Archivarium 2004

Filtration Master · Regulars Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Location: New York

OKay First I would like to upgrade my lighting to compact Flourescent
I currently have a Dual Strip Light with approx lighting of 60 watts for my 85G Tank. Bieng that I am adding some nice fish, I thought I'd beef up the lighting. First is it necssary. Its Fish-Only. I am currently looking at Orbit Compact Flourescent Lighting Fixture(192Watts). Is it a good choice?
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85 Gallon Marine Tank
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T5Chris · Regulars Joined: 23 Jan 2004

It helps out with invertebrates and live rock. Make sure it has some actinic lighting though.

DanG · Members Joined: 15 Nov 2004

Coralife and Orbit make 36" 2x96w setups. I found the coralife to be much cheaper than the orbit ones. I've never read much bad about coralife. My LFS was trying to discourage me from buying them because they're square pin, and the better quality bulbs are typically straight pin.

KDodds · Advisors Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Location: Suffern, NY

NO flourescents are fine for FO and will save you a ton in electrical consumption. Actinics are only necessary to provide for visible flourescence. Only photosynthetic organisms will benefit from the "improved" lighting.
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Kieron Dodds
Inside Aquatics
www.insideaquatics.com

SLACkra

actually I find that actinic lighting is pleasing for the eye. it gives the veiwer the impression that the tank is deeper ocean. this is because blue light penatrates the furthest in the sea(why we have a blue sea!). so if you use all 10000K lighting it might looks like shallow water or tide pool, while with a bit of actinic lighting it might look like 5M underwater or more!

andrew
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32g planted community
7.5g Nano Reef
1 four legged wonder napper
2 winged demons

KDodds · Advisors Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Location: Suffern, NY

As I said, Actinics are only necessary for aesthetic reasons. With the real interest being in providing the corals with enough PAR, in such a small setup it is usually better for the health of the animals to forego the actinics in favor of 10000K. Personally, I don't care for the too blue looks of "moonlight" type tanks. Having been diving, I can say that it does NOT look natural unless maybe your focusing on the Blacktip that's 50 yards off or so. When you're close up, it's blue-white, more like 10000K or 20000K. This can also be seen just from normal underwater photography on non-digital film (which will not auto-compensate for color balance).
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Kieron Dodds
Inside Aquatics
www.insideaquatics.com

Filtration Master · Regulars Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Location: New York

Okay what about if I use my Dual Strip Light Fixture It holds 2 36in Bulbs at 30Wattts can I use 2 20000K Bulbs.
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85 Gallon Marine Tank
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Filtration Master · Regulars Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Location: New York

I have done the following

Added 60Lbs of live Rock

Currently using Dual strip lights with 2 30W 50/50 Bulbs from CoralLife.
I will be adding an anenome and 2 Feather Dusters as well as fish. Is this lighting system okay?
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85 Gallon Marine Tank
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