T8's

[yekim_4321]

Hi guys, can someone tell me the difference between a marine white 50watt T8 tube and an ordinary T8 50watt white tube? if any


Cheers

Mick

 

[EddieW]

Mick,

Generally marine white is a bluer white than a normal white tube.

From Arcadia's blurb:

In the natural tropical freshwater environment, the ideal light is generally closer to overcast daylight (7000K) than say from a marine reef environment (typically 10000K), where the main objective is to replicate light at a depth of 5 - 10 metres, where the water appears blue.

HTH, Eddie

 

[yekim_4321]

) So if i were to add blue tubes would that equilise the output then?

Sorry if this sounds a basic but i am just starting to get grips with lighting

Cheers


Mick

 

[EddieW]

Mick,

I take it you want to use the ordinary white with a marine setup to avoid having to buy a marine white? If I have got the right end of the stick then Yes, adding actinic blue will be benefical to the inhabitants.

In my two nano-reefs I have one Daylight White (7,100k) tube and one Moonlight Actinic (12,000K) tube and the balance seems to work OK. I might switch the daylight white to a 50/50 white/actinic when I replace the tubes, but I am not 100% sure yet.

A lot will depend on the colour temperature of the existing white tube. If it is a freshwater plant tube then the colour temperature and spectrum may be different to promote photosynthesis in plants.

Cheers, Eddie

 

[yekim_4321]

Thanks M8 thats exactly what i was planning, but was unsure if it would work, another question does adding more white tubes increase the light intensity or does it just give just the same but over more of the tank i.e one at front one at back?

cheers

Mick

 

[EddieW]

Adding more tubes increase the intensity. It also allows you to spread the light out more by positioning the tubes.

You might want to have a look at the 'Get Zoned' article in this months PFK magazine as this deals with the use of lighting gradients in a reef tank.

Cheers, Eddie

 

[yekim_4321]

Many thanks for your advice

Cheers

Mick