A Lighting Question

[highislander]

Hi,
I have a question that I'd like some imput on...
I've had a 30gallon saltwater for awhile and was having problems with salinity levels due to rapid evaporation...
So when I bought my new tank, I ordered a glass canopy... But my LPS dude said that the glass filters out some of the light from flouresent bulbs???????????????
1. Is this true???
2. If so, what part of the light, and how detremental to fish and/or lowlight corals???
3. In your opinion which is more of a problem... Evaporation or Reduced light???
Thanks, Ben

 

[lochi]

It will filter out some light. AS to whether or not its' detrimental depends on how much light you have to begin with and what you have in your tank. WHo's your LFS

 

[highislander]

Right now....
A standard floursent double strip with one 40 watt Marine-Glo and one 40 watt Repti-Glo (Recommended by my LFS dude)
And my tank, has 90-100# LR only in it for 24 hours, to cycle the tank...
But I was concerned with the future...

 

[lochi]

I don't think that will be enough light for even low light corals. a 90 gallon tank is pretty deep and regular NO (normal output ) flourescent lights are not intense enought to get light to the bottom of the tank. Maybe mushroom, if you put them high in the water column. If it going to be fish only it shouldn't be a problem. There's a pretty good shop in Bucksport he's been a lot of help to me.

 

[ncjetskier]

Here is my opinion for what it is worth. If you do coralls, most need fairly strong lighting to do well. If you have an enclosed canopy with strong lighting, temputure and cooling will become a problem. Here is my set up, two 250 Watt MH enlosed in a wood canopy. I have to have two Radio Shack 4 inch fans to keep it cool-which they do. However, I go through 2 gallons per day of water evaperation. So I purchased a RO/DI for daily water replacement. BTW one fan needs to run 24/7 so it will not warp the canopy top-which has happened in the past.
Now an alternative is to have hangin pendulems (sorry for the bad spelling) and MH. This would help disipate the heat without the fans blowing on the water constantly. It all depends on what look you want and how much trouble you want to go through replacing water. Good Luck.
What size is the new Tank???

 

[spsfreak100]

Originally posted by highislander
1. Is this true???
It will most likely reduce the amount of intensity going into the aquarium, rather than "filtering out" some spectrums of lighting.
3. In your opinion which is more of a problem... Evaporation or Reduced light???
I would say reduced lighting is more of a problem. I enjoy evaporation, for the fact that I can then dose almost twice the amount of kalkwasser on a daily basis.
I also agree that your lighting (T12) is not suitible for too many corals, if any corals. I would highly recommend switching to either Power Compacts, VHO's, T-5, or better yet metal halides. I would also recommend removing the glass canopy, as it will trap the heat inside the tank and reduce the amount of lighting that travels into the aquarium.
Graham

 

[highislander]

Originally posted by Lochi
WHo's your LFS
Maine Pet & Aquarium - Ellsworth
I know about the Bucksport Shop too. He IS alot of help. We must be from the same general area!

 

[lochi]

I live in hermon. Just the other side of Bangor. Where is the shop in ellsworth. DId you tell the guy at the shop that you intended to have some corals in your tank?