Proper Light Spectrum (Reg. Flo)

[Rippey]

I use 4 regualer 40 watt flourcents fixtures, I was wounder what 4 diffrent spectrums I should get. I all ready have leather but i'm look into geting hard corals.

[REEFSTOCK]

Originally Posted by Rippey

I use 4 regualer 40 watt flourcents fixtures, I was wounder what 4 diffrent spectrums I should get. I all ready have leather but i'm look into geting hard corals.

When you say getting into hard corals... well it just isn't specific enough. Some of the stony corals would need to be an inch from the surface with the bulbs an inch above the surface to grow with the lights you are using (or something to that effect).
I think you need to look more into the critters your interested in. You may find a light change is in your future

[Rippey]

The bulbs are about 1in depending on water hight, I allow up to 1/2 water hight before I add water. My tank is 48'' long 12''wide and 12'' deep, after filters and other misc it holds 30.2 gallens of water based on square inch calculations. Also the tank can get partial sun for about 3 hours a day. Right now the lights are on continous becuse my timmer sezeed from an old top i had. Friday i will be investing in 4 mirrors to reflect the top light back in. If any one has any suggestions of some coral that can probly survive under "medium light" let me know. Also tiny air bubbles are forming on my plants and alge plus some spots on the sand\rock bed... Dont know what that is from.


Tank Contains:
1 pink sea urchint
5 multi species crabs
4 turbo snails
1 Alcyoniidae
1 Colony Polyo-brown
1 BI-Color Blenie
1 unkown fish
1 unkown mushroom\poy\lyp its cont 5mm barnicals and could resemble carpet
plenty of adult brine shrimp
assorted scavanger worms
Unkown red crystal looking coral that hitchhiked to my tank

First Picture: All 4 lights off to bright for camra on.
Second Picture: The light ends. ( Liht )
Third Picture: Added Cooling for my 2 ballest, makes a 40-65*F diffrence in oprating tempiture.( A Piece )

[SquidBillies]

What does it mean if you change your lighting balast but keep the same lights and you soft coral shrink? Its been over 3 hours and their still doing no better

[Geoff]

what size tank is this? you will not be able to keep any corals under NO except for shrooms and zoas. on my wifes 75g predator tank i put 6 40W NO on it and i think it was barely enough to keep zoas/shrooms alive.

since spectrum was your question than to get a chance of producing enough PAR for corals you will need all daylight bulbs. those around the 5.5K mark would be even better. this will lead to a very yellow tank, but will lead to highest PAR possible using NO bulbs.

if the tank is about 8" deep you may be able to keep some higher light corals under NO, but i would not count on it. at 8" or less the lighting intensity is quite a bit stronger.

G~