Uh oh - too much blue scale light?

[sueandherzoo]

I replaced the standard fluorescent light that came with my 46 bowfront with two T5's - one blue actnic and one 18,000 K. IT looks awesome - no more yellowish tinge - the colors really pop and it looks like the blue glow of a tv set in that room.
However, I came home from work today and instead of seeing the four horses out and about hunting for food or greeting me, they are all hitched in places where I can't see them much. Do you think it's possible they don't like the new blue lighting and are trying to get out of it? Is this something they'll get used to and is it possible I'm causing them some discomfort?
Sue

 

[cleve_seahorse]

Did you just do this yesterday? It's possible there just getting used to the new lighting....my erectus did that when I switched from flourescent to 50/50's....but after 2-3 days were back to there ol' selves again...give them time

 

[zeke92]

I don't know much about how strong some lights are but aren't T5s strong enough for like, hard coral? That is definatly too much for seahorses, atleast from what i've read around here. They come from dark grassy and sometimes muddy areas, they don't like alot of light. The only big reason we have light in seahorse tanks, unless you have corals and real plants, is to see the horses. I think maybe they are trying to stay in the shade as much as they can. But i could be wrong.

 

[teresaq]

I have 150 wtt mh on my qt tank where my horses are now. The light dosent seem to bother them. They are prob just getting use to something new.
T

 

[novahobbies]

Ditto. Give 'em a day or two...they'll come out. Do you have LED moonlights on your new setup? (Seahorses are such fun to watch right after lightsout!)

 

[sueandherzoo]

Thanks all - I feel better hearing that the horses are probably just adjusting. Yes, I only switched the lighting last night so it's only been a little over 24 hours since the the switch.
Zeke - I don't know that much about lighting either, but I don't think the T5's I got are good enough for hard corals. Soft corals, yes, but these are by no means the killer lights that some reef tanks have.
I'm off to find mini sunglasses for the horses.
Sue

 

[t316]

Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/2901276
Thanks all - I feel better hearing that the horses are probably just adjusting. Yes, I only switched the lighting last night so it's only been a little over 24 hours since the the switch.
Zeke - I don't know that much about lighting either, but I don't think the T5's I got are good enough for hard corals. Soft corals, yes, but these are by no means the killer lights that some reef tanks have.
I'm off to find mini sunglasses for the horses.
Sue
Maybe they are still "white" from the winter, and just want to take in the sun slowly to get their tan...

 

[sueandherzoo]

Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/2901367
Maybe they are still "white" from the winter, and just want to take in the sun slowly to get their tan...

Fine. While I'm out getting them sunglasses, I'll pick them up some sunsblock, too. Sheesh! Perhaps little sun bonnets?
Sue

 

[teresaq]

Sooo spoiled

 

[t316]

Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/2901385
Fine. While I'm out getting them sunglasses, I'll pick them up some sunsblock, too. Sheesh! Perhaps little sun bonnets?
Sue
Hey....I ain't sayin', I'm just sayin'

 

[daninct]

I just read this after posting my own question on lighting. I thought I did the search right but - oh well. Love to know how this turns out before I buy my lights. You mentioned T5 but I didn't pick up on the watts. How much watts and how deep is your tank?

 

[sueandherzoo]

Hi Dan.
Sorry to sound stupid but I have no idea what wattage my lights are and I have thrown the boxes away so I can't check for you. All I know is that they are T5's and one is the actinic while the other is the 18,000K. I experimented with a 6700K, too, but didn't like it as much as the 18,000K. The horses are fine now - I guess they just needed to adjust to it. I do notice algae growth in that tank now, though, whereas I never had any with the stock fluorescent lights. Guess it's a trade off.

Sue

 

[sueandherzoo]

Sorry - forgot to answer your question about the tank height: 20".
I've got a blue ricordea at the bottom of the tank that's doing very well, if that helps any.
Sue

 

[daninct]

Thanks for the replies. That sounds like a decent amount of light for that depth. I know what you mean about the growth. I have one tank with 4 T5 HO's and I had to play around with the timers and the flow to keep things in control. STuff grows faster than it can be eaten and the hair stuff never gets touched. Must taste nasty to even the blennie!
Good luck and keep us posted.