Sun dail T5 Lights

I woulda found out had I found the pet store I was looking for! Woulda been there a half hour before they closed, as I just got off work... I made about 10 U-turns driving up and down that road. Here's the kicker! On may way home pissed off! I realized I left my wallet in my other jacket..
:-/

Anyway I believe the 12k will look blue-er.. imo the 10k is pretty white.. well whiter than 6700k. The 420 actinc will make the water a little more violet in color. I was thinking of getting 2 12ks 1 14k and 1 420. Anyone have any opinions. I think this might give you a blue-er look, but less growth. The 10k and 420k I think will give you the best results according to Bluephish and Tangster (who gives me the impressions he's a lighting guru.). From what I've read this is what they suggest.

 

how long do you leave your lights on for and do you have them on a timer? also, phosphates will cause algea too...

 

He has a sundial, I hope so. He said he's using RO/DI water. I'm not sure of his light cycle.

 

UVL Bulbs are the shiz, I love mine look great, they do have a nice blue tint to them and very bright, I was previously using ATI brand bulbs and the UVL's just blow them away

As far as the algae issue, check for phosphates or if it is long hair algae or overgrown in any way then I'd pickup a phosphate (PO4) reactor and some media for that, it's a great investment and can be setup for less than $100 in most cases basically that will starve the algae of any food

 

I run my acentics from 9 am to 9 pm I run the the daylights from 3:30 to 8:30 I have a phosban reactor and just ordered new media for it. I took it our thinking it needed to be repacked with media and then that is where I got the algae bloom. I also redid the tank latelly and think that is what might have started a mini cycle. The bulbs are slightly darker on one side for about 5 minutes then get brightser. On the sun dial do the ballasts ever go? is there a way to replace them if they do?
I dont over feed at all and the only place I can find an issue is some gunk in the bio balls. That is the only thing I can find. I have been pulling them out slowely soo they will be no more! I hear to just clean them but so far no luck.

 

yeah.. you know I have heard of so many people battling hair algae. It happens I think to the best of us.. I'm having a little issue right now, too. Not massive.. Some days I think I'm good, and then others, well... I'm not an expert, but I 've heard of even the most experienced ahving issues. Could e just a phase in your tank. Good luck and wish me luck, too.. if anyone has any suggestions, we're all ears.

 

Iraf, you LOVE UVL bulbs? Most people I talk w/ find them garbage and short lived!
Sorry to threadjack, back to lighting, 10,000k, like stated, will be more "white" and 20,000k will be more "blue" BUT this depends on may factors, bulb type, brand, age of bulb ballast thats used, water clarity and so on. I have seen, for example, the same MH bulb ran on two different ballasts looking completely different. You typically see the most variance w/ MH bulbs as the ballast is a major component in the way the bulb will lite.
Also brand is huge as well, the color temps aren't exact, but more of a way for companies to call their bulbs. Say 10,000k, lets say for example we are talking MH, a 10,000k by XM or Ushio or Coralife or Coralvue will all look different.
On my tank I have 8 T5s, I have 3 Gieseman Aquablue+, 3Actinic+ and 2 6,700k bulbs. So, in the dawn/dusk setting my tank is more blue, not like a true actinic that is more VIOLET but blue. In the day when all are on it is more of a 12,000k or so more white.
Any light over 6,700k will grow coral, heck I've even heard people use lower k bulbs but 6,700k is suppose to mimic sunlight on land. Lower k bulbs tend to put out more PAR which is good but many people also factor in aestetics. Most people wouldn't want a pure yellow 6,700k tank. Actinic or blue bulbs put out PAR but it typically isn't as strong as lower k bulbs.

As far as the algae goes, there is always an agal progression in tanks no matter who you are. Some just know how to manage it better. I would limit feeding quantity, more w/cs test PO4 and NO3 levels, check SG and also make sure the filters aren't aged on the RO
and maybe add a few crabs and snails.

Good luck both of you

 

lol, i like this idea too.

 

HaHa I dident even see you wrote that! Thats why when she said you can have your tank if we get the tv in the bedroom. So I went big on the tank she went big on the tv. And yes when she says honey lets watch lifetime im in there haha. Amazing I havent fallen asleep to that junk in months haha.

Dr frag. Hijack away. you have given me a ton of info latelly thanks well both of you have and I am just trying to understand the difference of the uvl and regular lights? I am trying to keep the same brightness but also to get a cooler blue at the same time. I dont know if its the violet or what you call it. I was literally dialing the phone to do a light order but I might wait to hear more imput.....

 

Ha I need to move my tank next to the tv. It's in my bedroom, and when we go to bed, sometimes my desk chair is in my line of sight, i get out of bed to move it, while my girl shakes her head. I like to watch the moonlight shimmer as I fall asleep!

Tangster said UVL bulbs are the best, and others are junk. Frag says UVL are junk and Giesemann are good. Guess we just have to take our chances.. they are both probably good.. gotta be better than the Current bulbs. I'm gonna keep watching too, I was gonna pick up some UVLs today.