Being an idiot, I couldn't pass up a really good deal on an Oceanic 40 gal
stretch hex...without realizing the lighting difficulties. After a great
deal of research, I finally had to settle on a 130W Coralife CF fixture to
get anywhere near enough horsepower. My question is this: the fixture comes
with 1 65W 10,000K bulb, and 1 65W actinic blue, with 3 blue moonglow
LEDs...Is this spectrum way off, or should I toss these bulbs for a couple
of 6,700K bulbs? If need be, I can slap a 15W bulb in the ultra-pathetic 15W
fixture that came with the tank, if someone can recommend a good red
spectrum bulb.

Thanks,
Tim

Timcat wrote:
Being an idiot, I couldn't pass up a really good deal on an Oceanic 40 gal
stretch hex...without realizing the lighting difficulties. After a great
deal of research, I finally had to settle on a 130W Coralife CF fixture to
get anywhere near enough horsepower. My question is this: the fixture comes
with 1 65W 10,000K bulb, and 1 65W actinic blue, with 3 blue moonglow
LEDs...Is this spectrum way off, or should I toss these bulbs for a couple
of 6,700K bulbs? If need be, I can slap a 15W bulb in the ultra-pathetic 15W
fixture that came with the tank, if someone can recommend a good red
spectrum bulb.

Thanks,
Tim


All I've heard about actinics and FW is that they grow algae quite well.
I've got a 10,000K bulb over my fairly deep 15 high tank (LFS told me
it was 5500K) and it grows plants just fine, with no algae problems.
The color of the light is attractive too. When the bulb fails, I'll
probably put a 6700K in to see if there's any difference.

So, with your fixture I'd leave the 10,000K in place. I'd replace the
actinic with a 5500K rather than 6700K to put more red in the overall
spectrum.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

OK...Thanks Elaine.

Tim

"Elaine T" wrote in message
m...
Timcat wrote:
Being an idiot, I couldn't pass up a really good deal on an Oceanic 40
gal stretch hex...without realizing the lighting difficulties. After a
great deal of research, I finally had to settle on a 130W Coralife CF
fixture to get anywhere near enough horsepower. My question is this: the
fixture comes with 1 65W 10,000K bulb, and 1 65W actinic blue, with 3
blue moonglow LEDs...Is this spectrum way off, or should I toss these
bulbs for a couple of 6,700K bulbs? If need be, I can slap a 15W bulb in
the ultra-pathetic 15W fixture that came with the tank, if someone can
recommend a good red spectrum bulb.

Thanks,
Tim
All I've heard about actinics and FW is that they grow algae quite well.
I've got a 10,000K bulb over my fairly deep 15 high tank (LFS told me it
was 5500K) and it grows plants just fine, with no algae problems. The
color of the light is attractive too. When the bulb fails, I'll probably
put a 6700K in to see if there's any difference.

So, with your fixture I'd leave the 10,000K in place. I'd replace the
actinic with a 5500K rather than 6700K to put more red in the overall
spectrum.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Update...I can only get a 6700K bulb from Coralife, a 6500K bulb from
PetSolutions (brand unknown), or I can get a 4200K 18W bulb for the
rinky-dink fixture that came with the tank...but I doubt that's enough light
to do any good.
Anyone have any ideas?

Tim

"Elaine T" wrote in message
m...
Timcat wrote:
Being an idiot, I couldn't pass up a really good deal on an Oceanic 40
gal stretch hex...without realizing the lighting difficulties. After a
great deal of research, I finally had to settle on a 130W Coralife CF
fixture to get anywhere near enough horsepower. My question is this: the
fixture comes with 1 65W 10,000K bulb, and 1 65W actinic blue, with 3
blue moonglow LEDs...Is this spectrum way off, or should I toss these
bulbs for a couple of 6,700K bulbs? If need be, I can slap a 15W bulb in
the ultra-pathetic 15W fixture that came with the tank, if someone can
recommend a good red spectrum bulb.

Thanks,
Tim
All I've heard about actinics and FW is that they grow algae quite well.
I've got a 10,000K bulb over my fairly deep 15 high tank (LFS told me it
was 5500K) and it grows plants just fine, with no algae problems. The
color of the light is attractive too. When the bulb fails, I'll probably
put a 6700K in to see if there's any difference.

So, with your fixture I'd leave the 10,000K in place. I'd replace the
actinic with a 5500K rather than 6700K to put more red in the overall
spectrum.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Timcat wrote:
Update...I can only get a 6700K bulb from Coralife, a 6500K bulb from
PetSolutions (brand unknown), or I can get a 4200K 18W bulb for the
rinky-dink fixture that came with the tank...but I doubt that's enough light
to do any good.
Anyone have any ideas?

Tim


If money isn't an issue, get two 6700K Coralife bulbs. If it is, go
with one Coralife 6700K, replace the Actinic, and see what happens.
Remember, plants are resourceful - your spectrum doesn't need to be
perfect as long as it's bright and even straight 10,000K works.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

OK...Thanks, Elaine.

Tim

"Elaine T" wrote in message
m...
Timcat wrote:
Update...I can only get a 6700K bulb from Coralife, a 6500K bulb from
PetSolutions (brand unknown), or I can get a 4200K 18W bulb for the
rinky-dink fixture that came with the tank...but I doubt that's enough
light to do any good.
Anyone have any ideas?

Tim


If money isn't an issue, get two 6700K Coralife bulbs. If it is, go with
one Coralife 6700K, replace the Actinic, and see what happens. Remember,
plants are resourceful - your spectrum doesn't need to be perfect as long
as it's bright and even straight 10,000K works.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com