zoo growth under actinic

[wds21921]

The lighting used is 10,000k (2) 110 watt vho bulbs, 420 nm 110 watt actinic vho(1), Super actinic R 110 watt vho.
Using exclusively actinic did exactly what I thought it would over a long time period.
Even though most of the light appearing in depper water seems to be mostly blue, there is also a mixture of some higher and lower par that is included as well and necessary.

 

[lildraken]

thanks wds! so instead of having a 12 hr light cycle, you have it at 5 hrs? I'd never get to see my corals. Do you only have shrooms and zoo's? I'm not sure if my xenia will florish under a 5hr cycle. It makes sense to me that they grow more if they get to "sleep" more.

 

[EMBRYOGUY]

the good thing is that there are hobbyist, like you guys are willing to push the hobby beyond its current borders. that alone is success, regardless of the conclusion to this thread.

 

[wds21921]

Yes lil, the timing is set to run for only 5 hours in a 24 hour day. Since the main purpose here is growth and overall aesthetics, I've had better results using a shorter lighting duration which appears in both growth and coloring.
No, zoas and mushrooms are not my only corals either. I've got a fluorescent green hydnophoria (including some frags), a scroll coral, some fire coral frags, a blue/green table top coral, and a sandal brown digitata. Everything is responding noticeably, especially the hydnophoria. The zoas actually seem to have better coloring also as well as the mushrooms which were slowly becoming bleached with a longer duration lighting period.

 

[TKByrnes]

this is very interesting. im following along and also thinking about trying it myself. i love how the zoa's look under the actinic lighting.

 

[ZooZ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=5198075#post5198075 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ullnvrguess77
I have had a lot of success in my 26 bowfront with 2x96W 50/50 quad bulbs and 1x55W actinic (151W actinic and 96W 10K total).

Hey I got a 26g bow front (24"wide) also but im jus using the lunar series by coralife. 2x65 wat. Where did you get your fixture? Or how did you set it up. Do you have pics?

 

[LoudProudNPunk]

there is a thread about turning all lights off for 3 days, but i havent heard of this before.

 

[wds21921]

Hmm 3 days seems a little long for my taste and probably for my animals as well. One day perhaps, but 3 is too much.
Another important point is having optimal life bulbs rather than trying to eek out a few extra months on bulbs or tubes that are already spent.
You'll be able to see the difference in many of your corals as the light intensity begins to deminish. Scroll corals especially.

 

[ZooZ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=5198075#post5198075 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ullnvrguess77
I have had a lot of success in my 26 bowfront with 2x96W 50/50 quad bulbs and 1x55W actinic (151W actinic and 96W 10K total).

I have a 26g bowfront tank as well. Which light fixture do you have? Or did you make your own. im Looking to get a better lighting fixture. I got a 65w 10K and a 65w actinic right now.

 

[yellowslayer13]

i am going to try it on some cheap zoos and see what happens

 

[st9z]

my corals like the moonlights bc of the shimmer effect they dont get from the t5

 

[IridescentLily]

Any updates?

 

[192clark]

what depth are you keeping the zoos at under actinic

 

[IridescentLily]

This is an interesting thread. Has anyone else done lighting like this with zoas, for any length of time?

 

[A.T.T.R]

i think i may have the final awnser in this thread.

i have a prop system that is 7 by 3 and used 3 banks of four 4 ft bulbs
i can have one side be whites and the otehr side be blues..and because of the size of the tank the corals will be getting just that color lighting with little "spill over" but yet exact same tank conditions.

ill start it soon once my other projects are done and i can afford new bulbs LMAO

 

[A.T.T.R]

and if oyu never hear from me again it probobly went VERY WELL lol

 

[IridescentLily]

lol, Awesome, I'm looking forward to your updates.

 

[swampthing]

wow, this is very interesting! Im going to try this!!

 

[madean]

any updates on this isssue. it seems to have died.

 

[palyfreak]

i have my zoo tank under 5 t5 bulbs all blue plus bulbs and i get great growth and colors are just awsome