24 in MH t5 question

[StatenAlan]

Need to change my question. posting a new thread.

 

[Mike389]

The metal halide should be more than enough light for most corals alone in a 30 gallon tank.. thats 5 watts per gallon

 

[StatenAlan]

yeah but im going to have morning, afternoon, night and then the moonlights.. And i keep my blue lights on all day somedays to give them a break from the MH because it isnt hanging from my ceiling yet, my fixture is way too close to the tank. And regardless i would not just use a MH. I appreciate the response though mike.

 

[Mike389]

understood... sounds like a good plan

 

[Coralreefer1]

The nice thing about lighting is that their are ways of either increasing or limiting the amount of light produced by halides. You can either lower certain corals that show signs of stress from too much light, usually in the form of bleaching or dispelling of zooxanthellae. The second thing you could do is to raise or lower the light fixture above your tank and even place a glass top over the light fixture as well to tone down the PAR and PUR to various corals.
Also, remember that light represents just one aspect in the overalll health and maintaining corals. Moreover, just because you may have a very strong lighting regimen doesn't necessarilly meant that this much light is being available to your corals below. Dissolved organics, turbidity and gelbstoff(tannins) all, will decrease the amount of available light to your livestock in your tank!
Hope this helps!