K9s 20g Reef - Warning: Image Intense!

[K9]

Hey MCWarHammer, I responded about cutting the glass in your own thread about your tank . The tape was just sort of to help as a guide because my tank was already painted black so it was hard to see the circle I drew with my black Sharpie on the back. The green you see is because I taped a green plastic cup to the inside of the tank to catch debris and water.

 

[Dyceskynes]

K9 Are you running glass under your lights? I am going for the 3 lamp setup plus 1 or 2 PC as well and was wondering if you feel its required.

 

[K9]

K9 Are you running glass under your lights? I am going for the 3 lamp setup plus 1 or 2 PC as well and was wondering if you feel its required.

Nope, no glass. The bulbs are about 4-5" off the surface of the water and I have absolutely zero splashing anyways, so they stay dry. The only thing I do is clean the bulbs (when the ballast is unplugged ) once a week with a slightly damp cloth to remove any saltcreep that may have built up. I don't even remove the bulbs from the endcaps, I just lift the canopy and give 'em a quick wipe down.

If you don't mind me asking, why are you getting VHOs AND PCs?

 

[jcopp24]

K9 Are you running glass under your lights? I am going for the 3 lamp setup plus 1 or 2 PC as well and was wondering if you feel its required.

I am also running a three light setup and was wondering the same thing... and I am in a 20GL as well.
Also I was wondering if you could recomend a timer cycle for the three lights that I have 1 twin tube of 6700K and 10000K Day Light, 1 Twin tube of 420nm Actinic 03 and 460nm Actinic, and a 75 w PC 50/50.
If you could recomend a timer cycle for the three that would be great...

 

[K9]

I am also running a three light setup and was wondering the same thing... and I am in a 20GL as well.
Also I was wondering if you could recomend a timer cycle for the three lights that I have 1 twin tube of 6700K and 10000K Day Light, 1 Twin tube of 420nm Actinic 03 and 460nm Actinic, and a 75 w PC 50/50.
If you could recomend a timer cycle for the three that would be great...

For your answer about the glass, see my post just above yours .

About the light cycle, here's just a suggestion:

8am: actinics on
9am: actinics and daylights on
7pm: daylights off
8pm: actinics off
8pm - 8am: moonlights on (if you have them)

Hope this helps answer your question!

 

[pimp2daizzo]

If you rread up on lighting its better to have your 10k come on 1st...the
Actinic is the strogest light and the corals do not like having it on the longest..and at the sametime the 10k is better for them

 

[K9]

If you rread up on lighting its better to have your 10k come on 1st...the
Actinic is the strogest light and the corals do not like having it on the longest..and at the sametime the 10k is better for them

You may or may not be correct. I'm just going on experience. I've followed a light cycle similar to the one I posted for quite some time and have never come across any problems. To each his own though .

 

[jcopp24]

For your answer about the glass, see my post just above yours .

About the light cycle, here's just a suggestion:

8am: actinics on
9am: actinics and daylights on
7pm: daylights off
8pm: actinics off
8pm - 8am: moonlights on (if you have them)

Hope this helps answer your question!

When would I turn the PC's on? and Off?

 

[Dyceskynes]

Nope, no glass. The bulbs are about 4-5" off the surface of the water and I have absolutely zero splashing anyways, so they stay dry. The only thing I do is clean the bulbs (when the ballast is unplugged ) once a week with a slightly damp cloth to remove any saltcreep that may have built up. I don't even remove the bulbs from the endcaps, I just lift the canopy and give 'em a quick wipe down.

If you don't mind me asking, why are you getting VHOs AND PCs?

Honestly, because I have them . I may re-think the whole lighting issue. Still going back and forth between VHO and t-5s. Just too many options, may come down to price more than anything. How do you control when your lights turn off and on? I was planning on getting the IceCap ballast and it only has one plug so I am not sure how I can turn each one seperatly.

 

[KING OF THE REEF]

k9, did you see my post earlier? nice tank and corals, if you ever frag that first zoo in the first pic please let me knowi as i would like a piece

 

[K9]

Honestly, because I have them . I may re-think the whole lighting issue. Still going back and forth between VHO and t-5s. Just too many options, may come down to price more than anything. How do you control when your lights turn off and on? I was planning on getting the IceCap ballast and it only has one plug so I am not sure how I can turn each one seperatly.

Actually, I don't have my lights on a dawn/daylight/dusk cycle. They turn on at 12 noon and go off at around 10pm. My window faces east, so I get that nasty early morning sun in my room (despite vertical blinds) that helps "wake up" the tank. If I decide to get another VHO ballast and two more bulbs, I'll for sure have two actinics on a timer and two daylight bulbs on a timer.

 

[K9]

When would I turn the PC's on? and Off?

Well, since they're 50/50s, I suppose you could have them come on when your daylight bulbs come on. It wouldn't make much difference.

 

[K9]

k9, did you see my post earlier? nice tank and corals, if you ever frag that first zoo in the first pic please let me knowi as i would like a piece

Thanks for the compliments. Yeah, I saw your post. Actually, I have 3 colonies of those zoos growing right now. One has about 10 or 12 polyps, one has around 15-20, and the biggest one has over 25-30. PM me with something you'd be willing to trade for one of the two smaller colonies. I like the biggest colony . I'll trade for just about anything other than SPS. After my Cat's Paw frags heal and I sell/trade them, I most likely won't keep any more SPS in this tank. I'd like it to just be a softies/LPS mixed reef. Well, maybe a clam or two. Talk to you later.

 

[gibson981]

K9,

So, what is the final outcome on lighting equipment? I read where you bought the ballast and added the end cap option and added two bulbs. I think I got lost among all the replies to this popular thread. What are the two best bulbs you ended up with? I am thinking 1 actinic and 1 10000k. Am I correct? Also, I understand that you are running only 150 watts. Would that wattage work for me if I get a 54 gallon bowfront corner tank? I don't want it to be too yellow. Right now I only have a spaghetti leather, a pagoda cup coral, a flower pot, a feather duster, a false perc, a cleaner shrimp, a few emerald crabs, blue leg hermit crabs, and a few snails. I eventually want to add clams and SPS.

Gerald (gibson981)

 

[K9]

K9,

So, what is the final outcome on lighting equipment? I read where you bought the ballast and added the end cap option and added two bulbs. I think I got lost among all the replies to this popular thread. What are the two best bulbs you ended up with? I am thinking 1 actinic and 1 10000k. Am I correct? Also, I understand that you are running only 150 watts. Would that wattage work for me if I get a 54 gallon bowfront corner tank? I don't want it to be too yellow. Right now I only have a spaghetti leather, a pagoda cup coral, a flower pot, a feather duster, a false perc, a cleaner shrimp, a few emerald crabs, blue leg hermit crabs, and a few snails. I eventually want to add clams and SPS.

Gerald (gibson981)

Hey Gerald,

I have ended up with 150w of VHOs.....for now . I have one URI Super Actinic R bulb (highly recommend) and one Coralife 10000k bulb (also highly recommend). The color is just right for me. If you look at the latest few pictures I've taken for this thread, they are with the actinic and the 10000k bulb. I still have the old URI 50/50 bulb (12000k), but I'll keep it just as an emergency back-up I guess . As far as your 54g tank is concerned, I'd go with 4 of the 24" VHO bulbs if VHO is the way you wanted to go. VHOs aren't for everyone. This would give you 300w of light or 5.5 watts per gallon. In a 54g corner tank, you can definitely keep softies and LPS. Clams and SPS wouldn't be a good idea though unless they were within a foot or less of the surface. For your size tank, I'd go with a 10000k, 250w metal halide and two VHO URI super actinics. But that's just me. If you like the look of VHOs, then go for it! Best of luck with your system! :thumbsup:

 

[K9]

As a side note, for those of you who don't know by now, my name is Ted. If you want, you all can call me that instead of "K9". If you're really lazy and prefer to type two characters instead of three, then K9 is OK too :lmao:.

 

[KING OF THE REEF]

ted, i really dont have anything to trade, but will you accept cash, and maybe you would like to come to a club meeting (ill drop you a pm so we dont get in trouble)

 

[K9]

ted, i really dont have anything to trade, but will you accept cash, and maybe you would like to come to a club meeting (ill drop you a pm so we dont get in trouble)

Sure, sounds good to me. PM me and I'll let you know the price per polyp.

 

[pimp2daizzo]

Sounds good to me... i do the sameone but i'm going ot the other..my friend ryan who has been in to reef for sometime just told me and should me what he was talking about and i have to say his corals look better when he goes whit the 10k 1st

 

[jcopp24]

lights cammara action

lights cammara action

Okay I went with the actinic on first because overwhelmingly everyone says those on first.
My friend gave me a good size bubble coral, I brought it home and put it in the water and it was fine the first day/night.
The next morning the bubble is very very mad... all deflated and flat. Does the bubble have a preference of what kind of light it likes more... or where it should be in the current of water flow ect... please help it is pretty and I want it to be happy again.
p.s. I have no criters in the tank that would be pecking at it either.