Question about light cycles

[al&burke]

Hi, I have a 65 gallon tank with a few softies, hammer and one small frag of a monti (sps right at the very top of live rock), I am running two sets of T5HO - 2 daylight and 2 blue (antics) I know I probably need another set for the sps but it is actually growing since I got it. I eventually plan on have 3 sets of 2 bulbs for the whole tank. Right now I am running my lights for 12 hours, too long right - but I like to look at my tank when I am home. Should I run the daylights for less time and just run the antics later in the evening. Right now the two sets of T5HO fixtures has one white and one blue, could I put the blue ones in one set and the white ones in the other. Would it be OK to have half the tank blue and the other half white. IDK maybe a stupid question, thanks

 

[levinjac]

if you have no algea problem i see no point in cutting back

 

[al&burke]

No algae problem ?? - CUC does a pretty good job. I have to use the mag glass cleaner everyday.

 

[levinjac]

so you can still do 12 hrs why not

 

[2quills]

I take it this is some type of fixture, Al? I would take a good look at the fixture, perhaps a little wiring modification might be all that you need to have the two blues on one ballast and the two days on the other. It would give you at least a more even spread of color across the tank.
Myself might try a little modification first before I went out and got another fixture. If the 4 bulbs doesn't give you what you're looking for then you could possibly retro fit a couple of more bulbs in there.
Canopy - Yes or No?

 

[geoj]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/380938/question-about-light-cycles#post_3316127
Hi, I have a 65 gallon tank with a few softies, hammer and one small frag of a monti (sps right at the very top of live rock), I am running two sets of T5HO - 2 daylight and 2 blue (antics) I know I probably need another set for the sps but it is actually growing since I got it. I eventually plan on have 3 sets of 2 bulbs for the whole tank. Right now I am running my lights for 12 hours, too long right - but I like to look at my tank when I am home. Should I run the daylights for less time and just run the antics later in the evening. Right now the two sets of T5HO fixtures has one white and one blue, could I put the blue ones in one set and the white ones in the other. Would it be OK to have half the tank blue and the other half white. IDK maybe a stupid question, thanks
I would do it, you could then run the blues 12 hours and the whites 8 hours. With the whites right in the middle you could see how just the blue show your corals.

 

[al&burke]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/380938/question-about-light-cycles#post_3316388
I take it this is some type of fixture, Al? I would take a good look at the fixture, perhaps a little wiring modification might be all that you need to have the two blues on one ballast and the two days on the other. It would give you at least a more even spread of color across the tank.
Myself might try a little modification first before I went out and got another fixture. If the 4 bulbs doesn't give you what you're looking for then you could possibly retro fit a couple of more bulbs in there.
Canopy - Yes or No?
Thanks Corey, Yes on the canopy (open top canopy) - right now I have two sets of T5HO - 2 bulbs per - total of 4 bulbs, I am eventually going to get another set of 2 bulbs, but for the time being I am going to run one set of two blue and the other set of two white, when I get the third set I will run probably 3 white two blue and maybe put a purple or pink in there. I am going to have to retrofit it to my canopy and maybe I can do some rewiring to get the blues to stay on for 12 hours and the rest for 8 hours. Or maybe I should look into two separate single bulb set ups. i was wondering for now if one half of the tank was blue and the other half white, would not be good for the corals.

 

[al&burke]

Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoJ http:///forum/thread/380938/question-about-light-cycles#post_3316405
I would do it, you could then run the blues 12 hours and the whites 8 hours. With the whites right in the middle you could see how just the blue show your corals.
Thanks GeoJ - That is how I am going to try to rewire them. 12 hour blues and 8 hour whites. With the third set I get could I go with a different color - pink or purple, what are my options, don't care for alot of blue but I want was is best for the corals. THanks again.
Sorry I did not realize I posted this in NANO TANKS