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View Full Version : What type of lighting are you using for FOWLR


atoz1to4
04/08/2006, 08:12 PM
I am curious what people are using on FOWLR tanks. I am having a hard time deciding on VHO or T5 and a 2 or 4 bulb fixture. I am setting up a 72g and I want to have enough light to maintain the color in the LR.

Jerry W
04/08/2006, 08:34 PM
I'm using 4x65 pc's on my 120. Used to have just NO flourescents.
It made for a very nice effect/difference.

Triterium
04/08/2006, 09:28 PM
Im using the sun :P

LRS078
04/09/2006, 08:48 AM
PC and FL work just fine if it is fish only.... PIck a color temp bulb (or combo of bulbs) that you like.... Anything beyond that for tank depth 2' and below is overkill.

Ironsheikh
04/09/2006, 12:04 PM
i have pc but would try T5 next time -- one of the nice looking german ones

JENnKerry
04/09/2006, 02:07 PM
4x65 watt PCs on my 55 fish only

Don424
04/10/2006, 11:28 PM
Can you use NO lighting in a FOWLR? URI and SunPaq seem to be the rave of some people for the NO lights.

tang_man_montreal
04/11/2006, 08:43 AM
On my 24" cube, I'm using 2x T5's for blue supplementation (sunrise/sunset effect), and a 250w 14k DE MH...

Overkill? Yes.

Pretty glitter lines? Yes.

:D

edwardj
04/11/2006, 09:49 AM
I currently use 2 pc 96w, and 2 T5's. There is a 250 MH on it, but that is about to be moved to my reef tank. I just set the FOWLR up, and as soon as I get some good coraline algae, the MH will join two others on my 72" reef.

Edwardj

MacnReef
04/11/2006, 10:37 AM
I currently use three 21w NO T5's and it looks pretty sweet. I have glitter lines and it stays nice and cool.

Mike

capt. insano
04/11/2006, 10:01 PM
3 250w MH pendants on my 240.......to much electricity for a FOWLR? Yup! But like tangman said, much prettier and more natural looking light

Jim_S
04/11/2006, 10:46 PM
On my 125 I use 4 54 watt Giesmann T5 lamps with TEK reflectors. Works great.

Jim

Piraya33
04/12/2006, 01:19 PM
I use a 48" 260watt PC on my 72gallon.

ReefWaters
04/13/2006, 11:59 AM
You really dont have to worry about the intensity or even the quality of the light with fish. They are not photosynthetic animals. You could get away with an NO shop light kit from Home Depot and it wouldnt hurt your fish. It just wont look good. You really do want to make sure you get a clean, natural looking, color spectrum. Whether you use VHO, T5, PC, or NO, it doesnt matter, your probably going to want a fairly even mix (half and half) of crisp white (10K) and blue (20K or Actinic). Or go with a little more white than blue 2:1 or 3:1. The blue and white will bring out the colors of the fish more than a yellow bulb from HD.

MacnReef
04/13/2006, 03:13 PM
Good point. I run a 2:1 on my T5's...two 10K and one actinic. I have the option to run a 3:1 with three 10k's but that is a little yellow for me and a little bright.

Personally, I like the view of 1:1 best on my tank, as I like the dark look. I think the darker look makes the tank seem like it is deep in the ocean down where the mean fishes are.:p

Mike

15nano
04/13/2006, 03:24 PM
My 220 when it was fish only had 4 6ft Vho's and i really like the color.

lagatbezan
04/13/2006, 03:50 PM
would 2 sets of 48" PC lights each with 4 bulbs (2-1000k and 2 acticic) look good on a 240g? I want that crisp nice looking color without having heat problems.

Don424
04/13/2006, 03:54 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7170327#post7170327 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefWaters
You really dont have to worry about the intensity or even the quality of the light with fish. They are not photosynthetic animals. You could get away with an NO shop light kit from Home Depot and it wouldnt hurt your fish. It just wont look good. You really do want to make sure you get a clean, natural looking, color spectrum. Whether you use VHO, T5, PC, or NO, it doesnt matter, your probably going to want a fairly even mix (half and half) of crisp white (10K) and blue (20K or Actinic). Or go with a little more white than blue 2:1 or 3:1. The blue and white will bring out the colors of the fish more than a yellow bulb from HD.

I just have live rock and some fish. I'm using an "OLD" single stip PCwith a 50/50. I really don't like it. I was thinking of just getting an All Glass dual hood with the strip and putting 6700 or 10k & a 03 blue actinic flourescent tubes. What do you think?

I wish the strips had 2 switches so I could keep the blue on in the evening..........it looks cool.

ReefWaters
04/14/2006, 09:37 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7171596#post7171596 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MacnReef
Personally, I like the view of 1:1 best on my tank, as I like the dark look. I think the darker look makes the tank seem like it is deep in the ocean down where the mean fishes are.:p

Mike

I agree, most of the fish we keep do fine with intense light but they are naturally found in much dimmer, deep blue light on the reef.

ReefWaters
04/14/2006, 09:48 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7171833#post7171833 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Don424
I just have live rock and some fish. I'm using an "OLD" single stip PCwith a 50/50. I really don't like it. I was thinking of just getting an All Glass dual hood with the strip and putting 6700 or 10k & a 03 blue actinic flourescent tubes. What do you think?

I wish the strips had 2 switches so I could keep the blue on in the evening..........it looks cool.

That should be just fine. I ran NO for many a year when I first got into the hobby. I even ran them on a mixed softy reef and did just fine. So you know, the 6700 will be as yellow if not more yellow than the 50/50 you have. 03 Actinic is VERY blue/purple by itself. I would go with a 10K and an 03. You can also look around some more. They make a lot of "fish only" options in NO bulbs. They have colors that the MFG claims will bring out the colors in your fish. But you should be safe and happy with the 10K/03 option.

As for being able to view the blue only at night. Do you have a hood or are you just sitting the light fixtures on top of the tank? If you have a hood, you can retro the NO bulbs with two or more ballasts from HD on different timers to turn on the blue only in the morning and at night. If you dont have a hood, you could spend a little more money and buy two separate strips so they will be on different timers. You could always just add another PC strip as well and switch out the bulbs to the colors you want.

Let me know if any of this didnt make sense or if you have any more questions.

Don424
04/15/2006, 03:17 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7176088#post7176088 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefWaters
That should be just fine. I ran NO for many a year when I first got into the hobby. I even ran them on a mixed softy reef and did just fine. So you know, the 6700 will be as yellow if not more yellow than the 50/50 you have. 03 Actinic is VERY blue/purple by itself. I would go with a 10K and an 03. You can also look around some more. They make a lot of "fish only" options in NO bulbs. They have colors that the MFG claims will bring out the colors in your fish. But you should be safe and happy with the 10K/03 option.

As for being able to view the blue only at night. Do you have a hood or are you just sitting the light fixtures on top of the tank? If you have a hood, you can retro the NO bulbs with two or more ballasts from HD on different timers to turn on the blue only in the morning and at night. If you dont have a hood, you could spend a little more money and buy two separate strips so they will be on different timers. You could always just add another PC strip as well and switch out the bulbs to the colors you want.

Let me know if any of this didnt make sense or if you have any more questions.

Thanks Reefwater for your reply.

I have 2 glass versa tops on my Oceanic 75g right now. Plus I have a nice wood canopy that came with my setup that my wife is bugging me to put back on because she doesn't like the look of the the PC light on the stands sitting on the tank and no canopy
(I admit, I like the canopy too). Yes I understand what you're saying about the retro fit or using 2 single strips vs 1 with 2 bulbs. That's an idea(2 singles)........I'll have to measure the top area and get the dimesnions from a catalog on the single strips. You're right on the 6500k being yellow.......10,000k would be much better. I was looking at those T-5's......Satellite has one but I think they're overkill.............right? The 2 single or the All glass twin tube I think would work just fine. :)

geppert
04/15/2006, 11:06 PM
2 30w super blue actinic
3 400w mh 2 10k and 1 20k
I have 150lb lr I have been watching sps grow for the last 3 months that was on the live rock.
I would have never known this was on the rock if it were not for the lighting.
I also have caluper and saw blade algae algae that looks like a fern leaf. I am constantly trimming this back but the copperbanded loves it.

DecoyDave
04/16/2006, 11:04 PM
I'm currently running 6x65w PCs on my 55. I was planning to have it a reef, but i got a raccoon butterfly, and well, that plan is out the window!

i2ik
04/16/2006, 11:08 PM
Using a Giesemann Basic Pendant with a 150W DE Pheonix 14K