bulb type for nems?

[apayne]

I have a Haddoni and a LTA that have been doing great for 8+ months. At the moment this is a nem and fish tank:
1- Haddoni
1- M. Dorensa
2- False Percs.
1- Firefish
2- Blue Cromis

I am not sure which bulb to go with, I have a 250w ice cap ballast and the ability to go double end or single end. The last hqi I used was a Hamilton 14k, and it turned my clean tank into a hair algae nightmare. After about 5 months of battle, I finally switched back to my XM 20k bulb and....POOF.... the hair was gone.
Here is my question:

I need to replace the xm20k (I am going to get the xm20k again)and do not know if I should go double or single end.

If i go single end, I would like to get a Luminark reflector and if i go double end I will use my PFO mini.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[Slakker]

It's my understanding that Lumenarc reflectors are some of the best ones available and will likely give you a better PAR value.

 

[55semireef]

As for the bulb temperature, anemones prefer a rating of 7,000 K. Obviously this isn't a desirable color so most people buy 10000 K or 14000 K and bulbs and add supplementary actinics.

 

[apayne]

55,
how do people keep the hair algea at bay? Like i stated above, w/ the 14k hamilton the hair went nuts, and I hate it soooo much.
I do have a Phosban reactor and tons of micro algae. So I would like to stick w/ the 20k XM but is it enough PAR?
Are there others who run 20k w/ nems?

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[GSMguy]

i hav ushio 20k and am switching because i want more natural color for my haddoni and i plan on more anemones over time

if i were you id go single ended because the lumenarcs have a great spread and output but you can always upgrade your pfo to a lumenarc DE reflector as well

 

[55semireef]

apayne, it depends on the chemistry of your water, cleanup crew and fish stocking list. I remember one time I removed my purple tang temporarily from my display because my flame angel brought in ick and the purple tang caught it. After about 2 weeks, there was a little hair algae on the output of my return. Soon as I added my purple tang back the hair algae was gone completely that day. A good selection of snails will also control nuissance algaes as well.

If you have phosphates present in your tank your definately going to get some algae going because algae thrives off phosphates especially when there is a good amount present in the water.

What kind of water are you using? RO/DI? That's the best water to use. If you are not using that water than that could be a plausible reason to why your hair algae took off.

For the record though, any time you switch out a bulb with a lower spectrum bulb your always going to get some type of outbreak...whether it being hair algae or some cyano. Give it some time and the hair algae growth should subside.

 

[thrillreefer]

I run a 250W 20K radium with an icecap 250 ballast on my 55. My RBTA seems to love it and the color looks great. It has been growing well for about a year now

 

[55semireef]

Can you explain what a oscillating BTA is though?

 

[apayne]

thanks for the info, I will use it. I think I am going to try a DE lumenarc and see how that works.

Thanks,
Aaron