Upgrade in the works, need lighting help...

[dreaminmel]

I have just purchased a 125gallon tall setup that includes two 20K XM 400 watt halides and two 60" 140 watt URI super actinics. The tank is 26" deep and halides are 12" above water surface.

I am considering changing out the two 20K XMs for maybe two 10K XMs as I know already that if I run the current 20Ks w/ the actinics it will be too blue and I'll probably have slow SPS growth.

With the halides each being at 400 watts would two 10Ks and the two URIs be way too much light over my tank?

Thanks in advance for any help...

 

[bogg]

I dont think so I had 3 400w 10ks and 4 96w pc's over a 100 at one point, the tanks was doing great

 

[dreaminmel]

Thanks bogg, How long did you have it set up that way?

 

[dreaminmel]

Anyone else have an opinion on this setup?

 

[SunnyX]

With 400W 20K XM's you should get great color and growth. Just get rid of the actinics and replace them with Actinc White bulbs.

 

[dreaminmel]

That also sounds like an idea but it does bring up a question for me... If I had the VHOs in the daylight range would I then have the MH turn on first, then VHOs then back to only MH and then off?

If that's what I'd need to do for lighting schedule I'm wondering if that would generate a higher electric bill than if I ran VHO actinics, then 400watt 10K MHs then back to ony VHOs and then off...

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7463956#post7463956 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dreaminmel
That also sounds like an idea but it does bring up a question for me... If I had the VHOs in the daylight range would I then have the MH turn on first, then VHOs then back to only MH and then off?

If that's what I'd need to do for lighting schedule I'm wondering if that would generate a higher electric bill than if I ran VHO actinics, then 400watt 10K MHs then back to ony VHOs and then off...

If you like you can follow my lighting schedule:

10:00AM-11:30PM VHO
1:00PM-9:00PM First MH
2:30PM-11:00PM Second MH

8:30AM-2:00AM Moonlights
11:00PM-8:00AM Refugium Lighting