Help on MH and T5

[yancy_gabriel]

I currently have a Reef Aquarium Tank 72"x26"x26"
Mixed Corals and Fish but mostly SPS. I noticed that the colors of my SPS are still light brownish ever since I got them. I can see that they grow but the colors are not quite right.

MH 2x 150w and 1x 200w
T5 2x 10k and 2x blue actinic

Currently I use MH and T5 white from 7:00am - 6:00pm and keep blue lights on from 6:00pm to 7:00am.

1. If I have my MH switched on ONLY, it gives out a light green color. Is this normal? What causes this?

2. Given I have SPS, how often should I have the MH and T5 on? Can you please give me an ideal photo period?

3. Given the height of my tank, should the SPS be located 1/2 or 1/3 above?

Please help.

 

[bureau13]

What MH ballast are you using, which bulbs and how old are they? I don't think I've ever even seen a 200W bulb. I think with that tank depth, I would use 250W lamps, and then use the T5s as supplemental lighting. Which colors are somewhat personal preference though...but good MH lights should not be green!

jds

 

[yancy_gabriel]

Sorry theyre 250W MH bulbs (Firefly brand) with 250W ballasts. Theyre quite new. The color of the Tank if MH Bulbs are on is green. The other set of MH bulbs are 150W each german made.

It would come out colored white if I have T5 combined with MH.

Where should the SPS be located? What is an ideal time period for the MH and t5? 12 hours per day?
Thanks

 

[xian]

The bulbs should have a color temperature rating. Something like 10000k or 20000k. I think that the "greenish" color you describe is the typical 10000K "color" its usually described as white but I always thought it looked sort of green.

I think that 10000K bulbs make corals look "washed out." I changed over to XM 10000k bulbs and I don't like the color. If you want to get more colors you need more blue or violet. In your tank I would keep all of the SPS (acros at least) above the mid water level, closer to the top.

Does that help?

 

[papagimp]

high nutrients in the water has been known to brown up your sps. May not have anythign to do with your lighting.

 

[Icefire]

You shouldn't have light 24/24, especially T5.

MH 6-8h/day
T5 10-12h/day.

 

[arts007]

What kind of "SPS" are they?, there are many varieties that are naturally brown due to the zooxanthalle within the coral. Some require higher light and will increase the number of zooxanthalle to get obtain their natural levels of nutrients which will then mask the coloration of the coral. If it is growing as you state it may be a healthy coral.

As icefire stated run the lights ~ 12 hr cycle, you will notice the greenish tint will be somewhat dissipated

 

[skippysmind]

Re: Help on MH and T5

Why do you run your blue T5's at night? Your corals need a down time from the light. Do not run them 24/7.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10238793#post10238793 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yancy_gabriel
MH 2x 150w and 1x 200w
T5 2x 10k and 2x blue actinic

Currently I use MH and T5 white from 7:00am - 6:00pm and keep blue lights on from 6:00pm to 7:00am.

 

[papagimp]

Look at some good detailed photographs of actual reef settings, you'll find alot of the corals are brownish anyways, this is actually a normal coloration. The super bright colors we get are partially a result of the way we care for them.

 

[yancy_gabriel]

Gurus!!! Thanks for all the responses...

So the T5 white and blue should be open at the same time during the 12 hour per day period. Is this correct?

I thought the blue lights were to simulate night time underwater. Tee hee!!!!

 

[Young Frankenstein]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10240328#post10240328 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by papagimp
high nutrients in the water has been known to brown up your sps. May not have anythign to do with your lighting.

I second that.

 

[bureau13]

Actually you can get moon lights, but compared to your blue T5s, they're quite dim. Usually just a couple blue LEDs.

jds

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10245439#post10245439 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yancy_gabriel
Gurus!!! Thanks for all the responses...

So the T5 white and blue should be open at the same time during the 12 hour per day period. Is this correct?

I thought the blue lights were to simulate night time underwater. Tee hee!!!!

 

[skippysmind]

YES, use the white and blue light on the same cycle.