SPS and lighting placement

Bruce · 05-08-2005, 09:45 PM

Hello all, i have always wondered this...so...does anyone know if sps like to be directly under an actinic bulb or a daylight bulb? right now mine r under a daylight and my actinic is infront of them...there is a reflector that makes the light go over the whole tank...but i wanted to know if they would do better if the light was right over them...i have 2 acros (staghorn) and 3 monti 1 diga, 1 capi, and 1 encrusting...also another sps or maybe lps that i dont know what it is lol

thanks

alarsuel · 05-09-2005, 10:34 AM

I'm not sure there is any steadfasr rule. I have always kind of tried the "trial and error" method with lighting and flow. Try placing them where you think that species "should" like to be. If they thrive, fine. If not try somehere else until you find the best spot for each individual animal. Within reason, if it is a choice between less light and more light, I seem to have success with more light.

Bruce · 05-09-2005, 02:39 PM

well the thing is that they r all in the same area and seem fine...i just didnt know if they prefered actinic or day to be right overthem

Jason McKenzie · 05-10-2005, 08:27 AM

I believe it is a matter of light intensity hitting then not colour temp. Many people feel colour temperature will effect the tissue colour of the coral. This is why the sudden influx of "blue" or hight K rated bulbs, like 20K and Radium. Florescent bulbs have a distinct draw back to MH bulbs because they produce a very narrow band of light. For example if you were to buy a 10K PC bulb it would only produce light from say 8500K to 11000K were as a MH bulb would produce the full spectrum with emphasis on 10K. So there is lees of a need to think about coral placement under MH bulbs.
Also MH bulb colour temp dies off from the minute its powered up were as PC bulbs may loose intensity but do not change colour temp.
Finally blue light has the greatest ability to penetrate water. While the yellow/red light is absorbed relatively fast. So you could see better growth and colour with your SPS under your Atinics but is may only be because they are getting more light.

Sorry to ramble one.

Jason

Jay · 05-14-2005, 02:42 AM

Jason...thats not rambling. Thats valuable info and thanks. I have purchased my first SPS corals this weekend to be here on Tuesday. I will be reading up till then, thanks for the tips

Jay

Bruce · 05-14-2005, 09:38 AM

ya that makes sense, i finally got all my mhs to work on my 245 and guess what...the power went off and back on...the ballasts overheated and... ELECTRICAL FIRE AHHH!!!!!! everyone was screaming lol...i put it out though