokks like a flourescent pink under them. I usually like to change every year.When my annual April bulb change comes around again, i'll probably go with the 10k ushio's.

 

[toptank]

Hope this helps, this is when I had my 90 setup with 2 x 250s and added some PC

this is 12k and 10K (white) PC

left side 6,500K with actinic PC, right 12k w/10K PC

Left side is 12k w/PC , right side 12K only

Barry

[ November 10, 2001: Message edited by: toptank ]

[ November 10, 2001: Message edited by: toptank ]</p>