How important is a full lighting cycle?

[digital-audiophile]

Here is my dillema. I have narrowed the buying decision of my lighting to two options. One is just a MH pendant, the other is a combo that can do the full dawn/day/dusk/night cycle.


1. Pendant 250W MH HQI w/ 14k Giesmann bulb @ $405.65

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/details/l-mh-hoodp2.php?product_ID=pfo-hp8q2

2. Pendant, 250W MH HQI w/13K Giesmann bulb, PFO Nightlight, 2 x 28W PC Actinic @ $646.95

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/details/l-mh-hoodp2.php?product_ID=pfo-hp8p


Now.. if you guys had the money burning a hole in your pocket and need to get a light so you could start moving into your new tank.. what would you do?



Greg

[christyf5]

Well if I had only $405.65 burning a hole in my pocket, it would be the plain old pendant, but that second one sounds awesome. So if I had no problem with money I'd get the second one :biggrin: (btw, don't necessarily listen to me, I'm not a lighting guru :wink: ).

[muck]

Whats the tank size? and inhabitants? :biggrin:

[digital-audiophile]

The new tank is a 37G semi-cube. What I am transferring over from my 10G nano are:

2 Perc. Clowns, 1 Purple Psyduchromis, 1 Peppermint Shrimp, various hermits and snails

Branching Hammer, Frogspawn, Blasto, couple zoas, Xenia, open brain, Trumpeter coral

What I want to start doing are some SPS and clams - not sure what kind yet.. but they will be beginner varieties.

Greg

[muck]

Well.. personally if money wasn't an issue Id buy the second one.
I really miss the dawn/dusk effect on my tank right now.

Definately a good choice for growing acros and clams IMO. :mrgreen:

[digital-audiophile]

Cool! I think in the end it will be worth the extra couple hundred for the complete set-up. I know if I went with just the pendant I would be trying to slid a little t5 strip or something on the tank at a later date.

I guess this leads me to another question. If using the pendant with the actinic suppliments, should I considering going with a 10k bulb for more intensity since the actinics are there for colour?


Greg

[muck]

Id still get the 13k lights if it were me.
I know someone in Calgary that is running 14K phoenix bulbs with PC actinics and the colors of her SPS are fantastic..

But in the end it all comes down to preference. Whether you prefer your tank to have a more whitish look or a bluish look to it.

[BMW Rider]

The full lighting cycle may not have a huge effect on the tanks inhabitants, but it will on the tanks owner.

I'm running 10k 250w MHs with pc actinics. I would klike to try the 14k bulbs on the next change as I find the colour to be a bit too white. I did just replace the Coralife actinics with new Pansonics and the colour is much better, but still not what I'd like to see. Therefore, I'd stick with the 13k in the combo fixture.

[Invigor]

I know someone in Calgary that is running 14K phoenix bulbs with PC actinics and the colors of her SPS are fantastic..

sounds like deb :D

[Jaws]

I've been told that having a MH bulb fire on it's own can be a little shocking to some corals because of the intensity. Firing a power compact or two before the MH not only simulates sunrise and sunset but also allows for the coral to adapt to the lighting better. Go with the second one. You know you'll just end up adding on or upgrading to something similar in the future anyways. JMO.

[StirCrazy]

I've been told that having a MH bulb fire on it's own can be a little shocking to some corals because of the intensity. Firing a power compact or two before the MH not only simulates sunrise and sunset but also allows for the coral to adapt to the lighting better. Go with the second one. You know you'll just end up adding on or upgrading to something similar in the future anyways. JMO.

who told you that?? never mind I don't want to know.

there are two ways to look at this.. a MH firing up on its own is a softer shock than a VHO or PC as a MH can take up to 5 min to reach full intensity and if you have ever watched on it starts dull and slowly gets brighter. the problem is the look of the tank with actinic lighting for a hour or two before and after the MH is on is one that I love so I will recommend going with the second one but only for aesthetic reasons.

Steve