Lighting
- Thread starter Joe Fish
- Start date
actinics aren't very efficients...just looks more blue and 40w of regular ( like 3000k ? ) aren't very fun for your future coral(s) on a 55g.
Started with 160w total of 40w ( range between 6700 and 18000k ) and it just wasn't enough. You got some books ?
Also if you have very low light output + not and incredible amount of rock, the light will have to go deeper in your tank to reach inverts you've put on the live rock.
I dunno but start with fishies when you tank is cycled, keep your cash to buy a decent lighting system then you can start thinking about corals.
Lighting is very important. BTW your fishies don't need fancy lights.
Started with 160w total of 40w ( range between 6700 and 18000k ) and it just wasn't enough. You got some books ?
Also if you have very low light output + not and incredible amount of rock, the light will have to go deeper in your tank to reach inverts you've put on the live rock.
I dunno but start with fishies when you tank is cycled, keep your cash to buy a decent lighting system then you can start thinking about corals.
Lighting is very important. BTW your fishies don't need fancy lights.
This is along the same topic so I won't start a new thread but I would like to know if anyone out there has made or used a non-aquarium related metal halide lamp/fixture on their tank?
For my new tank I have decided on MH but I'm wondering if I can get around the high costs of mh fixtures that are designed for fish tanks.
For my new tank I have decided on MH but I'm wondering if I can get around the high costs of mh fixtures that are designed for fish tanks.
Well you can make this work, but it is a very high maintenance approach.
People will tell you that you need this lighting, or that lighting, or the other to keep corals x or y. In reality I have kept, and raised sps corals under 4 * 40 fluorescents as you describe. So it is possible, but, to make it work, you have to keep the water depth to them shallow, certainly less than 30 cms. Also, you will need to be very on the ball with using carbon and water changes to keep your water very, very clear. If you think your water is clear try putting white paper behind the tank, and see if you can see a difference.
There are many ways to make things work, but for newbies some are more practical than others. 4*40 watts over a shallow tank will get you a long way, but you need to change all your bulbs every 6 months, and you need to be on top of water clarity like you wouldn't believe. Metal halides have fans because thy're simplae and more forgiving of maintenance
People will tell you that you need this lighting, or that lighting, or the other to keep corals x or y. In reality I have kept, and raised sps corals under 4 * 40 fluorescents as you describe. So it is possible, but, to make it work, you have to keep the water depth to them shallow, certainly less than 30 cms. Also, you will need to be very on the ball with using carbon and water changes to keep your water very, very clear. If you think your water is clear try putting white paper behind the tank, and see if you can see a difference.
There are many ways to make things work, but for newbies some are more practical than others. 4*40 watts over a shallow tank will get you a long way, but you need to change all your bulbs every 6 months, and you need to be on top of water clarity like you wouldn't believe. Metal halides have fans because thy're simplae and more forgiving of maintenance