Reduce Nitrates through better lighting

Thanks. Give it a try. You have nothing to lose. 6500K is supposed to replicate high noon. So if you are trying to replicate a shallow reef they are the right color. I think they make a good supplement to the actinic/12k mix that everybody seems to use for the PC bulbs. Best of all they are dirt cheap.

 

I have the same lights for my fuge that I am building. I wouldn't use them in my DT if there are sensitive corals that need actinic range lighting. The Zoox's in the tissues of the animals need specific lighting to grow and feed its host. It may be the picture, but it looks like some of the coralline on the back of the tank is fading? This is a great solution to recreate the noontime lighting for the fish if it is also supplemented with strong actinics for the coralline algaes, anemones, corals, etc.

 

Good point on it supplementing the actinic range.

 

I see the lower spectrum lighting purely as a supplement to the higher spectrum and the actinics. Perhaps the broader the spectrum the better off you are. The lower spectrum is helping some nitrate consuming algae to grow. I'm not planning to get rid of my 12Ks or actinics.

I am keeping a close eye on the coraline because I'm also concerned about losing it due to the brighter light. I haven't seen any lightining of the color at all. Some pieces have flaked off the glass on the left side of the tank. I believe they flaked off because the scales are growing really thick and they just fall under their own weight. My wife hates the look of the coralline. She says it looks like a bad scaly skin disease but I don't think she's been chisseling it off.

 

The Problem with low spectrum (below 6500K) is that they have no benefit to coral as the coral can not use that Kelvin to grow. You end up feeding algae at a greater rate and eventually you are left with a tank of evasive algae

J

 

Jason, I've been nervous about the algae since I added the 6500K bulbs so I'm keeping a close eye on it. If it grows too much I'll reduce the lighting. I would think that for replicating a shallow reef 6500K would be OK for the corals since this simulates noon. I've read in a couple of places that some corals actually do best at that color temp but algae could be a problem. I know my Xenia are absolutely loving the current tank conditions be it the 6500K light or near 0 nitrates. They are propogating like weeds and I'm actually more nervous about the Xenia taking over the tank more than I am about the algae.

I'll see what happens. What started out as a temporary fix until I could get new bulbs has turned into an experiment. Hopefully, the community can get some benefit from it. By the way, your tank is absolutely stunning.

 

It wasn't too long ago that 6500K was the standard Reef lighting for Corals. It wasn't until about 3 years ago I stopped using 6500K in my SPS tank.
It is said the 6500K is best for growth as the PAR levels at one time where best from 6500K Now with advancements of the higher K bulbs 10K to 20K can get acceptable PAR Levels for coral growth. My fear is some of your lights may have 6500K now but in a month or so the Kalvin may drop off lowering them below acceptable levels

Just a thought
J

 

Even though 6500K tries to replicate the high noon lighting, the crutch is that it is still a narrow band spectrum and does not give the entire spectrum the sun gives off, regardless of time of day. I think you are being smart by keeping an eye on the algae growth, but remember, when it gets out of hand, it's usually too late at that point and a battle to get it back under control.

 

i used a light similar to that set up on my 'fuge...and it got ruined by salt creep and the metal didnt fair to well after a while

 

Good points. I didn't think about the color temp changing over time just thought about the lights dimming. Regarding Tigermike's comment about the spectrum, I was hoping that by using 6500K, 12000K and actinics I'd be filling the spectrum in more by having 3 bands instead of two. I actually like the tank color the best with all three color bulbs burning.

When you used 6500K lighting 3 years ago did you have any green algae growing in your tanks and getting out of control? How was your nitrate level?