Blue vs white lights

[mcgallagherc]

Very new to this and 100% hooked!

I currently run my white lights from when I wake up in morning until I'm home and run blue lights 3-4 hours. Can see much better with white during day and blue looks better at dark.

Any opinions on this topic?

 

[J1a]

Imo it's really a personal preference when it comes to the colour temperature.

Generally, blue-heavy light tends to show more fluorescence, while more neutral colour makes certain corals (such as pink birdnest) pop.

Fishes look their best under neutral light as well.

On the other hand, we do need to ensure corals recieves suitable spectrum and adequate PAR.

 

[damsels are not mean]

doesn't really matter. 90% aesthetics corals will grow so long as it's bright enough and not too bright

 

[mcgallagherc]

If my corals want close up when blue light is turned on after white light most of the day, what could this mean? Blue lights not bright enough? It's a manual switch so not gradual from white to blue

 

[SilvermistInc]

I run two blue plus and two purple plus to get the perfect mix of blues that make corals pop, and whites that don't make my tank look like cancer.

 

[SilvermistInc]

If my corals want close up when blue light is turned on after white light most of the day, what could this mean? Blue lights not bright enough? It's a manual switch so not gradual from white to blue

Is this a biocube? Because the blue lights in the biocube are incredibly weak.

 

[mcgallagherc]

Is this a biocube? Because the blue lights in the biocube are incredibly weak.

It's a 48×24x24 with 2 light bars the length of tank. I purchased the set up pre owned So i probably am due for new light set up

 

[Spare time]

Very new to this and 100% hooked!

I currently run my white lights from when I wake up in morning until I'm home and run blue lights 3-4 hours. Can see much better with white during day and blue looks better at dark.

Any opinions on this topic?

I prefer more white light as I think it benefits various aspects of the zooxanthellae and the fish's behavior.

 

[SilvermistInc]

It's a 48×24x24 with 2 light bars the length of tank. I purchased the set up pre owned So i probably am due for new light set up

Yikes. Looks like aqueon optibrights. Those have a hard time growing Java ferns. Let alone corals.

You 100% need an upgrade because you aren't growing a dang thing with those.

 

[mcgallagherc]

Yikes. Looks like aqueon optibrights. Those have a hard time growing Java ferns. Let alone corals.

You 100% need an upgrade because you aren't growing a dang thing with those

Lol ouch. What lights would be a good purchase for this size tank? Was just browsing through the classifieds and market place here but not sure what is adequate for my tank.

 

[mcgallagherc]

Yikes. Looks like aqueon optibrights. Those have a hard time growing Java ferns. Let alone corals.

You 100% need an upgrade because you aren't growing a dang thing with those.

Just looked at them at they have FLUVAL stamped on the top

 

[Spare time]

If you are looking for new lights, please list the following:

What is the current setting of your lights (intensity)?

Do you have a place where you can rent a par meter?

How do you like to mount the light (hanging, an arm, laying on the top, etc.

What customizability do you want?

Do you want to replace bulbs every year?

What is your ideal budget range?

 

[mcgallagherc]

If you are looking for new lights, please list the following:

What is the current setting of your lights (intensity)?

Do you have a place where you can rent a par meter?

How do you like to mount the light (hanging, an arm, laying on the top, etc.

What customizability do you want?

Do you want to replace bulbs every year?

What is your ideal budget range?

I like the look of hanging on arm, no don't want to replace bulbs frequent, current light settings unsure, have access to par meter and auto smart lights ideal, budget really not issue but don't want to spend arm and leg...

 

[Spare time]

I like the look of hanging on arm, no don't want to replace bulbs frequent, current light settings unsure, have access to par meter and auto smart lights ideal, budget really not issue but don't want to spend arm and leg...

If you can figure out your current light's par that would be good (as well as the settings).

If you want something that is plug and play, a couple of lumilite pros (4) would do the trick. Two noopsyche k7 v3's could work, and that would be a great pair for the price. There are other options such as kessil, radions, etc., that would be a bit more expensive. I don't think you would like red sea lights. Reef breeders are another option, but I personally would go with the noopsyche over them.

 

[melonheadorion]

if budget is concern, you could go with 2 kessil a160s, but i personally would look into the noopsyche lights. i have two of them, and give me the ability for any par level i would need, and are cheaper than the 2 kessils. if money isnt an issue, than there are many out there, and im sure others can give their thoughts. i dont have any personal experience on other brands

 

[Spare time]

if budget is concern, you could go with 2 kessil a160s, but i personally would look into the noopsyche lights. i have two of them, and give me the ability for any par level i would need, and are cheaper than the 2 kessils. if money isnt an issue, than there are many out there, and im sure others can give their thoughts. i dont have any personal experience on other brands

I think I'll do noopsyches for my next tank simply because they are not absolutely wrecking my budget if I set another tank up lol

 

[melonheadorion]

I think I'll do noopsyches for my next tank simply because they are not absolutely wrecking my budget if I set another tank up lol

if you can get past the neanderthal level of controller, the lights are great. i can easily jack up my par over 300 at teh bottom of the tank, if i needed. hell, right now they are 170 bucks. you could get 2, with a controller for like 300 bucks currently, which is a great deal

 

[Jedi1199]

How much is budget integrated in this? Not that I am trying to upsell any vendor, but allow me to share my experience please.

I started out my 55g tank with the mindset that I would have a fish tank with a few non-light demanding corals. Seems simple enough right? Your setup would do for that.

After just a few weeks I came to realize that those "simple non-light demanding" corals are both drab and boring (in my opinion).

I wanted color and pop.. I wanted tat "Wow" factor... I started buying more colorful corals and changed my strip lights (Orbit marine 48") to another bargain priced "Black Box" light. I ran with these for a couple months and discovered that these lights are inexpensive for a reason!

First, most of these inexpensive options have virtually zero controllability. Most of them have a simple 2 knob design. One for whites and 1 for blues and they need to be manually operated. A home store timer will help, but you are limited to, on at set intensity, or off.

I later upgraded to another "Black Box" option with similar results. the corals didn't die, but they didn't really grow either.

I finally decided to upgrade to a quality brand name LED (I went with Kessil A360X Tuna Blues) The difference in my tank is astounding!!!

Your tank is about 90g if my math is correct. One Kessil A360x will adequately light 24 x 24 x 24. For taller tanks like yours you may need a more intense light to reach the bottom with an effective spectrum to ensure the health of your corals.

 

[billyocean]

A 300 watt viparspectra will grow whatever you want if you want inexpensive. I've had ai, radion, maxspect, orphek. Orpheks were my favorite light..ai was my favorite app. The viparspectras are really strong lights that are as white as you want them to be but controllable is limited..2 light channels with on/off timers for each channel. You can pick up the bigger 300 watt for around $150-200.

 

[Bpb]

You'll likely be inundated with the opinion that corals only need and use blue light. This idea came largely from the fact that people like seeing coral fluorescence and assume just because certain photosynthetic pigments have a primary absorption peak in the blue range, that is all they need. While they can survive and grow in blue only light, they can and will appreciate full spectrum, so dont be afraid to use white light.