The Blacklight Experience

[scubalauren]

So I thought I had a great idea to make the colors of my corals really glow. I thought...hmmm I bet a blacklight would really make those colors pop!!! Well, just wanted to pass my experince along in case someone else thought a blacklight would do the job. Yes, it made the colors at night really glow, but it also makes the water look really cloudy. I'm guessing the salt in the water was reflecting the light too. It does nothing during the day.

What 24 inch flourescent type bulb would really make my colors glow like they are in a blacklight? I already have 2 250 MH 14K and 20K (too much I'm discovering for my tank).

 

[gnoles]

The combo I hear the most about is UVL Super Actinic and ATI Blue+ in T5's.

 

[The0wn4g3]

VHO Super Actinic will give you the most "blacklight" effect hands down. Gnoles' suggestion is a very close second with UVL > ATI in "pop" but ATI > UVL in PAR. Both put out much more PAR than a VHO actinic.

500W is not too much for a 25" deep tank. Each 250W is suppose to cover a 2' x 2' square. The tank itself is 24" wide at the max and 45" long. 2x 250W's are good. 1x 250W and you'll have 1ft on both sides lacking PAR. 2x 175W 14K's aren't near bright enough (IMO) for a 25" deep tank, so you'd be forced to 10K will supplementation. Just my .02

 

[BHAMR6]

Hey Scuba,

I'm with Grant i dont think you have to much light on there i think something else is going on w/th the coral

 

[gflat65]

Not too much light, depending on what you are doing. I'm running (2)-175W Ushio 14k's over a 120 softie/LPS with VHO supplementation and it does a great job. SPS don't do nearly as well in that setup, though (generally lose some color and slow down growth). Over my 125, I've got 250DE 14K's (Phoenix) and VHO supps and SPS love it. What are you wanting to grow?

 

[gnoles]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15587779#post15587779 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The0wn4g3
VHO Super Actinic will give you the most "blacklight" effect hands down. Gnoles' suggestion is a very close second with UVL > ATI in "pop" but ATI > UVL in PAR. Both put out much more PAR than a VHO actinic

VHO's do have the edge in florescence... but the technology has had years to get there. I'm looking at T-5's because that's what I have to compare with. I'm going with two of each of those bulbs and two 250w Phoenix bulbs.... just as soon as I can save up!

 

[The0wn4g3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15593954#post15593954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gnoles
VHO's do have the edge in florescence... but the technology has had years to get there. I'm looking at T-5's because that's what I have to compare with. I'm going with two of each of those bulbs and two 250w Phoenix bulbs.... just as soon as I can save up!

Definitely agree. I'd go T5 over VHO, also. Saves money in the long run, too.

 

[KingRicky]

Hey Scuba,

I agree with Paul, you don't have too much light. I think it is the glass cover over your tank that is causing the problem. I would try and take it off for a while and see what happens.

 

[scubalauren]

I'm doing great with the softies. They LOVE the light! I keep killing Zoas and SPS. We ended up getting a Actinic bulb and Zack loves it. I think it's a little too blue, but the all the colors of the coral glow like I wanted. Just not with the MH. Ricky, I never thought about the glass covers. Good idea!!! We added some window screen on the top of the glass, but it's only been 2 days. I think the more Zack hears about T-5's the more he likes them, but he's already spent so much time building my lights with the MH. Maybe one day we will change, but I like the MH besides all the heat they put out. Zack rebuilt the light enclosure and it gets a lot more air flow. I can tell a huge difference in the heat.

 

[gnoles]

Are you running a skimmer?

 

[scubalauren]

yes