Lighting for zoanthids and yumas

[Jshroom86]

Okay, I am purchasing a Reefilluminations T5 only model it comes with 2 led bars and i can pick 6 additional bulbs of my liking as long as they are ice cap. Does anyone have any experience with ice cap bulbs I am thinking of getting 2 actinics, 2 10ks a 14k and a 12k but again i dont know what all these light colors are going to do to the eyes. it may look horrible lol so please help me out if you have experience

[TechGuy40]

JeremyT, calling jeremy...

[Aquatic Specialists]

JeremyT, calling jeremy...

Again, Paging Jeremy, Jeremy you wanted in the T5 section......HAHAHA

[marinelife]

:iconfused:

[Sunshine]

Me too .... what does all this T5 talk have to do with lighting for Zoas and Yumas ???? I was hoping to find out where to place Zoas and Yumas according to how far down they should be away from the lights .... But .. than again, I get confused easily

[marinelife]

Jeremy is the T5 expert here so the T5 questions need his help

[Sunshine]

oh, ok ....

[jeremyreef]

what kelvin are the led strips? that will make a difference in the bulb combo. sorry it took so long been busy. ;)

can you post a link to the fixture and the tank dimensions?

[jeremyreef]

If it is the fixture I think it is, a reef crest, mid water, and 4 twilights would look good........But, what size tank is this going on? might be overkill.

[Jshroom86]

lol Here is a link and the tank is a 40 Breeder
http://www.marinedepot.com/IceCap_Reef_Illuminations_T5_%2b_Tubular_LED_Moonl ights_(470nm_Actinic_LED)_Fixture_24_Inch_T5_Fluor escent_Light_Fixtures-IceCap-IC3921-FILTFIT54U-vi.html

sorry for the delay lol been in class all night

[Jshroom86]

Also sunshine this does have something to do with that but first I am trying to figure out my bulb configuration before dealing with placement If i get to bright light or to high in the spectrum ill bake everything even on the bottom. So I am trying to figure out whats the best bulbs to use for zoas and yumas as I am doing only brightly colored and deepwater species

[TechGuy40]

Also sunshine this does have something to do with that but first I am trying to figure out my bulb configuration before dealing with placement If i get to bright light or to high in the spectrum ill bake everything even on the bottom. So I am trying to figure out whats the best bulbs to use for zoas and yumas as I am doing only brightly colored and deepwater species

Interesting project. From experience, I think T5's are much more forgiving than metal halides. You always have shaded areas. Plus, Zoas change colors ALOT depending on lighting, at least for me. So the spectrum you choose is very important if you are going with T5's. You want to find a balance.

[jeremyreef]

i think that would be over kill for the yumas at least. my fixture fries them on the sand bed, so i have to hide them in the shade and my tank is 24" tall.

[Jshroom86]

Well do you think it would hurt any euphyllia corals I have a few torch and frogspawn

[harleyrider37]

I love my t5's and my wife loves the electric bill being lower. lol

[jeremyreef]

my frog spawn looks a lot more colorful in the shaded area but the light doesnt hurt it. you could always move the fixture higher above the tank.

[jeremyreef]

i do want to see one of these fixtures in action, they look awesome! that is why i am afraid it will fry some lower light critters. if you were doing a mostly sps tank with clams on the sand bed this fixture would be perfect.

[Jshroom86]

I am pretty sold on getting it lol, I emailed Icecap to see what they thought of the light beeing to much. It comes with legs that lift it about 3" above the tank and ill have a glass canopy on top so im thinking that will distort the light some.

[coral ranch]

I have a few zoanthids that love the 10k's but alot more that do not do well under them at all.The only 10k's over my zoanthids are on my back 75gal and they are lower wattage bulbs and the zoanthids are deep in the tank. I have had great luck with 14k's and 20k's

[mayhem_audio]

what would 10k pc bulbs do for purly growth then color up later under some 14-20k bulbs

[coral ranch]

my experience with zoanthids is that while 10k promotes great growth in sps it just seems to intense for zoanthids especially in shollow tanks. they tend to not come out fully or come out partially and fade in color. Our best growth and color has come from 14k and 20k. Flow also plays an important role in growth. We also feed phytoplankton and a little zooplankton for larger palies

[mayhem_audio]

i am building a 20 long miny frag tank till i get my big one going and i have a 30" pc fixture laying around and wanted to use it

[coral ranch]

I think that would be fine for most zoanthid and soft fraggs. Also for alot of lps fraggs too.