lighting quesiton

[jacksonpt]

I'm running a 4x39 Hamilton T5 retro over my 30long (18" tall). I've read a few places that the ballasts are underpowered, but it hasn't seemed to be an issue on my mostly LPS tank. So far.

I'm running Giesemann bulbs, and have been playing with bulb combination to get the color I want. Running (2) actinic+ bulbs (450nm) and (2) pure actinics (420nm) seems to look the best.

With no real "white" light in the tank, will I run into health/nutritional problems from photosynthetic corals down the road?

 

[Gravesj1s]

I doubt you'd have any issue.Lots of info out shows zooanthellae are pretty adaptive to spectrum.

 

[Dave VG]

I'm thinking you may have growth problems with that bulb combination.

 

[jacksonpt]

Dave, just to be clear... I'm assuming growth problems is a nutrition problem, nutrition problem = health problem... ?

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

I don't know if there is enough par in those bulbs to sustain zooxanthellae.

 

[Dave VG]

You know I'm not really sure if you could correlate them all together and have it equate to poor health per say just slow growth due to low par #'s. Now from first hand experience going from an under powered T-5 setup with low par #'s on my 90 to MH I saw a big deference in coloration and growth. I guess sometimes we need to sacrifice something to get something else which in your case is pleasing coloration. It seems that for most people it’s difficult to get that just right look with T-5’s and is very expensive getting there.

 

[Gravesj1s]

Whoops ,think I misread the original post.I'd agree with the others atinics throw off low par.
Might not be enough with a 39 watt 4 bulb fixture.I thought it read 54watt,sorry.

 

[pascal32]

check out grim reefers T5 thread. (3) ATI Blue+ and a daylight bulb should be plenty