lighting article

[supertech99]

I was doing some research about lights and came across this
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/setup/lighting/index.htm
I almost fell out of my chair. This guy is saying that I can light corals simply with a n.o. "full spectrum" bulb that is dirt cheap in regular n.o. fixtures and ballasts. You could even use the screw in full spectrum bulbs that are self ballasted like the ones avaliable here
http://www.naturallighting.com/web/shop.php?crn=565

Has anyone used these bulbs to light their corals? Is this really a cheaper alternative and all these other light options are just for us not for the corals? Could I really build a retrofit canopy out of $8 shop lights at lowes or the home depot and a canopy?!

 

[TitansFan]

"light their corals" and grow their healthy corals would have 2 different meanings to me.

Things like this make me think if its possible we all would be doing it.

Keep in mind the references at the end of the article have dates of 1979-1986 with one being in 1994.

 

[cczarnik]

When I was doing my lighting research, in general, it looked like WWM doesn't endorse high wattage systems. It's been a yr or so since I read up, but the folks that wrote in seeking advice that had 400w halides were jumped on consistently for having too much light, bad husbandry, etc. Here on RC, a 250 HQI on a 29G gets nods of approval all the time.

I have been intrigued by the garf budget reef concept that uses vho's though.

 

[luckyfish]

There was a talk at MACNA a few months ago by a guy who did a grid of a tank and then measured the PAR (I believe) within each section. We were all surprised at how little light some areas of the tank were getting but still had coral which were “alive”. He pointed out as has TitansFan that the corals were living but they had little growth or color. I think these creatures adapt, within reason to the parameters we provide. Having said that, I just finished using the PAR meter on my 18” tank (T-5) and 24” tank (LED) and I was amazed at the PAR at the surface and at the bottom.

 

[Mariner]

I have a lot of respect for the folks at WWM. They are not really saying that Normal Output flourescents are the only way or the best way to light a tank, just that it can be done successfully.
I have two tanks. One is lit with MH lighting, but the 75g is lit with 6 normal output 40w fluorescent bulbs fired by shoplight fixtures. Been running it this way more or less for 5 years. I have a large derasa clam that's been growing like a weed for over three years, lots of softies and LPS and even a few SPS.
Here's a pic.

Mariner

 

[NeveSSL]

Now Tim... Are you kidding me? You are just going to tell us you were surprised by your results and not share with us your findings? That's just wrong, man, especially when dealing with t5's and LEDs!

Brandon

 

[supertech99]

thats exactly what I was looking for mariner! do you notice any color differences in the corals between the two tanks? are the bulbd you use in the 75 (full spectrum I assume) easily avaliable?

 

[Mariner]

Supertech,
I've found that the color of the corals depends mostly on placement, in either tank. The closer to the light, the lighter the coral will be. For example, orange Montipora in the 75g placed near the top are pink, near the bottom they are dark orange to brown. From the pic you can see that the corals in the 75g do have very good color that compares favorably to what's in my other tank. But overall, the MH lighting makes that tank appear visually brighter than the NO's, and the glitter lines are nice too.
I use a mix of bulbs. Some 6,500K bulbs from Lowe's, a 10,000k and 3 actinics that I get pretty reasonably at the LFS. They are all normal output, 40 watt bulbs.
HTH,
Mariner