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Lighting question

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by softieatheart, Mar 15, 2012.

  1. Mar 15, 2012 #1
    softieatheart

    softieatheart Inactive User

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    I have been lighting my 46g bowfront with 4 of those 6500K curly CF bulbs that are 26 watt but supposed to be the equivalent of 100 watts each, along with 1 actinic blue 25 watt T8 in a homemade fixture.
    Today my not-so-ghetto light came. It is 14000K with two blue and two white T5 bulbs and *wowie* it make the tank look fab! 
    My son, however, is concerned with the drop in wattage and the corals not getting enough light.  I see it as a step up from 6500K to 14,000K, he sees it as a step down from 9 watts per gallon (425 total watts)  to 3 watts per gallon (156 total watts).
    I think it will be fine and the intensity will make up for the wattage drop, am I wrong?
    (We have mostly low to moderate light requirement corals.)
     
  2. Mar 15, 2012 #2
    snowman82

    snowman82 Experienced Reefkeeper

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    well most people don't use the CF florescent lights for a tank anyways as their Par values are not all the great. only thing those lights are used for are sumps and Algae scrubbers. The T5's will greatly improve your coral growth in the tank.

    You can't just got by a certain number of watts per gallon anymore.

    you have nothing to worry about. and the 6500k versus 14000k is all about looks mainly. Higher the number the more blue it will be.
     
  3. Mar 15, 2012 #3
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    I don't think you want to compare "equivalent watts" like you are doing. You want to look more for the light output side of things. If you got a decent T5 fixture with quality reflectors you shouldn't have any problems at all. And actually you might see some improvement in your tank.
     
  4. Mar 15, 2012 #4
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    what they said. In fact i would move your coral down some and acclimate them to your new light. The T5 are going to give more light and could burn your coral since they wont b used to it.
     

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