Reef Lighting?

[VictorMeldrew]

Hi all

Just a quick question, i have chosen t 8 lighting tubes for my tank, the lfs has recommended that i get 3 white tubes and one blue, the thing is, i am not to keen on the blue lighting, do you have to have it? could i just run it with 3 whites?

Thanks

 

[BigC]

A tank that size why are you not employing MH's. So many more options with the hard corals later on.
Regards
BigC

 

[VictorMeldrew]

A tank that size why are you not employing MH's. So many more options with the hard corals later on.
Regards
BigC

Hello BigC

I was very worried about the heat issue's even more so because the tank has ended up a little closer to my tv above it then i would have liked. Then of course there is the cost. This is my first go at saltwater and i think softies will keep me occupied for long enough until i decide to go for metal halides.

I hope this is the correct thinking behind it anyway.

Thanks

 

[garybuk]

Do T5s!!!!!! Blue makes some corals stand out better! its not ! BLUE Thats in your face. But i say T5s!!!!

 

[xxBarneyxx]

I would go for T5's over T8's if you can. Will not get as hot as MH but will give a LOT more light then T8's.

You dont have to have the blue tubes (i used to hate them as well) but some corals do look really amazing under blue light and suprisingly you do come to appreciate it after awhile

 

[ox5477]

Def go T5's... you can keep sps under T5's as well so no need for halides unless you have a super tall tank.

And the blue is prob 460nm actinic and will make the corals look better and thought i read something that says the corals benefit from the extra wavelength being on them. I will tell you, you barely notice the actinic when it is on with your normal daylight bulbs. The thing you will notice is the corals will be much more colorful from the actinic, without really noticing the blue.

Ox