Again lighting

[HPD Turbo]

I am sorry but I am still confuse.
As I have read PC lighting can be used for SPS, LPS and clams. But not sure if this is correct.

The main thing is that I have 2 PC 96w 10,000k each, and 2 PC 96w actinik each. One T8 30w actinic, one T8 30w 10,000k.

The tank is 20" deep and 48" long. What do you think on keeping SPS, LPS and clams.
I have not purschase any coral yet until I figure this out.

Thanks.

 

[jthao]

i'm not sure if you would want to keep sps and clams under pc light. I've always used halides for sps and clams. and I don't know anyone who would recommend raising sps under pc lights.

 

[HPD Turbo]

Ok, thanks.
Any other have experience on this?.

 

[cdangel0]

I have tried keeping SPS under PC lights - no success.

At the very least I would reccomend some good T5s - I recently upgraded and have been successful with SPS, LPS, and a new clam - can not claim success on this yet though as it is still new.

PC will not allow you the pretty colors you're looking for, no growth, and a slow die-off.

 

[JPagliai]

You can keep SPS using 96W PC's, but you must place them near the top of the tank. I ran my tank with the same setup you just mentioned for about 4 years and had good success with the few SPS corals I had in the tank. I had a yellow turbinia, bird's nest, and purple tip acros all with great color. Just be diligent with the additives and keep them in the top half of the tank.

I also kept some LPS corals, like Candy Cane, Bubble Coral, Pagoda Cup, and Frogspawn and they grew like weeds. I wouldn't recommend a clam for that setup, however. Clams like being at the bottom of the tank in the substrate and the PC lights start to lose light spectrum the further they pass through the water. I tried a couple of Brown Squamosa's as I was told they didn't have the intense lighting requirement, but they just didn't thrive in that tank. Good luck!

 

[HPD Turbo]

Thanks a lot for all the sugestions

 

[HPD Turbo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10165943#post10165943 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JPagliai
You can keep SPS using 96W PC's, but you must place them near the top of the tank. I ran my tank with the same setup you just mentioned for about 4 years and had good success with the few SPS corals I had in the tank. I had a yellow turbinia, bird's nest, and purple tip acros all with great color. Just be diligent with the additives and keep them in the top half of the tank.

I also kept some LPS corals, like Candy Cane, Bubble Coral, Pagoda Cup, and Frogspawn and they grew like weeds. I wouldn't recommend a clam for that setup, however. Clams like being at the bottom of the tank in the substrate and the PC lights start to lose light spectrum the further they pass through the water. I tried a couple of Brown Squamosa's as I was told they didn't have the intense lighting requirement, but they just didn't thrive in that tank. Good luck!

BTW how told is your tank?

 

[JPagliai]

I've had a reef tank for 7 years. I switched to a halide system about 2 years ago because I liked the way the halide light seemed to dance on the water. It is the better lighting for a reef tank, hands down, but you can have success with PC's on a shallow tank. The corals grow a little slower and the polyps don't extend quite as much. But as long as you keep changing the bulbs on schedule and keep the additives strong, the coral will be healthy and colorful.