Lighting Suggestion

[geoff_tropheus]

The fish in the wild exist 8-50ft.

In my tank is only going to be mostly about 1-2 ft.

[eklikewhoa]

8-50ft with the blazing sun on them and hardly any to no foliage above them is a lot of light.

Knowing that they graze on algae as their main diet is enough to say that there is an abundance to almost excess amount of lighting that they are naturally exposed to.

[eklikewhoa]

To settle to score go with the Current Outer Orbit MH+T5HO fixture.

[cichlid1409]

geoff , you still havn't decided what your getting yet? you need to hurry before the tank tour

[geoff_tropheus]

I know,...I'm such a bad fish daddy...

[geoff_tropheus]

Ordered today...

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~category~72_Inch_8x39_Watt_AquaticLife_T5_HO_Light_Fixture_w__6_Lunar_LEDs_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Lighting_Light_Fixtures_T5_Fluorescent_72_Inch_Fixtures~vendor~AquaticLife~SearchStr~t5~action~view~idProduct~AK01038~idCategory~FILTFIT5T7.html

The reasons..

312 Watts, built in timer, and the ability to change bulbs to different looks if needed.

Only regret...the ballast the unit uses is not that good and has a really low powerfactor. When it goes, I'll just replace it with a more effecient ballast.

[cichlid1409]

sweet, you gonna keep the bulbs in there or swap 'em out and customize?

[Zulaab]

If you change bulbs.. get the UV lighting bulbs from Drs Foster Smith.. they dont charge a 20.00 bulb handling fee like Marine Depot does.

I will next year replace mine out so I have 2x 50/50 12k lights and 2x 10k aquasun light bulbs...

[ddaquaria]

Currently in the 4 bulb 39W that I have, it is the following config:

powerglo
aquaflora
powerglo
aquaflora

Powerglo by itself is nice but a touch too white. The aquaflora balances out the red and yellow very well. I also tried a midday but it was too yellow, When I get the 6 bulb fixture, I plant to either do the same combination of the middle two bulbs or try out and aqua blue + mixed with a Aquamedic planta(aquacave only).

BTW, got my bulbs from either my LFS, reefgeek, or aquacave. There is a code for 5% off aquacave but reefgeek tend to still beat the price including shipping.

[geoff_tropheus]

At first I will keep it 4-Actinic, 4-10K's. Personally, I really like the Actinic White 12K in general...but I will stay with the out of the box setup until I can play around with it more.

[geoff_tropheus]

In all the lighting setups I have tried, I personally like the GE Aquarays 9325K best. I will most likely use a combination of Power-Glo and the Aquarays as my frist experiment.

[rage]

Why do u use such bright light on fresh water tank?

[ddaquaria]

I agree with the aquarays - I just have not been able to find them in a T5HO.

[geoff_tropheus]

I wanted a brighter light for better visual display of the fish that I felt a single or double T8/T12 setup could not provide.

The higher wattage will also encourage more algae growth that provides means for more natural behavoirs.

I think most people in freshwater setups have 0.75-1.5 Watts per gallon as long as it is not planted.

[geoff_tropheus]

I almost decided on a triple tube T8 but I went with the T5 setup