NEED OPINIONS

[dinhouse]

I recently replaced bulbs on my 55 I'm not sure if I like the results. Need honest opinions please

This is before

This is with the new lights
Which looks better?

 

[bluemarlin]

This is perhaps the toughest of questions because they both look good! If I had to choose on looks alone I would choose the first one. The earlier version. But, honestly, they both look good. Its all personal preference.

 

[reefin_with_jesus]

From the pictures, I much prefer the first one. HTH. Lance.

 

[the infamous sea cucumber]

What did you replace the first one with? The second tank has a lot more blue light, and IMHO i think it is too much. Thats just me though, maybe there is a happy median between those two lighting setups?

 

[jason weber]

the first one looks better to me as well

 

[jim672]

So far it's unanimous. I like the first one, too. The new lits are too blue.
I'm also curious what you switched from and to. I'm about to order new lights and for the money I'm contemplating spending, I don't want to be dissappointed.
Jim

 

[dinhouse]

The first pic has two 96 watt actintics with two 55watt 5600k bulbs. In the second picture I have replaced the 5600k bulbs with two 50/50 smartbulbs. The tank actually looks a lot bluer in the picture than it does in person. I to think it is a little blue but my corals love it They really expand when the lights are one. My Branching hammer is as big as it has ever been. I think I may replace the 50/50 bulbs with two 10k bulbs. The 10k bulbs have a little bit of a blue to them as well right?

 

[jim672]

The 50/50's are half blue so the setup you have now is like having 3 blue and one white....and therefor why your tank looks bluer. I believe the 10K are nearly pure white with very little blue.
Jim

 

[q]

For me it would be a mix of the two. Just a touch more blue on the top.

 

[nm reef]

Actually I like the looks of both pics....and my system looks like both pics at different times of the day....and mine looks a bit different also!!!
To explain I run 4x65 watts of 10k pc's...these lights provide a white light like in your first pic...very bright!!
I also suppliment those lights with 2x110 watts of super actinic vho's...very blue spectrum of light!!
The first lights on are the actinics...for an hour I have a serious blue tint to the system as the morning starts. When the pc's come on the system looks almost natural to the eye....sun at noonish!!Then in the evening the pc's go off and the actinics stay on an hour longer(sunset).....so mine sort of cycles between your different options.
I would suggest your 96 watts remain actinic and check into 10k's for the pc's...maybe even add a few more 10k pc's....
I've used the smart lites in the past and I never really liked the color...just didn't look right to my eye...I much prefer the 10k's.

 

[lnarobbins]

I think that the first pic looks great the second has a little bit more blue try replacing one of the lights w/ a 50/50. maybe then the white light will show up alittle more
JMO
Alan

 

[lnarobbins]

I just had to look again. man your tank looks great in a few more years mine might be that great
good job on the tank it is spectacular!
Alan

 

[demosthenes]

Like I've said before. The second looks a little too dark. But it seems to me as if it's working for the corals, you should keep with it. We only have to look at it, which, it still looks great, but the corals have to live in it, and would you sacrifice their happiness, which could lead to their eventual demise, or would you sacrifice a little of you own. I would keep it how it is in the 2nd picture. Sorry to change my mind.

 

[slick]

I like the first pic also.

 

[joe's reefer]

try 50/50 bulbs to equal out the crisp white and blue

 

[dinhouse]

Actually I have seen pics of "NM reef's" Tank and it is beautiful. His set up isn't that far off of mine. I think I will look into get a set of VHOs. When I get my vho I will use those as actintics and just switch my 50/50s to 10k bulbs. Maybe that will work. I like my tank to have a bit of noticable blue to it but I just kinda think mine is a little too blue.

 

[sdmarriott]

Both look good, but the first one definitely looks better.

 

[killyah]

first 1 ROCKS

 

[jakob4001]

hmmm, ballooned coral expansion does not necessarily mean healthy & happy & thriving...it may mean that there is not enough ofthe non actinic light specttrum used by symbiotic coral algae; forcing the corals to expand farther to create more surface area to continue to support the symbiotic algae population...
of course if you watch the nature shows; it would seem that most reefs have a more bluish tenge to them...that could be the effect of the camera maybe though

 

[grayne]

If you say the second one is not quite as blue as it looks I think it may be my choice. I really like having that "underwater" tint to things...just my personal opinion.