frag tank lighting

bobt2 · #1 10/06/2006, 11:30 AM

i set up a 30 gal frag tank with a tec 4x39w fixture. one of the big names told me to go with all 6500,s for the best growth. well the growth stinks, i changed one bulb to 11k and one to act+. still not getting what i want. do i need more act? what are opions for best growth of softys. thanks

chiclet · #2 10/06/2006, 04:06 PM

well, id still go with metall halide, best lighting ever.... just my .02

jasert39 · #3 10/06/2006, 05:36 PM

what are you trying to grow?

Frankysreef · #4 10/06/2006, 05:48 PM

I have 6 x39 and I use 5 50/50 aquablue and 1 6500k

bobt2 · #5 10/06/2006, 07:33 PM

not a fan of mh. i'm afraid to leave them on with no one in the house all day i use t-5s or pc's right now i'm growing zenia, leathers, and zoa's. i also need a place to put my bta's. i now have 8 in one tank.

jmcmahon66 · #6 10/07/2006, 09:48 AM

I prefer 10KK lighting for growth and looks in a frag tank. I think T5 or MH is prefered, but PC will work for softies. I wonder why you said growth stinks with the 6500K bulbs. Was it too bright for your animals and they shriveled up? T5 lights pack a lot of punch, so maybe going 10K K would it your needs. IMO actinics do little for coral growth, but make them look nice. HTH

bobt2 · #7 10/07/2006, 01:25 PM

i'll give you an example. i fraged some xenia from my 75 which has 6x54 t-5s and the xenia has gotten smaller in the frag tank. it's not a light intensity issue

Frankysreef · #8 10/07/2006, 01:59 PM

xenias thrive more on nutrients than light. I've grown xenia in my sump under pc's like crazy..

I have 1/4 inch base growth on the frags in my frag tank under t5's no fading of colors either... cept for the montipora cap.. but it is 10k + 6500k instead of 20k + 6500 k

F

jman77 · #9 10/08/2006, 02:00 PM

That's strange your not getting growth with the 6500k's ... those bulbs give off a nasty yellow colow...but you get great growth. Are you running the bulbs with reflectors ....what ballast you using to run the bulbs ?
I had a 40g breeder i was running 3 bulbs on .... 2 6500ks and 1 blue + on an Icecap 660 with no reflectors and i was getting great growth.

I'm even thinking of switching out the 250 de that i setup over a 20l frag tank to 2 t5's since i believe it's a better setup.

bobt2 · #10 10/08/2006, 06:59 PM

its a tec 5 fixture stock with their reflectors. tank is bright so maybe i'm missing something. i run a hob filter with carbon only and no skimmer. i do lots of water changes. right now i'm running 2 6500's 1 actnic + and 1 aquablue 11k.