Top down shots
- Thread starter Big E
- Start date
This is one of the best threads I have read on here!
I was googling blue plus and coral plus bulbs and yours came up. I have a small shallow tank 24x24x12 with a 6 bulb ATI fixture. I was going to do 4 blue plus, and 2 coral plus bulbs with 2 reef brite led blues.
What bulb would you recommend for a 6 bulb fixture? Also what height do you think on a shallow 12 inch tank?
I was googling blue plus and coral plus bulbs and yours came up. I have a small shallow tank 24x24x12 with a 6 bulb ATI fixture. I was going to do 4 blue plus, and 2 coral plus bulbs with 2 reef brite led blues.
What bulb would you recommend for a 6 bulb fixture? Also what height do you think on a shallow 12 inch tank?
Big E
Premium Member
Thanks, I highly recommend the Nordoa star...........I'm finally getting my coralline back.
Thanks!
Thanks, I appreciate your comments.
Thanks, 3 blue+ and 3 coral+. The 4x2 combo is okay but not my first choice.
I would start at about 8" from the surface and work down from there..............maybe every two weeks drop an inch. Use the coral colors as your guide. 6" might be the lowest you want to go.
topjimmy
Member
I love the tank, great job.
I have a question about bulbs. I currently run a 250w Phoenix 14k with two actinic t5. It is too blue for my taste and I am considering replacing one t5 actinic with an aqua blue special, or maybe a coral plus.
Which do you think would be better?
Sent from Second star to the right*and straight on 'till morning"
I have a question about bulbs. I currently run a 250w Phoenix 14k with two actinic t5. It is too blue for my taste and I am considering replacing one t5 actinic with an aqua blue special, or maybe a coral plus.
Which do you think would be better?
Sent from Second star to the right*and straight on 'till morning"
Big E
Premium Member
Thanks............the Phoenix DE bulb is fairly white on it's own, but it also depends on what ballast you're driving it with.
Actinic bulbs are more of a violet color to our eyes, and maybe what you don't like?
AB specials will probably wash out the colors too much.
Two coral+ would give you a whiter look & still cast some blue and violet. Two blue+ may also work......they don't necessarily give more blue but an icier look and add a little more pop to the corals.
A lot of this is personal taste, but I'd probably try two blue+ first.
Actinic bulbs are more of a violet color to our eyes, and maybe what you don't like?
AB specials will probably wash out the colors too much.
Two coral+ would give you a whiter look & still cast some blue and violet. Two blue+ may also work......they don't necessarily give more blue but an icier look and add a little more pop to the corals.
A lot of this is personal taste, but I'd probably try two blue+ first.
codydemmel4
Active member
just read through this thread, very helpful for someone just starting to get heavily into SPS. Very very nice tank by the way!!
I have a 8x80 on my 180 gallon with 2 reef brites, one on the front and one on the back. I am about to change the bulbs before I get my new corals this week. I know you use 50/50 between coral+ and blue+ would you recommend the same thing for someone with 2 reefbrites and a 8 bulb? Right now I have the lights at 9 inches above the tank, would you still recommend slowly bringing them down an inch every 2 weeks till theyre around 6 inches above the tank?
Thanks!
I have a 8x80 on my 180 gallon with 2 reef brites, one on the front and one on the back. I am about to change the bulbs before I get my new corals this week. I know you use 50/50 between coral+ and blue+ would you recommend the same thing for someone with 2 reefbrites and a 8 bulb? Right now I have the lights at 9 inches above the tank, would you still recommend slowly bringing them down an inch every 2 weeks till theyre around 6 inches above the tank?
Thanks!
Big E
Premium Member
Thanks, and yes I'd still do 50/50.
My answer is always going to be the same regardless of the number of bulbs...........these are for growing and coloring acros. The idea is to have a uniform spectrum and par level across the tank.
As far as supplements go that is more for personal preference...........that's where the actinics or reefbrites come into play.
Your bulbs are higher in par so you may not want to go to 6". It's basically trial and error as to the lowest level.......let the corals be your guide.
The closer the fixture is to the tank the brighter the corals will look as well as the whole tank.
You also have to decide on coverage as your fixture is 60" on a 72" tank, so that may effect your height level. Or you can just keep your acros closer to that 60x24" area.
My answer is always going to be the same regardless of the number of bulbs...........these are for growing and coloring acros. The idea is to have a uniform spectrum and par level across the tank.
As far as supplements go that is more for personal preference...........that's where the actinics or reefbrites come into play.
Your bulbs are higher in par so you may not want to go to 6". It's basically trial and error as to the lowest level.......let the corals be your guide.
The closer the fixture is to the tank the brighter the corals will look as well as the whole tank.
You also have to decide on coverage as your fixture is 60" on a 72" tank, so that may effect your height level. Or you can just keep your acros closer to that 60x24" area.
codydemmel4
Active member
Thanks!
I will keep them around 9 inches now and adjust to how the corals look over the next couple weeks.
How often do you change your light bulbs and when you do, do you change them all at once or like two a week?
Big E
Premium Member
Depth- 16"--------------- Bulbs 7" from waterline
You can use the numbers below as a reference. I took these numbers on my standard 75g tank. Same fixture as now.
The lights are 6 1/2" from the surface and total water depth is 18 1/2". The first number is the level from the floor of the tank. The number in ( ) is the distance from the bulbs.
1" off the bottom-- 200 (24)
3"- 260 (22)
6"- 280 (19)
10"- 300 (15) This is mid level area of the tank.
11"- 325 (14)
12"- 360 (13)
13"- 400 (12)
14"- 430 (11)
15"- 470 (10)
17"- 500 (8)
You can use the numbers below as a reference. I took these numbers on my standard 75g tank. Same fixture as now.
The lights are 6 1/2" from the surface and total water depth is 18 1/2". The first number is the level from the floor of the tank. The number in ( ) is the distance from the bulbs.
1" off the bottom-- 200 (24)
3"- 260 (22)
6"- 280 (19)
10"- 300 (15) This is mid level area of the tank.
11"- 325 (14)
12"- 360 (13)
13"- 400 (12)
14"- 430 (11)
15"- 470 (10)
17"- 500 (8)
Quiverfull
Member
BigE, fantastic discussion on lighting. I'm a MH and T5 person. I would like your advice on adding some extra supplementation to me set up if you don't mind. Tank is a standard 129. Right now I have a single fixture with 250W MH running Phoenix 15K x 2 and 54W T5 blue+ x 2. The fixture is right over the center and I have found that when looking from the front, I do nor get much color in my sps toward the front of the tank. Want to add more T5 and was thinking of a 2 bulb fixture in front of the main fixture. Would probably run either 2 blue+ or one blue + and one coral +. Any suggestions on fixtures to add or other ideas? Thanks.
Greg
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Greg
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Quiverfull
Member
Sorry, standard 120. 4 x 2 x 2.
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Big E
Premium Member
Hi Greg,
Not sure I understand what you're saying by not seeing color in the acros viewing from the front pane. Do you mean all the acros or only ones that are near the front of the tank?
Your light setup looks good with Phoenix 14k & the blue+ supplements.
