Lighting schedule

[jparadise]

I am a newbie to saltwater. I just got a Nova Extreme Pro T5 fixture in for my 110g and I am wondering the best route for my lighting schedule. four 460nm Actinic Blue on 1 timer and four Daylight 10,000K on another timer. Right now I have them set as....

Actnics come on at 10am and go off at 12a.m.
10,000K come on at 11am and go off at 7pm
Actnics come back on at 6pm and go off at 8pm.
Moonlight 24hrs a day

Should I keep the Actnics on all day?
or Is this a correct lighting schedule?

What ever yall think will be helpful.

The tank will be mostly LPS and Softies with a few SPS.


Here is a link to pics of the tank
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=58522

thx in advance

 

[luther1200]

Yes, keep the actinics on the whole time.

 

[redfishsc]

I would run the actinics all day, they actually produce nearly the same amount of photosynthetically useful light as the 10,000K (at least, speaking in terms of Current USA bulbs).


I would bring the actinics on at 10 am, off at 8pm.

10,000's on an hour after actinics, and off an hour before.


For what it's worth, I doubt that the corals give a rip, but the fish probably appreciate the graded lighting.


Also, lastly, use the bulbs you have, but don't replace them with the same bulbs. Current USA's bulbs are kinda mid-range in quality but the same (or higher) in price.

Change them out (after 6-8 months to save $$ unless you get the itch) with ATI, Korraline-Zucht, Giesemann, or UVL bulbs.


Get on the T5 Q&A thread and ask about bulb combos if you want to really spice up your tank right now.

 

[addicted2reefin]

giesemann aquabue and actinic + all the way. it will give ur tank some nice par rating and a good blue look to it.

 

[jparadise]

THX Reeffishsc

When I get home I will change the lighting.

I have already been thinking about a new bulb combination when the tank gets broke in. I definately want to upgrade the bulbs.

On another note. Can a clam do good under T5 lighting? I have figured that I have 4.2 watts per gallon.

 

[redfishsc]

Toss out the old "watts per gallon" rule---- it's basically an older method people used back when everyone used regular flourescent and VHO lighting, where it could be halfway useful.


That being said, I think your Nova Pro has 6 tubes, right? You should be able to easily keep a clam so long as you keep an eye on him. If you see him open up wide to spread out a lot, he's likely straining for light, so just move him up higher in the tank.

I've seen clams grown happily under less T5 light than you currently have.


BTW I would wait a few months before tossing in a clam, but that's just me. They are a bit too pricey to risk on a new tank

 

[jparadise]

It is not the Nova Extreme Pro with the individual reflectors, it is just the Nova Extreme, it is 8 bulbs.

The clam will be on down the road. Some people said you have to have MH for a clam to do good. I am taking this tank slowly letting it do its thing.

Thx again

 

[redfishsc]

You most certainly DO NOT NEED MH to have a clam.

I have seen probably 8 or 10 tanks, personally, that have very happy clams sitting under T5's.

One of the tanks has a big T. squamosa sitting under what the LFS calls "1.3 watts per gallon" of T5, and it's a 30" deep tank. The squamosa has been there for about a year now and has grown. Squamosa don't have the highest light requirements of clams, true, but even in a relatively dim tank it seems to be doing well. There are no SPS in that tank, mostly leathers, ricordeas, and other softies.