New lights?

[rustyjames]

ok, 30 gallon tank, 25lbs. base rock, about 2-3lb. piece of live rock on top. very nice pink, purple and green corraline when i got it, but started turning turning white and receding when i put it in tank, stock lighting! got a 20 watt 50/50 bulb, seems like the corraline was hanging on. anyway, received new t5 fixture today, 1 39watt 12,000k, 1 39 watt actinic, should i reduce photo period to 6 hours and increase a little each day?

 

[abulgin]

I don't think this is much of an increase. You can essentially discount the actinic lighting, as it does not provide much useful light. Rather, it's more for aesthetics than anything else. My guess is that you'll have similar problems with just that one 39W bulb. If it were me, I would swap both bulbs out for two daylight bulbs in the bluer range, like two of these: http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idproduct=GL2111

 

[rustyjames]

thank you, i was under the impression corraline and corals for that matter grew under the actinics.

 

[rustyjames]

funny, i paid $30 for the one 50/50 that lfs sold me and the bulbs in your link, much better quality, are only $22. still learning!

 

[abulgin]

Here's lesson #1 and #2 in this hobby. Do your own research and don't listen to LFS employees; and, for the most part, buy on-line rather than from your LFS, as you'll save a bundle.

Actinic lighting does produce some useful spectra, but not nearly enough to grow anything under the configurations we use. You'll do much better with 2 "bluer" daylight bulbs. Also, coralline algae needs calcium, stable alkalinity and magnesium, so you should be testing for those and, if necessary, dosing.

 

[rustyjames]

thanks again, ordered b-ionic 2 part on-line a week ago then went to lfs for calcium test kit. they were out of stock. as soon as i can test, i will dose.

 

[rustyjames]

let me ask, is 78 watts over a 17" deep tank, well 15" minus sand bed enough to grow anything?

 

[reefscape15]

You would be good with Zoas, most Shroomz, Soft corals, and probably quite a few LPS. All these corals aren't super hight light requiring ones, but research is a must before trying to house anything. I had only 96watts over a 24" deep tank for a while and all my corals were doing great, except for a Purple Pocillapora that lost most of it's color, but it's coming back greatly now that i've added 250watt MH.

With the daylight bulbs vs. actinics that you were talking about earlier, the actinics are mostly for looks. They bring out the flourecsents of the corals in your tank, but they won't provide much light for growth. You could get 2 daylight bulbs and if it's not blue enough, you can always add LED's for suplimental lighting