Which bulb to get..

[Staaan]

Well after realizing how expensive LEDs are going to cost me, I'm just going to throw down the $45 bucks and live with my PC lighting for my Aquapod 24g.

Now I'll be getting Sunpaq 32w.. but which to get..

I'm def getting

Dual Actinic (420/460nm)

But what is better for daylight..

10000k/10000k

or

10000k/6700k

From what I understand the 6700k is a yellow(er) light.

Does this really make a difference.. or is the full 10000k better to do?

*They do have one 10000k/420nm (Half Day light Half Actinic)

Could I do that for a more blue look? Or is it best to just do one full daylight and one full actinic bulb?

 

[Vir]

in my 24g i had 10k/420nm and dual actinic 420/460nm got 2 switch so it can give u a blue look

 

[Lunareclipse]

I used a 6000k bulb once and it looked like someone peed in my tank. I didn't like the look at all.

 

[Staaan]

:bump:

 

[JonnyJ]

What are you looking for?

blue or white look?

 

[Staaan]

Well.. I was leaning towards more blueish if that is alright for the corals.

I just want whats best for my corals hahaha.



(Just planning to keep Soft and possibly LPS)

But I did want to see how it would look with more of a blueish look.. anyone know any videos or pics of a nanocube of some sort with a setup of more actinic lights rather than 50/50 actinic and daylight?

 

[JonnyJ]

i personally never learned too much about lighting but i started with the ap24 and used what it came with. 10k/10k and dual actinic...I assume they use this because its the best mix and best par. I personally always wanted a bluer look.

10k/420 and dual actinic 420/460 - would look bluest and probably what i would do if it was going to be a softie dominated tank.

but will have less par than a 10k/10k 420/460..

10k/10k and dual actinic 420/460 - would be what it comes with and probably be the best for growth


ill let someone else chime in with more knowledge than myself.

 

[Staaan]

I think my AP24 came with a 10000k/6700k and the dual actinic.

Cause the Daylight seems to have a whiteish/yellowish tint.

Anyone else have some info to share?

 

[masterswimmer]

I don't know anyone that has run the 10k/67k. IMO that would look like a tank filled with urine. BUT, that's just my opinion. These bulbs are not going to give you the best lighting no matter which bulbs you select. Even the 10k/10k bulbs are not the true crisp white that we get from certain HO T5 bulbs. However, the 10k/10k bulbs would give you a very good growth bulb.

As for the actinic side of the bulbs, the 420nm/460nm is going to be your best bet for the blueish coloration. If you go with more than the one PC with 420nm/460nm, and use the 10k/420nm I think you'll be sacrificing too much daylight for color and your higher light demanding LPS coral would suffer. Lower light coral shouldn't have a problem if you went with a 10k/420nm & 420nm/460nm. That would be only one single tube out of four that gave you a true daylight. But lower light demanding corals, rics, zoa's, xenia, polyps, leathers, etc. shouldn't be effected.

Tough decision but not a critical one. If you purchase an array you don't like, who's stopping you from changing it out in a couple of weeks to replace it with something else. Or, even if you wait 8-10 months use the bulbs, then replace them, I'm sure no harm will have been done to the corals. You might need to color them back up with some new bulbs, but that's nothing more than changing the bulb.

JM $.02
swimmer

 

[Staaan]

+1 Awesome post!
Thanks so much!
I think I'll just stick with a (10000k/10000k) & (420nm/460nm)

 

[Staaan]

Btw.. haha

Is there some type of a retrofit t5 HO or basically any other high intensity lighting that could be purchased for my AP24g that will be cheaper than LEDs?

I know I can get a glass canopy for 10 bucks @ Amazon.

Yet again..
<----Poor College student

I'm learning more and more that this isn't a hobby for a poor college student hahaha.
But I've been getting by with some great deals I've found on this lovely site :lol: