lighting for acans, micros

[thebicyclecafe]

Hello everyone! Finally setting up a small system for raising some LPS and looking into lighting options. (sorry usually in the SPS forum so used to overkilling when it comes to lighting)

First time using halides for these and am wondering what's suitable. The current plan is to go with a PFO mini pendant with PFO electronic ballast and either a 150 W 20K XM or a 15K Iwasaki. (or some other 20K bulb such as an AB) Too much? Too little? Would either of these be suitableto keep and hold the coloration of intensely colored micros and acans at up to 15"?

Thanks in advance!

 

[gobind]

HI I VE BEEN KEEPING ACANS UNDER 400W 20K THEY ALL SEEM TO KEEP THERE COLOUR IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LIKE TO VIEW YOUR TANK OVERALL

 

[JenDub]

A 150w halide will keep the color but won't get much growth. A 250w halide will work much better for coloration & growth. That's what I use on my 18" deep tank. Either way you definitely want a 20k bulb or a Radium =)

 

[ReefDoctorMicromussas]

My entire collection sits about 2" under water on an egg crate ledge. All and all maybe 8-10 inches away from the bulbs... 2X250 watt 20K Radium MH (Jen is right Radiums are great) with 4X110VHO... my micros love it there and growth is phenomenol with no color loss... actually, I find color improvement in some morphs.

 

[thebicyclecafe]

Sweet, thanks for the replies. Usually with my SPS frags that I get from people are well acclimated to high lighting.

With the micros or acans I'd probably have to acclimate them to the strong lighting unless they're already acclimated to strong lighting eh?
(sorry my LPS keeping experiences are limited to Trachyphyllia, Favites and Euphyllids!)

 

[katpurdy]

highjacking here!!!! my one and only blasto is at the bottom of my 20" deep tank...my 250W 10k MH is about 9" off the water surface and I have two 36w HO helio T5's. Are my blastos too far down for growth? if I put them higher up, will they loose color? I think they are not as vibrant a burgandy edge as they were at the LFS...but they also had different lights than i do...HELP!!

 

[ReefDoctorMicromussas]

Hello I have an awesome PPE Blasto that has vibrant colors... it is about 12" under my MH as listed above...

 

[calero]

sorry guys, what is a radium ? excuse my ignorance

 

[ReefDoctorMicromussas]

Metal Halide bulbs come in different Brands... ie: XM, Ushio, Radium, Hamilton, coralview ect... each brand costs more or less, has varied lux and manufactureing differences than the others... this creates inherant color and spectral qualities superior or inferior to the others.

As stated, I Like a 20K Radium... it produces a very crisp, bright white light that is not as confused with blues as so many of the other Bargain 20K MH.

MH Brands 101 concluded... Please register for Kelvin temps 201 next semester.

 

[thebicyclecafe]

doc, what photoperiod are you running?

 

[ReefDoctorMicromussas]

8am to 7pm I have the VHO on
11am to 4pm I add the MH
7pm to 8am 420 nm moonlighting
I have pretty good growth. minimal (kinda) algea and an GGGRRR acceptable electric bill with this scheme.