Frag Tank Advice

[Elricsfate]

I have 8-10 very small frags. I originally put them in my 180 along with all of my fish, but I quickly decided that it would be better for me to separate them, being new to all of this.

So I now have my corals in a 20L, where I can more easily (and economically) make chemical adjustments.

For the most part I have leathers, mushrooms, and star polyps. However, my wife impulsively purchased a sea fan, a gorgonian, and a zoa. (I know....)

My question, to start with, regards light. Being in a 20 the lighting is less costly. I have decent LED light over the tank atm. What I want to know in this regard is:

1) Blue light only? Or light the whole thing up? Being there are only corals.

2) Leave it on 24/7? Or cycle the same as I would any other tank?

Thanks.

 

[nereefpat]

I've never owned a frag tank, but...

1. I would run heavy on the blues, but also run a small percentage on the other channels as well to hit all the pigments used for photosynthesis. Careful not to burn any corals with those LEDs. A 20 long is a pretty short tank, so start with low percentage.

2. I would run lights for 8-10 hours. I believe corals can use the down time, and it will minimize algae. It will also be cheaper, and I believe corals can only use so much light in a day anyway.

 

[Elricsfate]

Unfortunately the light I currently have has 3 positions. Off/Blue/White and Blue. And it is not dimmable. However, I do have such a light, and after I get a few replies I may go ahead and install it over the tank. Though that might be a little tricky given where it is sitting...

 

[anthonys51]

you need to check the light, but the difference in blue and white might actually just be for show. read what the kelvin is for the bulbs, if the kelvin is the same or close then it doesnt matter witch one you pick. also corals dont want 24 hour light, i would say from 8-12 is what most people run.

 

[scooter31707]

If I am not mistaken, you can get some screen mesh to help acclimate the corals to the light.

 

[Elricsfate]

If I am not mistaken, you can get some screen mesh to help acclimate the corals to the light.

I don't think it's super bright, and I have it mounted about 8 inches above the tank. I was mainly just curious if there was any reason to run the white lights at all, since there is nothing but coral in the tank and they are in there to gow out some before going into my 180. So, if all they actually need is the blue light, then I'd just run the blue light.

The light is LED btw.