Lighting

hi all I'm just going round at the moment asking/ researching the possible new hobby. I've got a 70l tropical tank but i have always wanted a marine tank (and even though he won't admit it, so does my dad);D

Well i was just wondering what the heck everyone means when they talk about all the lighting stuff. Could you just tell me the options available if i wanted a goby some clowns and SOFT coral (maybe hard coral later)

I keep hearing the kelvin scale and actinic 'something or other'

Thanks for all your help
p.s i know this should be in the noob board but i figured it might help others out too

 

get a nice T5 HO light fixture with actinicwhite bulbs and super actinic bulbs UVL brand and run in even numbers... this is the most lighting for your buck..later

 

Fishes - easy..... No light needed, they don't care.

Lighting can be broken down easily enough.

Standard Flourecents
PCs Power Compacts
T-5s
MHs Metal Halides

Standard Flourecents are only good for FO (Fish Only) tanks.

PCs are being phased out and I don't recommend them for this reason. However they are more than enough for softies.

T-5s look like your standard flourecents except they are thinner. These will do all softies and some of the lower light required hard corals

MHs are the grand papies. There is nothing they cannot do. They are the most expensive to by and run. They also tend to run very hot.


You can also do any of these in combonations to best suit your needs.

 

Naa i think your in the right place with your lightin Questions..!!!

I 2cond the above statment with goin for T5's Best bang for your buck with corals..!!

Heres a lil tip for Kelvin rating... the lower the number Ie 6500k to 10,000 kelvin will be white in color when the lights are on .... From 14,000k to 20,000k go from whitish blue to Blue....

Actinics... are just that blue or could almost be mistaken for black light's the coral's will get there color from atinics..
Day light bulbs will luminate your tank bright and make your corals grow..

Metal Hylides are the do all bulb... they give color and growth from the 14k-20k range

Some people to will Run 10k hylides with Atincs... What style of light's and combinations will be determined by you and the corals what you would like to grow...

If i left something out or can fix my ooppss.. Tag your it..!!!

Good Luck...!!

 

If you have the right T5 setup, ie. individual reflectors and good bulbs, you can keep anything, you will just need more bulbs. Ill try to give you a good summary of benefits and negatives.

1. Standard Flourescnets- dont' use these unless , as stated, you only want to keep fish
2. PCs: cheap, can keep a variety of things if right conditions, but you need to replace bulbs more frequently than T5s and they don't penetrate the water very well, effectively up to about 12", depends though
3. T5s, relatively inexpensive, long bulb life, efficient (need good relflectors though for it to be worth it and can customize the bulb configuration. Downsides, penetrate only to about 18" so deeper tanks are a no go aren't as good as keeping higher light demanding corals and inverts as T5s (par for par)
4. Metal Halides, can keep anything with them, penetrate deep tanks to the bottom, shimmer effect. Cons are that they produce more heat than T5s and are expensive.

 

also works well for non photosynthetic corals.

 

Very true. I would however never suggest a non-photo tank to a new comer. Extremely difficult to say the least. Doable just not recommended.

 

LoL fish have feelings, too! I think they need SOME light. But it's true that if you have a fish only tank you can have standard fluorescents and be fine.

Get MHs if you want corals. You may think all you want are the easier corals, but down the road, as with most in this hobby, you'll find yourself wanting things like clams and high-light-demanding species and such. Just accept and acknowledge your addiction now and save money down the road. 8)

 

great point

 

I second this statement, very true...