Halide lighting enough for what corals?

[regularblue]

Hello!!

My first post here, I am new to marines and though I have plenty experience with tropical fish over the years, I have millions of questions to ask about my new venture into marines.

I have done plenty of research, i just want to know peoples honest opinions, form experience.

So what corals do you think i can successfully keep/grow/have a thriving reef. with this lighting...

my lighting is a 4 foot, 2 x 150w 14,000k Metal Halide Lamps & 2 x T5 39w Marine Blue Actinic Fluorescent Tube.

I Have a 6 foot tank (length) Lights are 7inches from the water surface (on support legs) and the sand on the bottom of my tank is approximately 24 inches away from the halides,
the average rock being approx 17 inches away form the lights,
I know my lighting isnt the length of my tank but its all i could afford at this point in time, and I want most of the corals to be in the center anyway, with open space for fish to swim around more on the side.

Now i know that parameters and overall water quality has to be at its best to properly support a reef. But lets say for arguments sake, that I will to my best capability have all of these in check.

Thanks in advance people

 

[sirreal63]

Switch to 10k bulbs and the PAR increases. But you should be able to keep anything in the tank, sps may need to be higher up and you can use the T5's to supplement PAR as well. It is hard to give you any solid advice because I do not know what fixture you have, some are much better than others.

 

[regularblue]

I have an Arcadia unit.
Cheers for the quick respons!

 

[sirreal63]

The fixture looks just fine. I was not able to decipher if the ballast was electronic or magnetic, it will have an impact on performance.

 

[fishcraze_1]

You should be able to keep almost anything. Its all about placement.

 

[regularblue]

Im going to be honest, I dont know if it is electronic or magnetic :S

I sure hope i can keep almost anything

 

[regularblue]

From what i have just seen , it seems the halides run off a magnetic pulse ballast and the T5's are on electric. Though what would that mean performance wise ? :S

Thanks

 

[sirreal63]

I'll do some more digging and see what I can find. The biggest difference will be in the PAR produced. Electronic will certainly run the bulbs, but not at the correct level. With 150's you want to select the bulb carefully to get the PAR needed throughout the tank and it is more important if you have electronic ballasts under driving the bulbs. I don't think you will have any problems though, ideally you would want 3 bulbs to cover the 6' length but coral placement is what will matter.

 

[power boat jim]

I will add to the above posts with this...With 2 150s over a 6 foot tank the set up is not optimum, but as stated above you can keep just about anything. You could keep sps directly under the halides in the upper half of the tank. keep lower light corals lower and off to the sides. It could make for an interesting set up.

Having the 10k bulb will usually increase PAR but may make for a white or even sometimes yellow look. You could counter that with some blues and actinic in the T5s. You will have to decide on the look you want. Having a hybrid system makes it easier. you will just wind up spending a few extra bucks buying bulbs till you find what works.

A bit of general advice for you if you like, do everything slowly. Reef tanks are a marathon not a sprint. Research all fish and coral purchases here or where ever you feel comfortable taking advice. There are no stupid questions, no matter what some might say so ask whatever you like. AND
Welcome to reef central!!!!!!

 

[jdantunes]

<< Double post >>

 

[jdantunes]

Yeah, you might need a longer fixture but you can start growing your colonies now and then upgrade.

I got an Elos Aqua Planet fixture 2X150W MH + 4X39W T5 hanging 8" over a 75 Gallons standard tank. I have been amazed by the power of this fixture. Everything grows, I had to move most of my Zoanthids under ledges of rocks for them to open, otherwise they look all wrinkle or bleached. My pink finger leather is fluorescent yellow now and is on the sand. Everything is starting to look amazing!

Good luck with your build and remember always to :reading:... Happy reefing!

 

[regularblue]

Ok thanks everyone for all the advice so far!
Any more is always welcome!

I will do my research and be as patient as humanly possible, ha.