Lighting Upgrade

[Twistedpro]

Hi, i want to upgrade my lighting from a single 150w halide with 2x9w actinics to a 250w halide with 4x24w T5 for a 21" Cube, What would be the best way to introduce the new lighting to stop a shock from the extra light?

Thanks for your help

Regards

Peter

 

[SunnyX]

What are the measurements of your tank?

 

[Twistedpro]

21"x21"x19" althought water is only 18" deep with most corals less than 10" down

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7377506#post7377506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Twistedpro
21"x21"x19" althought water is only 18" deep with most corals less than 10" down

For that size tank the current lighting setup you have is more then enough for whatever you may want to grow. IF I were to add something I would only add the T5 Lighting. 4x24W T5 by itself will grow SPS. The only problem is the T5's your looking at are 24" long.

If you do swap out the lighting setup use a few window screens, removing one every two days. By the end of the week it should be fine.

 

[mntl]

either suspend the light higher off the tank and lower it or use something to diffuse the light. I would recommend these over a lower photo-period.

 

[Twistedpro]

If you think the lighting is plenty what distance do you think i should have the current halide from the waterits about 8" at the moment

 

[SunnyX]

Bring it down to about 5". A few inches can make a huge difference.

Are you having poor color or growth?

 

[Twistedpro]

poor colour, water quality is good and everything is stable but colours all go

 

[SunnyX]

What type of bulb and fixture are you currently running?

Adding the 4x24W T5's to your tank would greatly add more lighting to your tank.

 

[Twistedpro]

its a 20k xm bulb with a giesemann balast. it has 2 9w power compact actinic bulbs

 

[SunnyX]

The XM 20K 150W really doesnt put out that much PAR.

Adding 4x24W T5's using 4XAquablue Plus 11K bulbs would give you much better growth and color.

 

[Twistedpro]

Do you think i would be best to change the halide bulb? I have a 13k Giesemann bulb i can use. Is their anywhere i can find PAR ratings for bulbs

 

[SunnyX]

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/selectperformancedata.php

 

[SunnyX]

XM 20K has a PAR of 24

 

[SunnyX]

The XM 10K has a PAR of 54, more than twice that of the 20K.

 

[Twistedpro]

Thanks for your help i think i will switch to the giesemann bulb. i did not realise the xm 20k bulb had such a low par value.

Are their any bulbs that you would recommend?

 

[SunnyX]

Pheonix 14K is a great bulb, also consider the 10K XM.