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03-13-2006, 06:50 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Bristle Worm
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 137
Karma: 1
 |  Timing of lights
In the process of setting up my first tank, it's 55 gallons. I bought it used with these type of lights- 48" Retrofit: 4-54W T5 HO Fluorescents (1 Sun-6000K, 1 Aquablue- (11000K) and 2 Actinic/Blue Plus.
A couple of questions:
How should these lights be rotated on a daily basis, i.e. length of time, etc?
As far as timers go, does anyone have any experience with this surge/timer? Ihttp://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=SE1171
With these type of lights, what are my limits as far as corals, anenomes, etc?
I think they can handle a good majority of things, is this right?
Thanks a lot! | 
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03-13-2006, 07:00 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Eyelash Blennie
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lakeland, Fl
Posts: 1,294
  
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Yes, the t5 HO's put out a good amount of light!! You will have more options with them than with regular fluorescents or pc's.
Read this -- lighting schedule
Jim
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90 Gallon glass, 135#'s of rock and 2" sand. 2-250w 20k XM metal halides. 2-95 watt actinic VHO, 4 powerheads, Coralife skimmer. Maroon Gold Striped Clown, Blue Chromis, Kole Tang, Pygmy Angel, Serpent Star, Brittle Star,Gorgonians, Mushrooms, Yellow Polyps, Turbo Snails & Blue Legged Hermits. 20 gal sump with Caulerpa, Mag 7 return pump. | |
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03-13-2006, 07:15 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 21
Posts: 3,448
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Well for me i have 4x 65w pc lights...because i stay up pretty late...12ish :S school lol...i just changed my lighting scedule....depending on how mature ur tank is depends on the time the light can be on...my tank is almost 3 year and i have my actinics on from 10am-10pm and my days from 11am-9pm...i have used that surge/time at the school...and ....well i dont like it http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113351 these are my favorite...just the nice simple turny timers  work great for me _________ Tank Specs:
55 Gallon Mixed Reef
48" Tek Light: 4-54W T5 HO Fluorescents
Bulbs:
1 x 54w Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent
1 x 54w Super Actinic Blue T5 HO Flourescent
1 x 54w 14000K AquaBlue 75/25 T5 HO Fluorescent
1 x 54w 10000k AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent
Hard Stuff:
100+ lb. Fiji Live Rock
65+ lb. Live sand
http://www.teslamotors.com/images/ba...la_banner6.jpg | |
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03-13-2006, 07:16 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 21
Posts: 3,448
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O also...for the corals...all soft corals will be fine...i would be careful about the sps...lps is prolly fine...but maybe stick to montis rather than acros....also...clams i would be careful about...maybe go with a deresa and put it near the top if u need 2 like me | |
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03-13-2006, 07:51 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 44
Posts: 4,025
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One of the problems regarding lighting is that alot of corals can survive with ("subdued" lighting. The thing is that alot of the vibrant yellows, blues, reds etc. will fade without intense lighting. For example I have some Montipora Digitata(green), however, in my 75gal tank with pc's(roughly 500watts), i'm not getting the brilliant green polyps associated with this coral. Mine is a brownish color with a green tint. Don't get me wrong! The coral is growing fast and spreading through fragmentation, however the true color won't come out. The same strain of Digitata in my small tank(30gal.) under 175wattMH and 2pc's shows the green polyps on it. _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Cerianthid Stars Hermits snails Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria Kenyon Tree Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa)
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb
associated content.com
aka parrothead | |
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03-13-2006, 08:33 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 21
Posts: 3,448
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yes...i will agree with that...although most corals can survive without the mh lighting...they will look better under it...UGH....im still deciding whether or not to buy mhs for my tank :X | |
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03-17-2006, 05:27 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Bristle Worm
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 137
Karma: 1
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Quote: |
Originally Posted by Bruce Well for me i have 4x 65w pc lights...because i stay up pretty late...12ish :S school lol...i just changed my lighting scedule....depending on how mature ur tank is depends on the time the light can be on...my tank is almost 3 year and i have my actinics on from 10am-10pm and my days from 11am-9pm...i have used that surge/time at the school...and ....well i dont like it http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113351 these are my favorite...just the nice simple turny timers work great for me |
These timers appear to be pretty generic timers like I could buy @ Lowe's, is that right? So you just plug these right into a surge protector?
If my RO/DI unit arrives in the mail today I will be setting up my tank this weekend. I'm stoked! Now all I need is for UPS to hurry up! | |
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03-17-2006, 06:33 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Eyelash Blennie
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lakeland, Fl
Posts: 1,294
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Yes, I bought mine from home depot. They work great.
Make sure you buy the one with the ground plug on it. They still make some without it.
Jim | |
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03-31-2006, 01:09 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Bristle Worm
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 137
Karma: 1
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Quote: |
Originally Posted by VT rules In the process of setting up my first tank, it's 55 gallons. I bought it used with these type of lights- 48" Retrofit: 4-54W T5 HO Fluorescents (1 Sun-6000K, 1 Aquablue- (11000K) and 2 Actinic/Blue Plus.
A couple of questions:
How should these lights be rotated on a daily basis, i.e. length of time, etc?
Thanks a lot! |
I guess I still need some help regarding the rotation of these type of lights. My tank has been running almost a week now and I put 50 lbs of fully cured LR (straight from someone elses tank) in 2 days ago. He told me to go with zero light for the first few days but then to slowly increase the lights over the next week or so to acclimate the LR. The rock was under Metal Halides.
Should these lights be on at seperate times, the same time or what and once I get up and running what should the duration of each be? | |
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03-31-2006, 05:02 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Age: 29
Posts: 48
Karma: 4
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I run my 2-65w actinic lights from about 8am to 11pm, and my 10k bulbs from 10am to 8pm, and i used those little pinset timers with grounds. I decided to try to simulate a little cloudcover action by having the 10k's turn off for 30 mins at a time a few times during the day.
So far everything is going great! _________ I've got a new hobby! 
75g R.E. Tank (48x18x21), 29g DIY Sump, 70lbs Tonga LR, 90lbs Substrate, 4-65W (2-10k + 2-Act.) 48" Compact Coralife Light, Super Skimmer 125 with output mod, 2-Seio 620 PH's, QuietOne 3000 Pump
2 A.C. Ocellaris Clowns, 1 Bicolor Blenny, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Emerald Crabs, Purple Striped Mushrooms, Blue Mushrooms, Red Mushrooms, Spaghetti Leather, 1 Pink Finger Leather, Green Star Polyps, Pulsating Xenia and 2 Large Feather Dusters! | |
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