I like blue...

[SRT80]

I really like the look of a blue tank. The display tanks AC had setup with the Vipers....I like that. I liked the frag demo tank with only actinics runnin'. I was wonderin' though, can that be done long term?

Say with my aqualight that's 2x65w. Could you run a actinic bulb and a 50/50 bulb (for a little daylight) for a more blue look? Or with my 4x24w T5 HO light, run 3 blue bulbs and one daylight? Or would this only look good to me and not be good for the corals?

Is there a difference to run a blue halide bulb because it's a stronger light than PCs?

Just wonderin'...

Steve

 

[aquaman67]

I like a bluer tank too.

I have the Coralife Tank Mount 150W MH that came with a 20K bulb (the same color AC used at the swap on their vipers)

I'm not sure you could run just actinics long term, but I think 420 nm is the wavelength of actinics and is what corals use most?

It's sometimes hard to balance what looks good to us and what's best for the corals but you might be able to do the bulb combos you listed. Maybe just try it and see how your corals respond. You can always switch back...

 

[mamagoose45]

Edit: This is DMBillies... accidentally posted under the wrong screen name.

I'm not expert on light, but this is what I know from just messing with a PAR meter in my tank and from physics class.

First of all, actinic bulbs put off very little PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) compared to an equal watt daylight bulb of the same variety. I'm not sure this is as true of bluer halide bulbs (20,000K) compared to whiter ones, but if my memory serves me there is less on average. PAR is basically a measure of the amount of light that plants can use (and by extension the zooxanthelae in coral tissue). Knowing that, I'd guess that you'd need a LOT more wattage at a bluer color to provide a similar level of usable light. On the other hand, blue light has more punch (less likely to be absorbed in the water column), so I'm guessing that using bluer bulbs would create less of a PAR gradient as you go down the tank.

I've still got a lot to learn about lighting, but my PAR readings were... enlightening...dum dum tsh. I'll be posting them with some graphics and maybe even a bit of statistics as soon as I can get them together.

 

[SRT80]

yea, I really like the look of the 20k 150w vipers AC was runnin over those 29s. I have to do somethin'. I'm so disgusted with my 20 right now. It's the razor caulerpa out of control. I'll probably setup a 29 and go with a 150w pendant.

Steve