New lights

Ok guys you have all helped a lot with different threads I have posted and thankfully things are really coming out nice with the tank. I successfully mounted and installed the RO/DI unit last night and replaced my water with RO/DI water (whatever evaporated). I have cleaned the algae off the tank glass. There seems to be a little but very little on 1 or 2 of the lighter color rocks but I think my CUC is managing it quite well. I added a serpent and brittle star, as well as a Halloween hermit and 5 bumble bee snails. All acclimated via the drip method and they seem very happy and active in the tank. My temp is now between 78-80 degrees constantly as I have my halide lights on about 5 -6 hours instead of 8 and when I introduce corals in about a month I’ll increase the lighting time as necessary but I will most likely add a water chilling unit and a Denitrator. So far my nitrates and water params seem extremely stable thankfully. The tank is really adjusting quite nicely. My next quest is for actinic lighting after the halides shut off all on timers. I have separate timers now and was wondering which route and how much I should use. I am not sure if I really need actinic light but I would like it and the look for when iget home from work always after dark it would be nice to enjoy the tank with not such bright lights. I run the MH from 2- 730 each day and I was going to have actinic LED strip mounted in my canopy to run for 2-3 hours when we are home in the evening. Any suggestions on the size and amount I need? I was thinking of just 1 48” strip to mount in my canopy. The euro bow front tank is tall but I’m hoping this will be enough. Any suggestion on some for the cheap? Where to buy what brand etc.? thanks in advance everyone.

 

Wow that was a lot.

So basically you want to know what type of actinic light you need to supplement the two 250w MH?

What color are the Halides

 

Yes sorry for long message I have 14k bulbs lol is there a particular led actinic light to buy ?

 

I see lots of actinic led pricing from 45-250 on eBay would one 36 or 48" strip be enough? I promise no more long messages heh

 

Hmmm.. Well 14k is fairly blue, so you wouldn't need anything too extreme.

Any idea what color you would like overall?

 

Just an attractive deep blue for night time viewing similar to this picture.

 

Well, I am more of the live stock expert lol...but I would say something like this something like this would be a good LED light strip.

IMO, you have so much light intensity coming from two 250MH, that you would only need a cheap LED strip for visual appeal

 

Sorry, forget the link lol AquaticLife Expandable LED Fixture

 

Hmm u think a 24" strip would be enough?

 

You can adjust the light to whatever size you want, with the option menu at MD.com...

You also have to adjust the color to 460nm