csb
New member
Regarding LPS lighting ... (this question pertains more to the LPS corals themselves, so I'm posting here rather than the lighting forum)
I'm now planning an upgrade from my 30g to a 65g tank (24" tall). (yay!) It's an LPS dominated reef currently lit by a single 96w PC bulb dual 10k & actinic. The coral coloration is awesome (no brown corals). Growth is a little slow, but steady.
On the 65g, I'm planning to use t5's in the hood. Icecap 660 ballast to overdrive 4 36" t5 bulbs with individual reflectors. This should be plenty of light to penetrate the full 24".
Regarding the LPS corals... I understand that blue spectrums are preferred for LPS. What bulb arrangements are most of you running in order to achieve a nice blue spectrum (overall) for optimum LPS coloration?
I don't want the corals to turn brown or bleach from the change in lighting... I want to achieve the optimal spectrum and intensity necessary for LPS health, coloration and growth.
I also have the 96w PC light which I was considering for additional actinic.
I'm thinking about something like this...
96w actinic (utilizing the existing setup)
4 bulb combination of t5 10k, 14k and actinic.
Thoughts? Ideal bulb arrangement for LPS dominated reef? Opinions? Hate mail?
thx
--csb
I'm now planning an upgrade from my 30g to a 65g tank (24" tall). (yay!) It's an LPS dominated reef currently lit by a single 96w PC bulb dual 10k & actinic. The coral coloration is awesome (no brown corals). Growth is a little slow, but steady.
On the 65g, I'm planning to use t5's in the hood. Icecap 660 ballast to overdrive 4 36" t5 bulbs with individual reflectors. This should be plenty of light to penetrate the full 24".
Regarding the LPS corals... I understand that blue spectrums are preferred for LPS. What bulb arrangements are most of you running in order to achieve a nice blue spectrum (overall) for optimum LPS coloration?
I don't want the corals to turn brown or bleach from the change in lighting... I want to achieve the optimal spectrum and intensity necessary for LPS health, coloration and growth.
I also have the 96w PC light which I was considering for additional actinic.
I'm thinking about something like this...
96w actinic (utilizing the existing setup)
4 bulb combination of t5 10k, 14k and actinic.
Thoughts? Ideal bulb arrangement for LPS dominated reef? Opinions? Hate mail?

thx
--csb