Lights on FW

[Fishguy52]

So I have upgraded my salt lights and have a 4x 96 watt fixture just setting around and was wondering if 10000k and a 50/50 pc bulb would grow plants

[StirCrazy]

yup they will but you have to watch how they grow to get the right ballance.. blue and red have different effects on plant growth, one is for root development and budding and the other is for rapid growth. I use 10K, daylight and atinic in mine, 2 day light 1 actinic and 1, 10K just so I get a nice light for the blants but just enuf actinic to make fish colors pop.

Steve

[trilinearmipmap]

I would either go with 4 x 6500K to 6700K bulbs, or two 10000K and two 6500/6700K bulbs.

With those four bulbs you will be running a high-light tank, if you are not prepared to do CO2 and intensive fertilization then I'd consider running only two lights instead of four if the fixture allows it.

[Dale]

I would agree with trill. I ran the exact same set up on a heavily planted tank for a year (4X96W 10,000K PC's / no CO2) and had some limited problems with algae etc... but the growth rate and "lushness was not what I expected. I eventually reduced it to 2X96W 10,000K. with less algae issues but really felt that CO2 dosing was what was missing.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/fishherder/100_2601.jpg

[andresont]

I second 6500K color choice.
I use to have 10K's and my plants did not like it. Switched to 6500K x2 96wats and red sea Co2 kit, very easy just fill up the sugar and t/spoon of soda every month. Plants grew like mad.

[Delphinus]

What brand of lights do you guys like using for the daylights/6500's? Is Coralife OK or is there a better brand to look for?

Are the 65W's adequate for smaller tanks or are the 96W's better?

BTW, tank looks great, Dale :)

[Fishguy52]

thanks guys for all the info i think is should work for right now and i will buy some 6500k and 6700k when these start to die.