Lighting for shroom tank

[randyplank]

I am currently cycling my 36 gallon corner tank with 10g sump. I am pondering a shroom dominated tank probably with some zoas and a few softies and LPS..
Anyhoo....initially I will have shrooms and zoas. I have a used 250w MH fixture with 14k or 20k bulbs to choose from that are at least six months old. I know shrooms and many zoas require less light than most LPS.
Do you think my used MH bulbs would work for the shrooms for a while? And when I replace the bulb, is it going to overpower my shrooms? My sandbed is about 19" from the closest point I could put my lighting. I realize I will need to raise the new bulbs, but any guidance as to how much I may have to raise it? Or is MH just too strong for a tank such as this?
Thanks for any advice!

 

[bobo33]

Shrooms and zoas adapt pretty well to a wide range of conditions. I think the MHs will be OK if you take your time to acclimate all new additions properly. Full shade to partial shade for a couple of weeks at least, then full light but low placement and note how they respond to the lighting change.

 

[randyplank]

Thanks!

 

[organism]

A halide is ok, but you may have some heat issues with a 250w over a 36 gallon. Personally I think mushrooms look best under LED, less energy and heat too, but to each their own.

 

[Daniel62]

+1 to LEDS

 

[Chad Vossen]

Just want to ask more on the LED lighting. I have 50W hybrid LED chip over my 29 gallon biocube. I think I'm just underpowered, but corals just loose their intensity over time.

Should I go 100W?

 

[Daniel62]

Well here's my 2$. did the corals in this tank start out under leds?

I know that when I switched over from halides, my corals looked kind of washout for a while, but then they regained thier colors, though some did have a color shift.

Are you sure you are not bleaching you corals out. Remember, that LED's don't look as bright to our eyes as other light sources, but to the corals, they are really bright.

I run 3 different LED systems, Kessil 150's, reefbreeder value lights and Maxspect razors160. All my corals have good to great color. The Maxspect is my Fav.

If you can check your par readings for your light to see where you are really at, as far as intensity, this will give you some valuable info.

Good luck

 

[randyplank]

Update to my original post/question....
The wife was concerned about the sheer amount of electricity used by a 250w MH, so she agreed to a new T5 setup. I'm pretty happy with that. I have a 96w 4 bulb T5 fixture on the way. Now to figure out a bulb combination....it comes with 2 10k, and 2 Actinic. It'll do for now. I think this setup will be much more what I need in terms of amount of light.

 

[82ndengineer]

On the 50watt led question I would say you have too much and they are bleaching more than anything else.

 

[randyplank]

Picked up a few pretties from a LFS the other day. They seem to love my T5's. I have never seen fluorescent orange mushrooms before. It positively glows under my actinics! Pics soon!

 

[Fishareawesome]

Don't mean to hijack but I have a simliar question about lighting shrooms:

Right now I have one 14000K BuildMyLed strips on a 180 gallon. I know it's underpowered and will eventually upgrade, but after reviewing the charts and talking directly to the president of the company (great customer service and quality light I might add) I beleive my 6 ricordea florida should be receiving between 130 and 65 PAR and what I would call moderate flow.

does that seem appropriate?

-noob :wavehand:

 

[organism]

Update to my original post/question....
The wife was concerned about the sheer amount of electricity used by a 250w MH, so she agreed to a new T5 setup. I'm pretty happy with that. I have a 96w 4 bulb T5 fixture on the way. Now to figure out a bulb combination....it comes with 2 10k, and 2 Actinic. It'll do for now. I think this setup will be much more what I need in terms of amount of light.

If you put 3 ATI blue plus (actinic) bulbs on there and one ATI aquablue you'll see some unbelievable colors. I know vendors who use 3 ATI blue plus and 1 KZ fiji pink and the colors are so nice they look fake, but not everyone loves a superblue tank

 

[Sydoriakp]

I hope my halides work well gunna have to research shading technique I always just put new pieces low and move em up gradually but then again im still lit by t5s