• Questions about MG and light

  • Patricia1746

I read a lot of literature and forums (mainly Russian), but I still don't understand the following... Metal halide lamps. If they are not used in a marine aquarium, what marine creatures can I not add... to be more precise – who needs MH? I understood that they are only necessary for invertebrates... But what about live rocks? And what kind of light is desirable in a "marine" setup if I want to accommodate living creatures without MH?

Justin

For a small aquarium, an MH light is unnecessary. You will still be buying the simplest and most unpretentious animals, and in time, you will understand everything yourself. MH light is good, but is it really needed?

Stefanie9771

It is preferable to choose light (not in mg) by combining lamps with a spectrum of 6400K and above, and blue actinic lamps. Blue light is used in marine aquariums because seawater transmits the blue spectrum of light better, while red is absorbed by the water. Therefore, for natural lighting, actinic blue lamps are used, creating a resemblance to the depths of the sea.

Hannah

And yet 1. If they are not placed in a marine aquarium, which marine creatures can I not introduce... to be more precise – who needs MH? 2. What light is necessary for live rocks?

Jeremy

At first, I also wanted to manage without MG. But after thinking it over, I decided to splurge.

Sheila

Tridacna, most hard photosynthetic corals, and most anemones need MH light for normal life. However, in principle, it is possible to achieve the necessary lighting with fluorescent lamps if one sets the goal. With a lighting of about 2 watts/liter, it is possible to keep almost any living organism.

Robin

The spectrum of light from metal halide (MH) is closest to that of sunlight. There will be no need to fuss over lamp selection. You will only need to add "actinic" (if desired). The light from MH is amazing. You are, of course, aware of the temperature issue.

Patricia1746

If you try to create normal lighting without a momentary switch, you will spend the same amount of money and pay more for the electricity, although very few people set it up right away; I agree with Sasha on this, good luck.