fragswap lighting opinions...

[macawmagic]

I was wondering what everyone thought about the light setups at fragswaps. At past swaps i've been to, a lot of people run actinic or very close to actinic. of course everything looks amazing under actinic. Would you prefer to buy corals under normal lights or actinics?

 

[inactive]

Actinics... I stare at my coral most under blue light

 

[BigRed]

I would say a 20k light would be good. But I prefer actinics all the way.

 

[TopNotchCorals]

I would prefer normal daytime lighting.At BAYMAC I noticed the actinic only thing going on but all you have to do is ask and vendors had no problem flippin the switch for normal lighting.

 

[inactive]

I'm a video game kid.. black lights and neon color FTW.

 

[TopNotchCorals]

I'm a video game kid.. black lights and neon color FTW.

Sounds more like a medical marijuana member to me.

 

[inactive]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[TopNotchCorals]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Yeah me either

 

[wishntoboutside]

you guys crack me up. both of you are too funny.

 

[luke33]

Last few frag swaps i've been at was nearly 100% led's on the corals. They make the colors come out much better than anything else out there. If not an option i'd go with a 20k look mh.

 

[lReef lKeeper]

i go to a LOT of swaps ... i dont like buying from an actinic lit tank. it makes the buy disappointing when you get it home and put in a PROPERLY lit system. just my $.02

 

[dakotasreef]

I think it is a personal preference. As long as they do flip on the daylights for you, that gives you the best of both worlds.

 

[SDguy]

Lately I've seen vendors with both options (ie they keep the blue lights on, but if you ask, they will turn on the daylight lights too).

 

[inactive]

i go to a LOT of swaps ... i dont like buying from an actinic lit tank. it makes the buy disappointing when you get it home and put in a PROPERLY lit system. just my $.02

Define "properly lit system." Don't get me wrong here, but I think proper would be emulating the natural sun.. which in the case of reef keeping would display a lot of brown corals. We utilize the blue technology to enhance the look of the corals. Even a 10k is "enhanced" from what you would see in the ocean. Have you ever noticed the most colorful corals still attached in the reefs are non photosynthetic? Some people are into natural beauty, but I like to see my coral like they are going out to find their soul mate... me.

 

[subielover]

Since I run my tank very blue, I like to see the corals glow at swaps as well. Properly lit system...oh boy!

 

[lReef lKeeper]

lol, let me rephrase that ...

a system lit to your personal preference and the corals liking. i have noticed that at the last few swaps ive been to, the corals in actinic lit tanks seem a little less than happy when compared to the ones in a full spectrum light.

 

[inactive]

lol, let me rephrase that ...

a system lit to your personal preference and the corals liking. i have noticed that at the last few swaps ive been to, the corals in actinic lit tanks seem a little less than happy when compared to the ones in a full spectrum light.

When viewing a coral at a swap that may take a few days to open...

 

[lReef lKeeper]

maybe ive just been lucky then, 90% of the time or more when i bring a frag home from a swap ... its open within hours or the next day.

FWIW ... if i sell at a swap, i run the same 150w DE phoenix halides that i run an my frag and display tanks. (dont mind my sig, the T5 switch hasnt happened yet, lol)

 

[SPStoner]

I prefer to be able to see both.

 

[macawmagic]

alright. so here's my gameplan. I'm going to run t5 actinics with powerbrites and then if people ask I'm going to turn on the mh. It'll help keep down on the heat also! Thanks for the responses.