400W 20K and Supplimental Lighting

[RockyMtnReef]

I am in the process of setting up a 250 g SPS tank (30" tall) and will be running (3) 400W MH 20K bulbs. I will be using the large Lumenarc reflectors as well. Is there any reason other than the "Dusk/Dawn" effect to add supplimental lighting? I have a VHO ballast and endcaps sitting around that I could use but am debateing if its really necessary.

I ask because many of the 10K folks out there seem to add actinics to bring out color and give the tank a blue tint. With the 20K bulb I will certainly have plenty of blue.

If I did decide to add them I was probably going to go with a 50/50 VHO bulb rather than straight actinic. Thoughts on this strategy?

Any comments?

Thanks,

 

[nwrogers]

I have 400w 20k bulbs on my tank and for about 6 months they were the only lights on the tank. Let me preface this by saying I also made several other changes other than adding actinics including a chiller and a calcium reactor so my experience may or may not be related to the actinics. About two weeks after adding the actinics to my tank I started noticing all of the purple that I was never able to keep in my corals was coming back. This color was not just be exaggerated by the fluorescing but was very noticeable even when I turned the actinics off. The actinics seemed to help color my corals up and it was not just purples and blues that it helped, my green stylopora is now getting an awesome hot pink base! It may just be from the extra watts/par but what ever it is I am running my actinics all day now. Look at it this way if you hook them up you can always choose to use them or choose to not. If you don’t hook them up you only have one option. I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience or if I am just going crazy?

Nate

 

[kirstenk]

I supplement my 400W 20K's with VHO actinic also, and like Nate think they add color to my SPS. They also brighten the tank. I would add the VHO and you can try different bulbs to see what you like best as I know some folks do use some 50/50's.

 

[RockyMtnReef]

Thanks for the info guys. I guess other than adding a fraction to the electric bill whats the harm.

 

[Ramble On Rose]

I have a 30" tall and I have 2 250W HQI's on the sides and a 400W 20K in the center. I just turn them on and off in order from left to right as to simulate a sun rise and setting. This lets me run each light for less total time and still have at least a light on for 10 hours a day.

With that said, I have two VHO ballats/end caps just sitting here doing nothing that might help out with the color... Initially I was all about keeping the costs down. But after seeing the cost of the air conditioner lately, the lights are definatly not that bad!

 

[gemxsps]

Add actinic should be much better than MH alone.