can I have corals in my tank?

[cajundolphin]

Hi, I am new to this and am wanting to keep some simple corals in my tank. I just want maybe some polyps and shrooms to add decor and kinda start me out learning. I have 2 damsels and a percula clown now. My tank set up is: 55gal, penn-plax cascade 700 canister filter, maxi-jet 1200, super skimmer w/ needle wheel, regular light hood w/ reef sun 50/50 457mm T-8 15w bulbs. On the box that my bulbs came in it says 6500k trichromatic daylight phosphor and actinic 420 phosphor in same lamp. It also says ideal for reef aquariums, african cichilids and discus fish. I know my bulbs seem low wattage but box and lfs says they will work for polyps and shrooms. My question is....will they? And are my filters and setup okay for them too? Oh and I used crushed coral for bottom and have 55lbs live rock. My tank has been up for a couple of months.

 

[seastar12]

I definately think you should to try to upgrade your lighting system. Oh, and how are the 2 damsels doing together?

 

[Reefjunkee]

Your lights should be fine for mushrooms and polyps.I have mushrooms and button polyps that thrive in shaded areas of my tank that are very low light.

 

[Adam G]

Sounds like a nice set up you have there. You will need more light to keep shrooms alive. Think about investing in a couple hundred watts of light and you will be ready to add corals.

 

[cajundolphin]

OK, so if I get different bulbs...what do u reccomend and can I just get new bulbs with more wattage for my lighting system that came with my tank or do I have to get completely new system? my damsels have fine so far but I have been reading that they will eventually get aggressive so I guess I need to get rid of them soon.

 

[Noah_Count]

Here's a place to get lighting stuff at a good price if you don't mind going the DIY route http://ahsupply.com/index.html It's relatively easy to build your own and I'm suprised I don't see this site recommended more often. No affiliation here, I'm just a satisfied customer because it's saved me money.

 

[cajundolphin]

thank u but I really dont think I can build ANYTHING myself...lol. I am not very good at that kind of thing. Can I just put those bulbs in my fixtures I have now? What wattage do I need?

 

[Noah_Count]

No, you can't just put the bulbs in the hood you have, if that's what you are asking. The power compacts require a ballast designed for them. Some people do what's called retrofit the ballast, bulbs and all in an existing hood but to me it's just easier to build from the ground up.

 

[clockwurk]

I really think you need more light. Do you only have one bulb? 15 watts total? Thats very little light especially for a 55 gal. The general sure is 3 watts per gallon, and that usually only works w/ soft corals.

You might be able to get away with getting some mushrooms and some polyps, but keep in mind, the majority of coral is photosynthetic, which means they rely most on light for food, so you are taking a risk.

BTW, no matter how tempted you are, do not buy an anemone. They seem like a good idea for your clowns, but they require TONS of light.

As far as buying a new bulb, I dont think this will work because they usually have wattage requirements. I think you might have to get a new lighting system, specifically for saltwater/reef if you want to power that much light.

Sorry. Hope I didnt bum you out

 

[luke33]

Lights

Lights

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10823392#post10823392 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Noah_Count
Here's a place to get lighting stuff at a good price if you don't mind going the DIY route http://ahsupply.com/index.html It's relatively easy to build your own and I'm suprised I don't see this site recommended more often. No affiliation here, I'm just a satisfied customer because it's saved me money.

All these lights are complete junk imo. They will keep shrooms and lower light's at best. What's your budget?

 

[cajundolphin]

I have 2 strips of 15 watt bulbs and I do only want to have polyps and shrooms for at least the next year until I learn alot more about this hobby. But if I need to I will buy a whole new fixture. I just was hoping I didnt have to right now. At least until I can get more experience in all of this.

 

[luke33]

Lights

Lights

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10823566#post10823566 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clockwurk
I really think you need more light. Do you only have one bulb? 15 watts total? Thats very little light especially for a 55 gal. The general sure is 3 watts per gallon, and that usually only works w/ soft corals.

You might be able to get away with getting some mushrooms and some polyps, but keep in mind, the majority of coral is photosynthetic, which means they rely most on light for food, so you are taking a risk.

BTW, no matter how tempted you are, do not buy an anemone. They seem like a good idea for your clowns, but they require TONS of light.

As far as buying a new bulb, I dont think this will work because they usually have wattage requirements. I think you might have to get a new lighting system, specifically for saltwater/reef if you want to power that much light.

Sorry. Hope I didnt bum you out

Watts per gallon is complete junk, you cant base anything on that.

No way should you get an anemone, they do need more light....each anemone needs different amounts but you can't provide them right now.

Par is what you need to look at, not wattage.

 

[cajundolphin]

I dont know as far as budget. I could maybe spend a couple hundred on lights if I had to but I figure a whole new fixture is alot more than that. Ive heard they cost thousands for a good system and I am not willing to pay that at this point. I still need more experience before spending that much. I want to make sure I can even do this hobby good enough. I hear so many stories about how hard it is.

 

[cajundolphin]

What is Par?

 

[Noah_Count]

Re: Lights

Re: Lights

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10823617#post10823617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luke33
All these lights are complete junk imo. They will keep shrooms and lower light's at best. What's your budget?

Well they are not of the caliber of metal halides of course but for PC's they are a good value compared to Coralife and Orbit fixtures. Guess you just have to have a little electrical know how.

 

[luke33]

lol, welcome to the great sw hobby bud! lol, anyhow your a perfect candidate for t5's. You can keep anything anywhere you want with t5's. They are perfect for a 55g. Look at a .....dare i say it cuz i don't care for them a ton, tek light. A 4x54w fixture. believe me after this upgrade you will love the hobby. You don't need to spend thousands.....

Here's a good light for you that will allow you to keep anything anywhere.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...oduct_Code=SL-960035&Category_Code=SunlightT5

Here's a much better light that will get you better growth. Either will work.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...uct_Code=AT-TX54800&Category_Code=Aquactinics

 

[luke33]

Re: Re: Lights

Re: Re: Lights

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10823685#post10823685 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Noah_Count
Well they are not of the caliber of metal halides of course but for PC's they are a good value compared to Coralife and Orbit fixtures. Guess you just have to have a little electrical know how.

PC's are one if not the most outdated products in this hobby. If your starting out...don't "upgrade" to pc's.

 

[clockwurk]

Re: Lights

Re: Lights

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10823656#post10823656 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luke33
Watts per gallon is complete junk, you cant base anything on that.

No way should you get an anemone, they do need more light....each anemone needs different amounts but you can't provide them right now.

Par is what you need to look at, not wattage.

There are many rules that apply to lighting a tank, but unless youre going to explain them all, for standard tanks, and for someone new to the hobby, its not a bad guideline.

If Cajundolphin setup was 55 Gal, w/ 2x96 watts PC, and she wanted to keep mushrooms and other easy softies, most of us, with that information alone, would say yes, that it should be ok.

As far as Power Compacts being crap, if youre going to keep softies, for the money they work great. Cajundolphin is not trying to keep SPS and LPS. Although I am sure they would be great, theres no NEED for metal halides. Not everyone has the budget for halides, and not everyone needs them as well. Theres nothing wrong with working within a parameter.

 

[Nasty Wendy]

Where in Louisiana are you located?

 

[luke33]

PAR+Photosynthiticly Active Radiation....thats what your lookin for.

If you are looking at softies you will eventually move over to everything and want some growth with them as well. Don't settle for PC's, as they will KEEP some softies fine, but that's all they will do. For a 55g the t5's will be perfect. I'm not recomending halide's as some are saying???