Lights on back of tank?

[the josey wales]

I'm running out of room on top and am wondering about the possibilty of lighting my tank from behind, as well as the top.
right now I have 65w pc and 20 no on a 30 long.
I am adding a 2x96 pc in place of the no, but I like The "cast" or color of the no vs. just the 50/50 pc.
I would customise the no to be a sort of " HOB light" (stationed near the top)
Any ideas, or opinions?

 

[beaslbob]

I have never seen this but might be interesting. Hanging on the back facing forward may mean that you would be looking directly at the bulbs. That could be distracting. You might find some way to hang them on the front facing down and to the back. That way you would have some "fill" light for the dark areas under the rocks/decorations.
let us know what you decide. interesting question

 

[jarvis]

I wouldnt light a tank from the back. I think it would look really strange. They now make true actinic PC bulbs. Use a mix of these bulbs and daylight to create what you want. I am assuming that these true actinics PCs produce a look simalar to URI VHOs. Mabee Kip will chime in on this. I think he is running them.

 

[michaeltx]

the atinic pcs still arent anywhere near the coloration of VHO but they are getting better. the usta only be 7100K bulbs now they are atinic but dont give the corals as much glow as VHO.
Mike

 

[the josey wales]

Bob: on front of tank.... interesting... Thats a good point about back/top being distracting.
I will try back first, anyway, due to convineance but I suspect you will be right.
On a different note bob, I noticed you getting flamed pretty bad on another thred, and I would just like to state that although I don't agree with some of your theroy, I do greatly appreciate your willingness to try things that are "out of the box"
I have had good results with the "less is more" approch on my FW.
"endevor to persivere"

 

[the josey wales]

mike and jarvis: the 50/50 seems to..... I dont know.. blah, I guess would be the term.
I've already got the 65w 50/50, so in the event that I can't make my "backlighting" option work, what would you suggest I load my 2 96w with?
Thanks.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by The Josey Wales
...
On a different note bob, I noticed you getting flamed pretty bad on another thred, and I would just like to state that although I don't agree with some of your theroy, I do greatly appreciate your willingness to try things that are "out of the box"
I have had good results with the "less is more" approch on my FW.
"endevor to persivere"
Well thanks Josey. Just wonder what they will all say in a couple of months.
Bob

 

[dreeves]

Josey...
No one is flaming him in the other thread...
His theories and ways are indeed interesting, and I do hope he keeps up with them...
The problem is though...do not sell that kind of advice to a new hobbyist...the new hobbyist needs the conventional "this is what works" advice...once feet are wet...then start the non-conventional stuff...no one has any problems with the various ways of doing business with the tanks...but a new person already has his or her hands full just with the newness...
I do believe that is what most were and always have tried to convey to this guy.

 

[reefnut]

Well put dreeves! and I agree fully.
The "out of the box" thinking is what brought the hobby to what it is today but until it is proved to give "GOOD" results... keep it to yourself.

 

[the josey wales]

Reefnut and dreeves: I think we are on the same page.
Newbies need to know "base-line theroy" first. We need to know the rules before we can break them.
Most newbies (like myself) will gain a concensus opinion and go with that.
the concensus line of thinking has put my 2 month old sw tank in great shape. Stable as can be.
It has also cost me $1200
I love this hobby.