bearwithfish Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 i have 2 fixtures (T5) that each has a 100k and a true blue actinic bulb in them i am wondering if i went to just one fixture with 2x 10k bulbs would that be enough light? i am planning on a few soft corals, LSP, mushroom, and such perhaps a few fish (not sure as i am till researching) but i know i dont want any SPS.. so would this lighting work? or could i even do just one fixture with a blue and 10k ? i like the color the blue gives the tank but rather worry about the life needs over my preferences in look... Link to comment
Cintax Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Coral, more accurately photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae living within them, need light in the blue spectrum for photosynthesis. The actinic light is supplementing the white light with the needed blue spectrum. In addition to coral health; the blue light causes the pigments in the coral to fluoresce making the colour of your corals look better. Having only two 10 000K lights will make your colours washed out and flat. Needing two fixtures or one is more a question on the light demands of your current and future corals and less on the colours themselves. Link to comment
bearwithfish Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 aww see i learn more and more every time i am here!! thank you very much i have not started the tank yet so i know i am safe LOL.. so either way a fixture with one of each is the best option. good deal .. now i guess the question is do i need both fixtures? again still researching but with out a list i guess i can not answer this question fully .. Link to comment
bearwithfish Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 so after a few hours of prepared research her is the tentative coral list based on past expereince and current desires.. i would liek to house frog spawn GSP maybe a hammer a bout 2-4 (open for debate) zoa's mushrooms and a finger leather.. also considering 2-4 fish hermits snails Link to comment
Paleoreef103 Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 aww see i learn more and more every time i am here!! thank you very much i have not started the tank yet so i know i am safe LOL.. so either way a fixture with one of each is the best option. good deal .. now i guess the question is do i need both fixtures? I doubt you'd NEED both fixtures, but with 4 bulbs you can bring out colors that 2 won't be able to by using more advanced bulb combinations. A pretty standard 2 bulb set up would be an ATI blue+ and an ATI aquablue special. With 4 bulbs you can add an actinic bulb or a purple bulb to really bring out colors that you wouldn't see in the 2 bulb set up. I'd check out 2 ATI Blue +, an ATI aquablue special, and a ATI purple+/KZ fiji Purple. You'll be happier with the colors and your corals will be happier with the increased light. Link to comment
bearwithfish Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 thank you Paleoreef103 i will take this into consideration... at this time however the bulbs i have are the ones i need to stick with.. for a number of reasons .. but if you (and others) concur that the 4 is better then perhaps i will keep them both.. Link to comment
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