Lighting for a new setup

[dtech]

Hi all I have a lighting question for all of you who have TBS rock and all. I am working on a Aquapod24 that I am going to get the Package for. It currently has the (2)32w pc lights in it but I am working on upgradeing it to 144w of pc lighting, (2) 36w 10k bulbs and (2) 36w acticnics. Will this be enough for the Package or do I need to wait. I am building a 90 gal also but it is noyt going to be up for a long time as we are going to move in about a year and we don't have room here for it. Any help or thought will truely help a ton. thanks.

 

[dklaue]

Hi dtech,

I have a 20g high and I have 2x64w PC 1 actinic and 1 10k for 128w. Everything in my tank are items included by Richard in my package. The lighting has been good for me for over a year, maybe even a bit too much, at least for sponges.

The sponges on the rocks at the top seemed to slowly fade and disappear while the ones under shade and at the bottom of the tank seemed to thrive.
The tube corals I have with a brown coloring to them seem to like it better mid to lower tank also.
The macro algae that comes on the rocks really thrived in the light.
Probably the best indicator for me is my green flower anenome and green ricordia. Both are light dependent I believe, and are doing great in the middle of the tank and are a nice bright to deep green. The anenome would move if it didn't like it, it could go higher if it wanted so that seems to tell me the light level is good mid tank.

Outside of creatures that are in the package, as long as you didn't try to add any heavy light dependent ones like clams and some sensitive corals I think you would be perfect.

Good luck

 

[dtech]

cool that helps I may go with (3) 36w bulbs instead of (4). I have a 3 gal pico with 3wper gal now and its doing good with alot of thesame type of animals in it.

 

[HowardW]

<<< I am working on upgradeing it to 144w of pc lighting, (2) 36w 10k bulbs and (2) 36w acticnics. Will this be enough for the Package >>>


2 or 3 of those 36W PC bulbs would be plenty for a TBS package in a 24g Aquapod.

 

[dtech]

I like that better for cost reasons, I can get (3) in 50/50 or do a 10k an acticnic and a 50/50 what do you think would be best? I have t5's on my 30 gal fowlr, they are (1) 10k and (1) acticnic, I really like the color of the light and how the fish I have in there look. That and on my 3 gal pico it has a 50/50 and looks good too, but I would rather do what is bst for the critthers over what my eye likes.

 

[dklaue]

I would say stick with what you like. I have half actinic and half 10k and my tank is healthy, and from what you described you like the look of your half and half systems. So going with that I think you should like your look and have enough light for the tank as well.

I don't know if 3 - 50/50 is different in price from 1 - 10k, 1 actinic, and 1 - 50/50, but I think 3 - 50/50 might be better. The light spectrum is spread more evenly, plus you only have one bulb type to worry about instead of 3.

 

[dtech]

that makes sense I am going to do some research on bulbs and see what I can find at a good price, I just want to make sure I get good spectrum I have had problems before with 6500k bulbs and don't really like that look there are a ton of choices out there it gets a little crazy. I have also thought of doing 3- 40w bulbs any thoughts on that?

 

[dtech]

I have decided to go with Nanotuners 3.36 for the Ap24, it comes with a choice of bulbs but I'm goin to go with the 3 50/50 bulbs they sell cause they are 10k and true actinic, and those are what I ahve on my other tank and like it. I hope to do a build thread after i get it done or at least closer to done. I'm gonna be doing my order with Richard in July.