Welcome to the Reef Forum.
+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Just Moved In
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Posts
    35
    Images
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    How to get zoa colors to "pop" under HQI?

    I have a 24 gallon Aquapod with a 150W Viper light. I've tried a Hamilton 20K, JBJ 14K, and "Ebay" 14K but the colors on my zoas just don't pop. I tried supplementing with 2, 8-bulb blue LED strips, glued to the inside upper edge with little difference. Does anyone have any ideas about how to supplement the HQI lighting with some type of PC actinics? The dimensions of the (open) tank top are: 19 1/2 (across) by 16" deep?
    Thanks!
    Chris

  2. #2
    Keeper of Willis charlie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    NW Montana
    Posts
    11,684
    Images
    849
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts

    Re: How to get zoa colors to "pop" under HQI?

    Why don't you try looking at the T5 actinic plus, or a VHO actinic? Just a thought.
    400 Gallon Reef Log
    Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

    Willis--1998-2009---I will miss you.

  3. #3
    Just Moved In
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Posts
    35
    Images
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Re: How to get zoa colors to "pop" under HQI?

    The problem is finding a 20" fixture that can sit on my aquarium top and be thin enough not to block the light from the Viper HQI.

  4. #4
    Keeper of Willis charlie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    NW Montana
    Posts
    11,684
    Images
    849
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts

    Re: How to get zoa colors to "pop" under HQI?

    Why don't you give a couple of our sponsors a search and see what you can come up with?
    400 Gallon Reef Log
    Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

    Willis--1998-2009---I will miss you.

  5. #5
    Moderator Ninong's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Earth
    Posts
    24,027
    Images
    3
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 59 Times in 55 Posts

    Re: How to get zoa colors to "pop" under HQI?

    Charlie,

    This is exactly what he has right now -- a 24-gal AquaPod with the top removed and a Viper 150w HQI DE fixture.

    It would really cost too much relative to the total cost of the current setup to try to switch now to a more expensive lighting arrangement. It would probably make more sense to simply upgrade to a larger tank so that there would be more lighting options. Tanks that are 36" long (especially the 40-gal breeder) are ideal because there are so many different lighting choices available. And you don't even need metal halide for a 40-gal breeder. You could cover the top of that sucker with T5 HO lamps and have a tremendous amount of light, more than enough to keep anything at all considering the great dimensions (36"Lx18"Wx16"H) of the tank itself.

    Once you get into the specialty type nano-tanks, such as the 24-gal AquaPod or even the Oceanic 30-gal cube, you are limited by the dimensions across the top of the tank and your lighting options are much fewer. There are a lot of lighting fixtures for 24" tanks and 36" tanks but not all that many for 20" tanks or 30" tanks or any of the other off sizes.

    Chris has a choice of going with his current fixture and using either a Ushio/BLV 10,000K HQI DE lamp for maximum intensity or a Ushio/BLV 20,000K HQI DE lamp for a bluer appearance but with less than half the PAR of the 10,000K. The 20,000K will be fine for a lot of different things but I wouldn't attempt SPS or clams with it.
    Ninong

  6. #6
    Moderator Ninong's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Earth
    Posts
    24,027
    Images
    3
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 59 Times in 55 Posts

    Re: How to get zoa colors to "pop" under HQI?

    Chris,

    Just for kicks I decided to see if Sanjay had tested the Radium 150w 20,000K HQI DE lamp and he has: here.

    Wow! PPFD = 47 for the Radium 20,000K. That's a lot better than the other 20,000K and 14,000K lamps.

    That might be something to consider.
    Ninong

  7. #7
    Keeper of Willis charlie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    NW Montana
    Posts
    11,684
    Images
    849
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts

    Re: How to get zoa colors to "pop" under HQI?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ninong View Post
    Charlie,

    This is exactly what he has right now -- a 24-gal AquaPod with the top removed and a Viper 150w HQI DE fixture.

    It would really cost too much relative to the total cost of the current setup to try to switch now to a more expensive lighting arrangement. It would probably make more sense to simply upgrade to a larger tank so that there would be more lighting options. Tanks that are 36" long (especially the 40-gal breeder) are ideal because there are so many different lighting choices available. And you don't even need metal halide for a 40-gal breeder. You could cover the top of that sucker with T5 HO lamps and have a tremendous amount of light, more than enough to keep anything at all considering the great dimensions (36"Lx18"Wx16"H) of the tank itself.

    Once you get into the specialty type nano-tanks, such as the 24-gal AquaPod or even the Oceanic 30-gal cube, you are limited by the dimensions across the top of the tank and your lighting options are much fewer. There are a lot of lighting fixtures for 24" tanks and 36" tanks but not all that many for 20" tanks or 30" tanks or any of the other off sizes.

    Chris has a choice of going with his current fixture and using either a Ushio/BLV 10,000K HQI DE lamp for maximum intensity or a Ushio/BLV 20,000K HQI DE lamp for a bluer appearance but with less than half the PAR of the 10,000K. The 20,000K will be fine for a lot of different things but I wouldn't attempt SPS or clams with it.
    Gotta agree with you Ninong, it is unfortunate that they make these tanks so that only a certain fixture will fit, it is their way or the highway!!!!
    I would think that certain types of Montipora, ie., digitata might work, maybe even some types of pocillopora would fit, but you are right, most acros wouldn't be good!!!
    400 Gallon Reef Log
    Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

    Willis--1998-2009---I will miss you.


 

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

     

Similar Threads

  1. What is a "Pump" and what is a "Power Head"
    By Narmical in forum Tanks, Filtration & Basic Equipment
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 05-17-2007, 07:31 PM
  2. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 03-03-2003, 11:47 AM
  3. "FACTS NEEDED" Is there "HEAD" Pressure in a CLS?
    By platapus in forum Reef Aquariums
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 01-21-2003, 05:18 PM
  4. Replies: 11
    Last Post: 12-12-2002, 09:03 PM
  5. Lighting a 60"L x 17"W x 16"Tall anemone tank
    By DogueDeBordeaux in forum Lighting
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 08-31-2001, 07:39 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107