And a ricordea i just won off of ebay...

[DallasNYC]

Thanks Cardgenius.

I have spent some time reading over at reefcentral, it seems everyone "brags" how thier T5s are soo bright, that thier shrooms and Ricordias are shrinking away. Is there much truth to that? Or is it a matter of proper light acclimation?

I have a used 175w MH set up, so I was considering using that with maybe 20K XM bulbs. ( I also have an icecap 660 VHO set up)

MH: Nice color, I already own most of what I need, but may heat up the tank too much, more electricity to run. Love the shimmer lights.

T5: Nice color, maybe too birght? less heat, less electricity to run, have to buy endcaps and reflectors. No shimmer lights.

Was hoping others on here would give me thier opinions, especailly the ones with alot of ricordias, as I'm sure the zoos will do well under either.

What T5 bulb combination would be recommended for a zoa+ric tank? 4 or 6 bulb?

Would (2)175w 20K XM be good as well? (maybe with supplimental flurecents as required)

I love the shimmer lines, I caught a few lines where people say they have recreated them with LEDs, but havent seen any real proof of that.

Thanks again for your opinion and everyone elses..

Dallas

 

[jonbar1]

Keep them shaded!!

I had two R. floridas shrink up from the MH, and only now that they are almost completely shaded are they starting to come back. I'm running a 70w Ushio 14k on a 12 gallon AquaPod and think it's time to switch to 20k and hope it has less PAR.

 

[TyreeUM]

I keep mine under 250 watt halides only about 14 inches from the bulbs-my growout at school is under 250's as well and those are even closer-florida rics can take a lot of light, you just need to make sure they are adjusted.

 

[TyreeUM]

infact yellow rics will loose their yellow unless they are under bright lights

 

[coralfarm123]

Love the yellows.

I agree that Florida Ricordea do best under high light. I have my pinks less than 12 inches directly below 150 watt halides and they love it. Just have to be careful acclimating them.

Here is a recent pic taken with flash under 14K phoenix.

 

[DallasNYC]

Thanks for everyones info.

It sounds like most people like the MHs. I will probally stick with my set up and play with the bulb colors.

Wow, those Pink and Blues look amazing. Ive seen good things written about the pheonix 14Ks. Too bad they only come in the double ended.

 

[TyreeUM]

i have mine under radium 20ks, they do really well. They will bleach QUICK if you dont acclimate them to the high light though, but once they are they grow like crazy

 

[TyreeUM]

oh sorry here is a picture of one of my broodstock systems at school-I just set this one up a few weeks ago. This is a picture from the School of Marine Science catalog, I will try to take some of my own this week and post them.

 

[jessiesgrrl]

Man, those pink and blues are amazing. Are they bleached, or are they really that pink???

Hey Matt, when do I get a pass to come see that in person? Huh? Huh???

LOL
Laurie

 

[MarvinsReef]

these are awesome...

 

[coralfarm123]

Thanks Marvin. Now I need to upgrade to an SLR so I can get some nice pics like yours.

jessiesgrrl- not bleached at all, and this is their true colors.
The one on the bottom had just finished digesting a meal so it is a little closed up.

TyreeUM-That is a pretty cool setup. Those rocks will be covered before you know it. Do you ever force split them or do you just let nature take its course?

 

[Azurel]

Those pink rics are hot......

 

[Azurel]

Hey TyreeUM.....Did you get my PM?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Those looks good enough to eat!

 

[TyreeUM]

yeah those rics on the rocks are just conditioning "brood stock" I do conduct research on them but I cut and grow hunrdreds of them on the side.

Azurel-I got your PM-you got one back.

Laurie-You got a PM-your finnex tank buddy will be here tomorrow, if your not ready for him let me know I will just hang out with him for a week or so.