Need lighting help!

N

Nada

New Member
G'day there, i just bought a new tank and it has one pl-11w/8000k lamp. I decided to upgrade it so i can have coral, so i went out and bought a bigger ballast (EC 36/40) so i can can install 2x18w lamps, and yeh i noticed on the ballast it labbeled all the lamps i could use:

1x36/40w T
2x 18/20w T
1x36W TCF
1x36W TCL
1x38 TCDD

Firstly did i buy the wrong ballast?

Next is would it be much easier to just use one 36W light?

Last what would you recommend?

Thanks in advance, Nada.
 
R

reefman23

New Member
A 36 watt lamp will be too long. I dont think you bought the wrong ballast. I would suggest running 2x18 watters... Look for a lamp that is 10,000k and one that is blue or actinic.

Jesse
 
N

Nada

New Member
ok sounds good, so ill get one 10k and one that is blue or actinic, since im getting to different lamps im guessing i should run to differnt switches aswell right, to simulate dawn and dusk?
 
R

reefman23

New Member
Also don't forget... I don't know how hot it gets in your house in the winter but you will probably want to add a CPU-type fan to your canopy to help with the extra heat from the lamps.

Jesse
 
L

ling

New Member
Hi,
I have just purchased a nano biocube 14 gal. How long do you suggest to leave on the white, blue or moonlight? Thanks for your help.
Ling
 
R

reefman23

New Member
:welcome to nanotank.com ling! I would suggest running the daylights as little as possible while your tank is cycling (if it is still cycling). After that, I think 10 hours a day for the daylights is about average and the moonlights are up to you... i usually run my white and blue moonlights for a couple hours after the daylights go off, then the white moonlights turn off and only the blue moonlights run the rest of the night. Some people turn all of the moonlights off several hours after the daylights turn off.

Jesse
 
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