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 Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:30 pm GMT Reply
Sponge - -I have satilite power compact - lights as well - -do your legs slide in a track from one end? {by taking off the end cap} if so I have a set of 4" legs that I would be more thn happy to send you if they will work better for ya- - I built a custom hood and set my light into it so i don't use them
I have to do some reseach on the lighting question Pete - - but it all comes down to spectrum ....... what plants, fish , algaes or anyother organism grows in which band of the specrtum is what will be prominant acording to what level of light you put in the tank - - - thats why we need to change {at least salt tanks} our bulbs at least by anually {yes at 30-50 bucks a pop} because bulbs are generating an artificial form of natural light and therfore break down over time - -they may look the same after 9 months but they are basically pretty night lights with no benifiet to the system.....Boss
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:35 pm GMT Reply
Peter, i read this somewhere...
"However if nitrates are kept low, high phosphate levels will not create algae growth. Without nitrates there will be no algae growth no matter how high the phosphate concentration."
How high were your nitrates during the algae issue?
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:08 pm GMT Reply
I am sorry to disagree with an earlier post in this thread, but actinic bulbs are not good at all for plant growth and will encourage algae growth in a FW aquarium. The spectrum of an actinic bulb is very poor at encouraging plant growth. Meanwhile, algae are a whole lot more adept at using "poor" lighting than regualr plants. Therefore, by using an actinic bulb, you are providing very minimal gain to your plants and providing a light source that algae can use. This is why it is bad. I would suggest switching the actinic with a bulb that has the proper spectrum for plant growth, but that is just me.
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:18 pm GMT Reply
I heard that actinic is 420 nanometers and that plants can use this light. Why do corals like this and not plants? As for the age of the bulbs, I understand that they wear out after 6-10 months. I'll try to find the article that says actinic light is good for coral as well as plants so we can talk specifially about what plants need vs coral..
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:30 pm GMT Reply
i am no way a freshwater guy..but from what i know nutrients in the water are the main cause of algae growth.
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:41 pm GMT Reply
OK. this is the article I read. Thanks SWP. It says plants need actinic light as well as coral.
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:44 pm GMT Reply
There are lots of things that contribute to algae growth and light is one of them along with nutrients. Comparing plants to coral is like comparing a reindeer to a rose. Coral are not plants and have very different needs.
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:47 pm GMT Reply
That is fine and I really am not trying to be rude or anything, but you can find articles on the web that support any claim. For every one that says its good, I can find 1,000 that disagree. It really is up to you though. Give it a shot if you like the look. A great site for plant discussions is www.plantgeeks.com as a side note.
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:59 pm GMT Reply
plants are found at the same level that coral is found at. the sun is the sun and you cant change its spectrum. i dont find your opinons rude. you are simply stating what you know.high nutreints will foster the growth of algae and slow the plant growth. low nutrients will speed up the plant growth and slow the algae growth
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:05 pm GMT Reply
But coral and plants do not "use" the sun in the same fashion. Just because they are found at the same depth does not mean they have the same requirements. Would you stick a 1400K halide bulb over a FW plant setup and expect the same results as you get in your SW setup. You are comparing apples to oranges.
You are right, the sun is the sun and it has a very different spectrum that an actinic bulb.
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:06 pm GMT Reply
oh Pimp i think Al Gore would disagree with you on being able to change the spectrum of the sun........isn't that global warming ???LOL thank god he invented the internet so we can all solve these issue eh???? SNOW happy clown BOSS
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:07 pm GMT Reply
Sorry I meant 14000K - my bad.
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:07 pm GMT Reply
Lol - good one.
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Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:08 pm GMT Reply
Thank the Lord for Al Gore.
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