do i really need actinics

[callum_parsons]

i have t5 lighting at the moment but i really want halides i have £200 at the moment.
i was looking towards getting the mini 250w arcadia unit but it doesnt have actinics
do i really need actinics because the ones with actinics have a much higher price tag
and i also need to buy my car

[lasgringo]

i dont think you need actinics,some corals may get some benefit,but most of the time i think its about trying to create a dusk and dawn look,you could add some moonlight LED's later to create a night effect(dont think mthey cost as much)

[callum_parsons]

thank you very much looks like i can buy my halides this week then:) :)

[MR Teee]

I don't have them on my tank.

I seem to recall halides giving out actinic spectrum light anyway, so the corals that do 'need' it still get it.

[callum_parsons]

thats good to no thank you mr teee
another question
i no they come in 150w, 250w and 400w
is the only diffrence between them how far the light penetrates the water and the cost in the electric bill

[MR Teee]

Think of it from the corals point of view.

A 400W halide will give the photosynthetic algae in the coral lots of energy to produce food for the coral, 250W less energy and 150W less still.

The corals you want to keep will more or less dictates the power of the lights.

SPS lots of light, LPS moderate light, softies any light.

The deeper tank will also mean using higher powered lights.

250W will generally be enough for any sort of coral. 400W are for hardcore SPS growers or 30"+ tanks. 150W are a funny one and are boderline for SPS but plenty for softies.

If you feel you will want to keep more demanding corals then go with the 250W, the rise in electricity is not too bad over the 150W, and will sae money in the long run as you won't need to upgrade.

HTH

[callum_parsons]

thank you for all your help mr teee and lasgringo i really appreciate it
i will defo have to get 250w halide now and i cant wait to see the corals florish under it:)

[MR Teee]

Just get the sunglasses out at the same time. It is quite a shock when you whack some halides on for the first time!

I tend to switch the halides on later in the day (early afternoon) this lets some natural light get into the living room so the fish aint blasted with the full 500W straight from darkness!

[callum_parsons]

do i have to slowly lower them to the preferred height so i dont shock and burn my softies?

and how much should i lower it by say start at 60cm of my tank then after a couple of days down to 50cm then so on down to 30 cm or maybe 40cm

[MR Teee]

Yeah you do, and it sounds like a good plan Callum.

Maybe even leaving a week before you lower it each time.

[trik]

As Mr Teee say, lower them down about 1" a week as your soft corals wont like it to much, start off about 15" away from the surface of the water and work down to 8/10" over 5/6 weeks. :)

[callum_parsons]

thank you trik sounds like a good idea
i think its a good idea to take it slow as i love my softies

[brian waller]

i have t5 lighting at the moment but i really want halides i have £200 at the moment.
i was looking towards getting the mini 250w arcadia unit but it doesnt have actinics
do i really need actinics because the ones with actinics have a much higher price tag
and i also need to buy my car


hi cal, if you pm me i can give you a number to ring, what size tank you got, they do sizes 2ft up to 6ft complete with actinics built in, also on legs that sit on tank.


brian.

[Pinkfish]

Lower them gradually as MR TEE says, I learn't this the hard way and lost a few lovely corals :(

Mind you I have gone through most of the lessons in all subjects as most of you know.

:( :( :(

[callum_parsons]

hi cal, if you pm me i can give you a number to ring, what size tank you got, they do sizes 2ft up to 6ft complete with actinics built in, also on legs that sit on tank.


brian.


pm sent ;)

[aspect]

Brian, sent you a pm also. As interested in some new lights
thanks