MH DE lighting question

[weez1959]

Is there a site that shows how different lighting affects the look and the corals, picture comparisons and what not.
Gene has me itching to switch bulbs soon. I have 250W 10,000K super daylights DE that came with my fixture right now and would like to get 14.5 K MEGACHROME coral 250 Watt DE bulbs. Is there anyone out there that may have taken before and after pics when changing bulbs.
My LFS has all the following:

250W Megachrome Marine (13000K) Metal Halide Bulb - HQI Double-Ended
250W Megachrome Coral (14500K) Metal Halide Bulb - HQI Double-Ended
250W Megachrome Blue (20000K) Metal Halide Bulb - HQI Double-Ended

Is there a site that will show the difference on the same tank with these bulbs?

[charlie]

You have a PM.

[zeroedge]

Sanjay Joshi has done extensive research on reef tank lightng and has all his data posted at Sanjay's Reef Lighting Info Pages. I think you'll probably find what you want posted there.

[charlie]

Sanjay Joshi has done extensive research on reef tank lighitng and has all his data posted at Sanjay's Reef Lighting Info Pages. I think you'll probably find what you want posted there.

I think she is looking for actual picture comparisons. Great site tho.

[Ninong]

Yes, there are several threads online with comparison photographs of tanks under various lamps. You just have to search around. Reef Central has several threads like that.

I don't know if you will see any that include the Giesemann lamps because those are relatively new. Here is a thread Joe Burger posted back in 2003. He has since posted more recent similar threads but I don't have them bookmarked. I believe he may have written something for one of the online reefkeeping magazines, too -- probably the one on Reef Central. In fact, I know he has but I don't remember which issue.

If you look around, you will find lots of photographs, maybe even some with Giesemann's Megachrome lamps. Sorry I can't be more helpful but I don't have any of those threads bookmarked other than that one old one from 2003.

Happy hunting!



P.S. -- Ask Zhenya about this. He may have some of those threads bookmarked.

P.P.S. -- OK, here ya go: Check this out! It's Joe's personal website and it has lot of photographs of tanks under various lighting! I found it with Google. In fact, if you google his name, you get lots of hits.

Never make a decision based on appearance alone. Always consider the various other factors, especially PAR. And remember that some lamps have to be changed much more frequently than others. Also, keep in mind that ballasts can make a big difference!

[weez1959]

Oh my god, I had no idea there were so many companies producing lights! Thanks for the link Now I'm confused

I really need something that will bring out the colors in my corals a bit more. I bought a medium blue acro last month and when I got home it was brownish looking , Maybe I should ask what they were using at the coral store. All the corals were so virant in those tanks, of course he says he uses 400W
I guess Coralife doesn't give you the best bulbs with their fixtures huh?

[charlie]

Oh my god, I had no idea there were so many companies producing lights! Thanks for the link Now I'm confused

I really need something that will bring out the colors in my corals a bit more. I bought a medium blue acro last month and when I got home it was brownish looking , Maybe I should ask what they were using at the coral store. All the corals were so virant in those tanks, of course he says he uses 400W
I guess Coralife doesn't give you the best bulbs with their fixtures huh?

Welcome to the world of personal taste weez. That is basically what lighting for reef tanks is, in a nutshell. There are certain bulbs that some people like, and somebody else will look at the bulb and say, "I don't like the color". If you asked all of us what bulbs we use, I bet you would get a different answer from just about everybody.
It is so hard to tell anybody what to use because you don't know what their eyes like!!!! I used to run 6 400w- 20k bulbs on my 300, I could swear the DEA was standing outside my place with a warrant. But I really liked the color, and so did my corals. A good place to start, and I say start, is with a good old standard 10k bulb, IMO, see what happens after 6-8 months, and then make a decision based on your experience with them. HTH

[weez1959]

I have 2-250W 10,000K super daylights DE and 2 96 watt true actinic 03, whatever that means and I don't find my corals look as good as they should, like I said the blue acro went from a nice blue to brown from the store's tank to my tank.

[charlie]

How old are the lites in your existing tank? One thing that I found out about blue corals is if they came from 400w, they should be placed higher up in a tank with 250w bulbs, did you try that after you got the coral acclimated?

[weez1959]

It's as high as I can get it for now but I'll try raising it in the new tank.
I think my lights are about 6 months old.

[charlie]

How long have you had the coral Louise? Sometimes some corals just take longer to acclimate than others.

[weez1959]

About 2-3 months now.
A side question, is it bad to put a Crocea clam in the sand? Right now he's on a cliff and he's tried to commit suicide twice by jumping off and landing in my monti.

[charlie]

About 2-3 months now.

I would just try moving the coral up a little in your tank Louise, and then see what type of results you get. JMHO

A side question, is it bad to put a Crocea clam in the sand? Right now he's on a cliff and he's tried to commit suicide twice by jumping off and landing in my monti.

I believe that Croceas are rock dwelling clams, not an expert here. Would there be a way that you could sort of lock him in up there without restricting his opening and closing? Is there to much flow where he is at now, this would be a possible reason he is not happy. What I used to do is get a half-shell from my LFS, and set the clam on that. The clam would then have something solid to sit on. I had 2 or 3 Croceas on the sand bed using this method. HTH

[weez1959]

K, I'll try both

[charlie]

Have you ever seen this book?

Amazon.com: Giant Clams: A Comprehensive Guide to the Identification and Care of Tridacnid Clams: Books: Daniel Knop

It is the best I could find around for clams!!!

[weez1959]

I thought I could find it for less on eBay and they wanted $50.00 for it!
Anyways, I only have one clam and I'm a big fan of internet info so I'll stick with that.

[charlie]

I thought I could find it for less on eBay and they wanted $50.00 for it!
Anyways, I only have one clam and I'm a big fan of internet info so I'll stick with that.

Works for me!! I need another cup of coffee, this is way to much typing for this early in the morning.

[weez1959]

Yup me too!