Lighting help!

[pamelahaley]

Hi, I need some assistance on the best lighting I can get with my current fixtures.

Currently, there are two compact flourescent 36w 10000k/420nms.

I've read that the blue actinic brings out more color but, I don't see as much color as I'd like. It's not exactly a risky stretch but, I was thinking of 1 10000k/460nm and a 10000k/420nm, since I shouldn't shock them with too much change at once.

Would the 420nm bring out more color or, should I venture into the realm of 6700k/10000k?

What's better on this line?

If I could afford it, I'd get a metal halide cause clams are pretty.... eventually.

Also, this is for a 24gal nano canopy. The fans don't work but, I'm not sure if it's the board or the fans. I'm gathering since the board also holds the lighting circuits, it's the fans.

 

[cr500_af]

Nocturnal1017;473442 wrote: Hello,
Im new to the forum so I dont know much about rules on regard to another product to another website or anything. So getting back to the point, I came across a product on drfostersmith call the stunner strip from ecoxotic. i know you mention whenever you get the money you'll get MH but LED suppose to be the next lighting standard for aquarium. Good luck!! hope that helps.

No rule against mentioning mailorder products. However, at least one sponsor store carries them (Imagine Ocean), and there may very well be others that do also.

Be aware that these are not powerful enough to do much of anything on their own (the "real deal" LED lights cost a mint). What they are designed for is to supplement existing lighting for color. They do a fantastic job at that.

 

[cr500_af]

LED lighting to support a reef tank is many times more powerful than that. More like this:

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=28_541">http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=28_541</a>

Note that they use 24 LEDs per 12" of length, and these are very high intensity LEDs.

 

[pamelahaley]

Well... considering what new bulbs would run, I could get that first LED suggested but, I'd go for the second if those aren't decent. Guess I'll go with the 420 and 460/10000k???...

 

[toeside]

In my opinion, the 6700K isn't going to help the color as it looks a bit more yellow, so I would try the 460nm first. Some people think 6700K blends well with the 10000K to make it look less harsh.

My 10g uses 2x40W duals, so one is 10000K/6700K and the other is 460nm/420nm... not an unusual combination.

 

[pamelahaley]

I really don't like yellow lighting so, good call on that... I'm also pretty sure the Actinic would get cancelled out by the yellow. THANKYOU!

 

[nanonano]

Get T5's if you can.

 

[weaglereefer]

I ran a 50/50 and a dual actinic setup over my 10g, 130w total. Looked blue enough for me. I tried 2 50/50, didn't care for it, and the stock 6700k/10000k and dual actinic bulbs looked yellowish. Overall I did notice slower growth with only 1 daylight bulb, but better colors.

 

[pamelahaley]

I ended up with 2 more of the same 10000k/460nm. I love the colors of my coral. I'm sure my eyes will get used to the blue. I have them set up WBBW. Maybe it's just concentrating the blue too much but, my corals seem happy with it.

 

[toeside]

Nice! :thumbs: