photophase?newbie to lighting

Dale · 05-10-2004, 11:09 AM

I just recently purchased a pc for my 55g, what is the recommended photophase for these lights, I have 2- 10000k daylight and 2-actnitic03 blue and also 3 led lunar lights, a total of 260watts and 48inch in bulbs, and also what can do well in this lighting system as far as corals? sorry about the lengthy post, only 6 months into the addiction!

Geoff · 05-10-2004, 11:28 AM

Welcome to TRT!!!

you think that is a long post?! we have some on here that are nearly books.

as for lighting, i have mine on for about 10-12 hours a day. i would not use the moonlights except every now and then to view the tank. i feel they are all to bright and keep the critters up at night. if you want to use it turn it on only during full moons.

as for corals you can easily keep most corals except for the high light ones. i would also not keep a clam and anemones is there, not enough light.

G~

Dale · 05-10-2004, 12:04 PM

that was a quick response! when you say 10-12 hours a day, is that with both types of bulbs or alternating the two? I'm not planning on clams, but I do have a rose anenome that right now is doing pretty good. Are you familiar with rainbow polyps?thanks for your guidance geoff

Geoff · 05-10-2004, 12:19 PM

i just start at the top and work my way down.

that is total time the lights are on. with PC's of equal wattages for actinics and 10K's it really does not matter if one turns on before the other. actinics are very bright to the critters. sometimes even brighter than the 10K's. so it really does not help to turn them on first to "wake" everybody up. you will be spotlighting them anyway. actinics are not that bright to us, but are very bright to most of the critters.

if you can get the anemone to stay up near the waters surface you should be fine. the light just under the waters surface should be bright enough for the anemone.

G~

Dale · 05-10-2004, 12:56 PM

as long as I run them for the twelve hours should it matter if its' on late at night or early in the morning?Do you have any recommendations on a DIY cover for the tank?

Geoff · 05-10-2004, 03:47 PM

as long as the tank itself does not get a lot of ambiant light from the rest of the room. you want the critters to have a definate night time. when that is does not matter. for the most part mine corresponds to natural daylight since the room is lit significantly by the sun.

there are a lot of DIY canopies. you can look at mine, and see if that is what you are thinking. a lot of other people have done their own here.

G~

Dale · 05-10-2004, 04:15 PM

yeah, the room its in is facing east which is getting alot of indirect sunlight, but I'm sure the pocket sliders don't help a bit either