new zoanthid placement help

[wampuscat]

I just picked up some new zoa's and need some placement help. The tank is a standard 150. My lighting is Phoenix hqi 150w at each end and a 250w in the middle. Also how many inches above the water should the mh's be?

1. Tubb's blues
2. look a lot like the Tubb's blues just a little duller
3. Supernova zoathids
4. Bam Bam's

 

[650-IS350]

Start all the way in the bottom, then gradually move them up as time goes on. They'll show you wether they are happy or so. They'll bleach if too much light, stretch if they need more light, close up for days if not happy with light or flow. etc.....

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Everyone has there own ideas and perception of proper distance off the water regarding your MH.

1. You want to place them high enough off the water surface to prevent/reduce the chances of turbidity of the water causing water splatter on your MH bulbs which can sometimes cause them to break,crack/shatter when the water hits the hot bulbs. This is most evident with SE/unshielded bulbs. Shielded HQI fixture can be placed a little lower as they have a protective lens covering the HQI bulb. That doesn't necessarily mean that I would place them lower. But keep in mind if you place these fixtures lower, water droplets can still collect on the shield which have to be cleaned frequently. This is excess work which can be prevented by placing the fixture higher.


2. Bulbs/fixtures placed a few inches off the water surface can have a dramatic affect on water temps rising. Without adequate cooling, you could theoretically cause your temp to rise rapidly. I would never recommend placing MH bulbs/fixtures that low.

3. PAR ( Photosynthetically Active Radiation ) is reduced with greater heights off the water surface, albeit marginal when dealing with 1 or 2 inch adjustments, but studies/readings taken, have shown dramatic decreases in PAR if you place your fixtures too high. This is easily tested with a PAR meter. That said, I would recommend placement of HQI's 8 to 11 inches off the water surface. My fixture is 9 inches off the surface.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthetically_active_radiation


Hope this helps.


Mucho Reef

 

[wampuscat]

Hey Mucho,

What kind of bulbs are you running and what wattage?

 

[650-IS350]

oops LOL, I was thinking zoo's.. reading that late night.. while getting sleepy... my bad.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

I run dual 250 watt DE - 14 k Phoenix MH bulbs