Seriously Confused, Lighting for a reef.

[jjackson]

6500 or 10k.... I assume you mean coral color not viewing color... 6500k for coral color and 10k for your viewing ... 10 would be just fine.

 

[Shawnts106]

By best growth and color I mean best for growth.. Great / Good PAR

and by color I mean most pleaseing to the customers eye...

Im thinking the 10K's with only 2 36inch Actinics and the 10K being a 400Watter... thats going to be too overbearing...

The Coralvue 20K's look more 15K and have good par...

thats why I asked about those...

Im just thinking the 10K is going to be toooo white for sales...

 

[jjackson]

There is a LFS in houston that uses 10k 400W and actinic.... I think the people buying them understand.... but I do know of others that have 20k 400Wers 20k will prob sell better and takes alot better pictures.

All of these frags are pictured and grown under 20k
http://www.sea-biscuits.us/

 

[Shawnts106]

Yeah, the 20ks are better sellers...
thats more of what Im looking for...
Great looking corals to sell and great lighting to make them grow and be happy...

Still though, what brand bulb to choose! too many choices

 

[jjackson]

I can ask tom... http://www.sea-biscuits.us guy what brand he uses.... I ordered a ton of corals from him a while back and they are great.... and good prices.

 

[jjackson]

From his website "20k 400 watt radiums or 20k 400watt XMs (we prefer the XMs"

 

[Shawnts106]

Yeah, but the Xm's are CRAP PAR!

The radiums on a Blueline Eballast are better....

 

[SunnyX]

250W should be more than enough IF you maintain water quality.

My 225gl has only 2 250W 10K XM and the growth and color is insane.

 

[Shawnts106]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Your telling me all you run on that tank is 500watts of light... no VHO or actinics?

that is CRAZY MAD!!!

how much growth are you getting???

are blues/reds really nice?

 

[Shawnts106]

ok, do youve got a bit of actinics..

I swear, looking at your tank is SOOOo peacefull!
makes me think Im diving in the ocean, looking at the corals and fish!

Your tank is BY FAR one of the BEST Ive ever seen!!!

how often do you replace VHO/MH?

whats the water quality?
Ca?
Alk?
pH?
Nitrate?
phosphate?

tell us MORE!

If I grow gills can I live in your aquarium??? haha

 

[JB NY]

I would look at some of the blue bulbs with all those different kinds of corals. Or if you like the look of 10K one that is not a powerful as the XM10K. Put the acros up top and the rest of the corals a little lower. If you are going with lamps that have the highest PAR you will probably not make any of the corals other than the acros happy.

 

[Shawnts106]

Why wouldnt other corals benifit or be happy from high PAR???

this comment through a wrench in MY gears!!!

I like the look of 10K with actinics for myself...
but why would this be bad for other corals?

 

[JB NY]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7128236#post7128236 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shawnts106
Why wouldnt other corals benifit or be happy from high PAR???

Acroporids need a lot of light as compared to many other corals. especially LPS. I have XM10K on my tank and I have bleaches and killed more than a few LPS that just could not handle the light. Some corals I now keep only in the shaded regions of other corals otherwise they become very withdrawn.

What it boils down to is not all corals have the same light requirements.

 

[Shawnts106]

Well... Your completely right about that...
I just wasnt thinking...

That makes me nervis...
But also really makes my mind up!

I will definatly be going with the 250Watt Xm10Ks on the 210.... that way I KNOW IM not overlighting anyone...

Acros and light loveing at the top, and LPS in the middle... and Softies in a mix... lower probably...

Im thinking that the 3 250Watt MH and the 4 110Watt VHO actinics is going to be enough and bring out some very nice color... what do you guys think>?

and also, that gives me a total of 5.6(repeating) WPG...
lol, but from what Ive learned is these XM10K bulbs BREAK the WPG rule!

which is awsome...

I mean the guy UP there ^ with the 220G? tank only has like 4.18WPG....

I love these XM10Ks.... they break all the "rules" haha

 

[Shawnts106]

Did I scare everyone away???

 

[jjackson]

no been out of town... I have mine under the 250s... acro LPS and softies are all happy, about the only thing that was not was a toadstool... but I am slowly acclimating him from the VHO he used to be under