Light shock?

gkw · 04-20-2006, 10:07 AM

I will be setting up a 20gal reef/frag soon and I am looking for lights for this tank. I was wondering if I should I get 2 ballasts or just 1 ballast. 2 being so that I can turn the actinic first and the daylight later. I will also have moonlights.

If I get 1 ballast, would the corals get light shock from the both actinic and daylight turning on/off at the same time? Is it harmful in any ways to the corals?

Thanks!
GKW

Bruce · 04-20-2006, 10:16 AM

Well, IMO, if you can afford two ballasts, go for it.

Im sure the corals would like the acclimation with 1/2 power to full. It looks nice when the blues are on...all the critters seem very calm and happy

gkw · 04-20-2006, 07:38 PM

Hmm...why not? What's $25 more for my future corals

...and I can get a total of 192watts PC for the 20gal. That's 9.6 wpg...not bad at all and I can keep more types of coral, too.

Thanks!

gkw · 04-21-2006, 01:26 AM

Update:

I found out the 96watt PC is 34" so I can only use the 65watts PC. So, I started thinking...what's the different between a really bright moonlight (blue) and the actinic. I was thinking maybe I can use the blue LEDs that I am using for the moonlights for dusk and dawn effect. I can put more voltage through it to make it as bright as safely possible.

Will that work? What do you guys think??
Thanks!

Bruce · 04-21-2006, 06:00 AM

They will not give the correct spectrum thats the corals need. They might be able to lite the tank, but thats it. Check out a t-5Ho fixture. they are much brighter than pc

gkw · 04-21-2006, 06:45 AM

I guess I can put 2x55w on one ballast and 1x65w on the other one. So, I will have 3 bulbs. Should I get 1x10k, 1xactinic, and 1x50/50? or 2x10k and 1xactinic (the actinic will be in the middle)?

I have check the T5HO and they are too expensive. I see they have low wattage bulbs and heard they are much brighter than PC, but how much lights (in wattages) of T5-HO is comparable/equivalent to 175watts of PC?

Thanks!

Bruce · 04-21-2006, 08:12 AM

Well, from what i have heard you can compare a 54w T-5HO to a 96w PC bulb

coral reefer · 04-21-2006, 03:25 PM

Definitely don't go with the assumption that the moonlite is the same as the actinic. As Bruce stated moonlight isn't a spectrum light offering very little as far as nutrients to zooanthellae for coral health.

gkw · 04-21-2006, 05:03 PM

Actually, the assumption of using the LEDs was to acclimate the corals from blasting them with full power in the morning. that's why i was wondering if any bright blue light would work.

What the spectrum of actinic anyways? I know moon's light spectrum are 470 - 480 nm and the LEDs I use for moonlights are 465 - 470 nm.

Thanks!

coral reefer · 04-21-2006, 05:42 PM

actinic's are roughly 420-470nm. The moon lights you would use after all the other lights were turned off. To represent dusk and dawn, you would turn on just your actinic bulbs. Then turn on the 6700k, 10000k, 12000k etc. so that all the bulbs are on. You would be shocking them with no lights or with the moonlights as the moonlights are roughly 3/4 or 1 watt bulbs, therefore using the actinic's first thing and at the end of the day will better acclimate your corals. Hope this helps!