MH 14,000k/ 50/50 PC question...

[reefman23]

Just picked up a 70 watt 14,000k MH retro from Jorge @ illuming.com for $130 shipped! Super happy, it is exactly what I’ve wanted for a while.
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.p ... 70370&st=0
I plan on custom making a hanging canopy with the MH in the middle, and my existing two 40 watt Smartpaq 50/50 (10,000k, 460nm) on either side. My question is, is this enough actinic lighting? Is this enough lighting to have healthy SPS's/clams? Is 6â€

 

[skipm]

That should work out fine. The higher the k rating on a bulb the bluer it will look. Corals and clams need light energy to feed themselves, this energy is measured in PAR (photosynthetically available radiation). They don't really care what spectrum the lighti is in as long as they are acclimated to the color spectrum and there is enough PAR to meet their needs. The main draw to actinic lighting is that actinic lighting is makes corals flouresce in our tanks. Also keep in mind that clams of less than 2 1/2 or 3 inches will require target feeding of phytoplankton because they do not have enough zooxanthellae in their mantles to supply all of their nutritional needs. Good luck, Skip

 

[reefman23]

Sounds good.
And as far as helping my tankmates adjust to this new light, how would I go about that? I planned on only running this bulbs for 4 to 5 hours a day, is that okay?

 

[skipm]

Do you mean run all of the lights or just the MH for 4 or 5 hours a day? I would run the MH for 6 hours a day with the PCs coming on and going off 1 1/2 to 2 hours before and after the MH. If the clam/corals have been under MH lighting then you may not need to do much acclimating but if they have been under lower lighting you may want to place them in a shaded area of the tank and slowly move them into the light over a couple of weeks. HTH, Skip

 

[reefman23]

yeh, exactly. I plan on the pc's coming on about 2 to 3 hours before the MH, then having the MH coming on for about 4 to 5 hours, then turning off and finally the pcs turning off about 3 hours later. As far as the corals that are in my tank right now, they havent been under mh's, just the pc's. should i start out slowly with the MH?

 

[skipm]

Thats one way to do it, have the MH on for say half an hour for a couple of days and keep increasing the time its on by half an hour every 4 or 5 days until its on for the desired length of time. Keep an eye on your corals and if they seem to be stressed then slow the cycle down some more.

 

[Anonymous]

That is the same scheme I'm running with my hex right now. Instead of reducing the photoperiod I found it easier and more effective just to raise my pendent up and drop it an inch a day till I got it were I wanted it. With new corals regaurdless of the conditions at the LFS (unless you know they are captive raised) I drop them to the bottom for a week and then half way up for a week and then into position unless I notice recession or bleaching occur.

 

[reefman23]

That is the same scheme I'm running with my hex right now. Instead of reducing the photoperiod I found it easier and more effective just to raise my pendent up and drop it an inch a day till I got it were I wanted it. With new corals regaurdless of the conditions at the LFS (unless you know they are captive raised) I drop them to the bottom for a week and then half way up for a week and then into position unless I notice recession or bleaching occur.

Sounds good! As far as raising and lowering, I dont know if i will be able to do that....im in the process of (almost finished with) the canopy and i planned on having it stand above the tank. However, i am interested still in hanging it because i like the ease of raising it out of the way to get into the tank as opposed to moving the entire canopy.

thanks for you help

 

[Anonymous]

I would def consider it I love my pendent - when I clean the glass or work in the tank I just raise it out of the way. On my 125 the canopy is a PITA to work around. If I had it to do all over again that woud be a pendent as well!!!
Heres a pic

http://nanotank.com/forum/download.php?id=169

 

[reefman23]

I would def consider it I love my pendent - when I clean the glass or work in the tank I just raise it out of the way. On my 125 the canopy is a PITA to work around. If I had it to do all over again that woud be a pendent as well!!!
Heres a pic

http://nanotank.com/forum/download.php?id=169

Nice work. It would be easy to hang the canopy that i am currently constructing. Here is a link to it ---> http://www.nanotank.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2185 . I now have it primed and painted black to match the tank/stand. I am also almost complete with fabricating the reflectors for both the pc's and the halide (i wasnt pleased with the MH reflector that came with the kit.) For the pc's, i will be duplicating the popular AH supply reflectors.

 

[Anonymous]

yea I've been watching your post with interest I really like what you've done. I was going to suggest a pendent on your thread but your work looked so nice, that I didn't want to jump in. Take your canopy and make it 6 feet long - and you have my 125 canopy - well pretty close anyway, I have 6' VHO actinics running the length, a 10K 175W MH on one end and 10K 65W PCs in the middle on the rest.
I need to build better reflectors though and I like your ideas.
Very nice work!!!