cant see the lastest pics.

6500k will definitely brighten the tank. its considered a "daylight" spectrum.

but it is yellowish. 6500k was a staple baseline spectrum long time ago.

with supplemental lights, T5, LEDs... people tend to go higher like 10,000k for a more aesthetic light color.

Let's try this picture thing again.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2B...Q=w811-h608-no

After reading up on all the benefits of deep sand beds, I went ahead and added one to the whole bottom. I've only had bare bottoms in the past, but I'm really liking how the tank looks now. I had to move the tank to make way for some renos, so I figured the imposed low tide was an opportune time to make the change. I got a few bags of the old fine grain silica play sand and went to town. I've heard people saying how silica sand or rocks in the tank will lead to diatom and dinoflagellate explosions, but the test patch I put in a couple weeks ago didn't produce anything. The bed depth is between 4 to 8 inches. It definitely makes it easier to reach the bottom of the 30 inch tall tank.

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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OA...-no?authuser=0

Here is a shot of the tank with all of the lights turned on now that the 6500k's are wired in. This is the daytime colour, in the evening only the 18,000K and actinics are on.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lb...-no?authuser=0

nice!
miss a good old DSB, it'll be teeming with life in no time!

Ever run into trouble with your's? Got any tips for the long term?

I picked up some new inhabitants the other day. They are currently sitting in my high tech quarantine system for observation. Yellow tang, Clownfish, Bicolor Blenny, Anthias, green and orange bubble tip anemone (green not visible in this light), live rock with a feather duster colony and some sponges. I highly recommend buying the rock your anemone is sitting on at the store, as it makes the transition much safer and stress free.

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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

Yeah but look at the algae on that rock... yikes! I'd physically remove as much as possible by hand before introducing to your tank.

Yeah i would keep an eye on those cups for a while. You never know what been in it.

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I'm with Waren. I would not put rocks with algae in my tank. The same practice I do on adding new frags esp acroporas in my tank. I cut them off and ditch the frag plugs. It's too much of a risk.