you lost me

brettdis · Dec 8, 2018

I'm new to salt water. Right now we use the light that came with our tank. I have spent hours online reading about proper lighting. The end goal is to have a few fish and some corals. Right now we have 2 damsels 5 snails and 1 mushroom. Is there a salt water lighting for dummies? I don't understand what it is I need. I don't want to go to my local fish store and buy whatever they hand me for lighting. I want to understand why I need a specific light. I recently read about people using philips hue smart lights but some say they look pretty but aren't the proper light spectrum for corals. I just can't seem to find anything to explain why corals need a specific spectrum or exactly what that spectrum is in words I can understand and compare to what the hue lights offer. I want to learn not just be told buy this. I have read threw most of the posts in here and I think I kinda understand some of it but it turns out no its like a foreign language to me.

hdsoftail1065 · Dec 8, 2018

Im not a lighting expert but we have some very knowledgeable people here. What kind of lights came with your tank?

brettdis · Dec 8, 2018

its looks like a led strip light with 5 lights in it. just white lights. I can upload a picture when I get home

Jacked Reefer · Dec 8, 2018

So you remember biology class when you reasearched photosynthesis? And you learn about the photons of light getting through to be utilized in the process of creating gluecose. Corals are much more complex organisms so therefore they will require higher wavelength and overall stronger light than a regular houseplant. The wavelength just means the color of the light but it also includes energy. Higher energy light is going to be blue as we see it. Corals need more light in the blue spectrum because of how much energy they use. I would recommend changing out your fixture ASAP if you want your mushroom to survive and getting rid of at least one of your damsels because they will fight. Depending on the size of your tank I would go with an ai prime HD or some light that is similar please let me know if you have any questions or that didn’t make sense

brettdis · Dec 9, 2018

thank you. it does make sense. So basically a philips hue smart light changes colours. But based on what you have just taught me thats not the right blue cause its the same wavelength as an ordinary light just coloured. I need an actual blue light cause it is a higher wavelength but also higher energy for my coral. Its not the colour blue they need its the energy from the higher wavelength. If that is correct I got it and thank you so much.

Oldreefer44 · Dec 9, 2018

Suggest watching the many BRS video's on the subject. Should help you.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 9, 2018

brettdis said:
thank you. it does make sense. So basically a philips hue smart light changes colours. But based on what you have just taught me thats not the right blue cause its the same wavelength as an ordinary light just coloured. I need an actual blue light cause it is a higher wavelength but also higher energy for my coral. Its not the colour blue they need its the energy from the higher wavelength. If that is correct I got it and thank you so much.

Most folks are confused by this.
Even experienced reefers.

Normal daylight and a daylight full spectrum bulb (like in my kitchen )will grow your coral if it’s bright enough.

Having a bit more blue makes it look better and also adds a bit more of a dose of blue.

Grab the info on your lights and we can help you out with them.

Sorry I can’t find my favorite easy articles for ya right now.
Darn google.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 9, 2018

https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/8/aafeature

https://reefbuilders.com/2017/09/15/the-reef-builders-community-reef-lighting-program/

http://www.petcha.com/lighting-solutions-for-your-reef-tank/

This one is fairly advanced and has links to lead even most experienced reefer down the lighting rabbit hole of love.
https://reefs.com/lighting/
Sanjay is the man.

DesertReefT4r · Dec 10, 2018

brettdis said:
I'm new to salt water. Right now we use the light that came with our tank. I have spent hours online reading about proper lighting. The end goal is to have a few fish and some corals. Right now we have 2 damsels 5 snails and 1 mushroom. Is there a salt water lighting for dummies? I don't understand what it is I need. I don't want to go to my local fish store and buy whatever they hand me for lighting. I want to understand why I need a specific light. I recently read about people using philips hue smart lights but some say they look pretty but aren't the proper light spectrum for corals. I just can't seem to find anything to explain why corals need a specific spectrum or exactly what that spectrum is in words I can understand and compare to what the hue lights offer. I want to learn not just be told buy this. I have read threw most of the posts in here and I think I kinda understand some of it but it turns out no its like a foreign language to me.

What size tank do you have, LxWxH and gallons. What typewmof corals do you want to keep? What is the brand and watts of your light you have now? For new reefers I would recommend a simple plug and play light like a T5 or MH. There is a lot to learn about corals and their need for light without adding in the super techincal area of LED lights. Start simple and learn the basics first before your get into LED reef lights.