Lighting My First Tank

[TMF89]

Hi guys, I'm gonna be pretty familiar around here in the coming weeks. I have a 55 gallon tank I've decided to convert to saltwater, and I'm pretty much starting from scratch, save the tank and stand. My first question is on lighting. I was at the local Petsmart and saw this

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3060839

My question is is that high enough quality to buy, or should I just go with a regular cheaper flouresant? I'm doing a fish-only now, and I wasn't even thinking about reefs until I saw that for that cheap, only $25 more than a regular light. Would that light give me the option to add some reef stuff later, or is that light a cheap version that's not worth it? Thanks guys!

 

[jet fixer]

that light would be fine for a fish only tank. If you want to go reef I would suggest this:
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticLife_T5_HO_4_Lamp_Light_Fixtures_w_Lunar_LEDs_24_Inch_T5_Fluorescent_Light_Fixtures-AquaticLife-AK01035-FILTFIT54U-vi.html

I have the six bulb version on a 75 and quite like it. Any four bulb T5 fixture would work for your tank. With corals you need to think front to back lighting as well as depth.

Before you start you might want to get this:
http://www.glass-holes.com/700-gph-Overflow-complete-kit-gh700kit.htm

Starting with a sump makes things smoother down the road. start it out right the first time. that way you don't have to re-buy stuff or "make the crap I have work". It is better to hold off setting up a tank to collect equipment as you can afford it rather than setting one up with what you can afford at the moment.

 

[TMF89]

So that single light wouldn't be enough to host any hardy corals or anything? Thanks.

Also, that overflow system, what exactly is it for?

 

[jet fixer]

With corals you need to think front to back lighting as well as depth.

A single bulb will not put out enough light for corals.

The overflow is to make plumbing in a sump easier. that way all you equipment can go into the sump and not hang off the back of the tank.

Here are some articles that can explain it better than I can
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1696795

 

[TMF89]

Makes sense about the lights, sorry, had to think about it for a second. So an overflow is just for all the plumbing to/from the sump to sit in? Thanks for bearing with my newbie mind, lol.

I found this, from what I'm gathering it's a PC system with four lights (two tubes per light?) at 65 watts, so a total of 280 watts output? That should be enough for most corals right? Again thanks for your time!

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/for/1767098185.html


Edit: I emailed him asking, and he emailed me back. I copied/pasted the relevant information.

"this light is awsome for reefs all the lights are 22or 21 inchers two are actinic and two are 10000k there is a burnt out 10000k bulb in the light and i broke the actinic bulb"

So it sounds like I have one working 10,000K and one working actinic. I'll do some research on both types of lighting, I know a little about kelvins, but not much. And I'm not sure why he referenced one by the kelvins and one just as actinic? Thanks guys!

 

[jet fixer]

It sounds like he didn't take very good care of the light I would pass. If its in good condition it would work with soft corals, marginal at best for LPS, and a no go for SPS.

 

[TMF89]

Stupid question but what are LPS and SPS? Also is a refugium the same as a sump? I've been looking at them online and haven't been able to find any.

 

[davidtsx]

Here you go.

What is a refugium, and what does it do?

* A refugium is a sepreate tank, connected to your aquarium system, that acts as a refuge for nitrate reducing macro-algae and provides a place for tiny invertebrates such as copepods and amphipods to grow.
* Excess macro-algae that grows in a refugium can be used as a natural food source for tangs, and other herbivores in your display aquarium.
* Tiny invertebrates such as copepods and amphipods will flourish in a refugium since there are no fish to eat them.
- Many will eventually make their way into the display aquarium where the will act as a natural food source for many of the fish in your display aquarium.
* Many hard to keep fish, such as the Green Mandarinfish, will thrive in aquarium systems that include a refugium.
- They will feed off of the copepods and amphipods that make their way from the refugium to the aquarium. See Refugiums. http://www.vividaquariums.com/troubleshooting.asp#6e


LPS http://janetsreef.com
/LPS_Corals.htm

SPS http://www.janetsreef.com/SPS_Corals.htm

 

[Brian-1977]

I would do as much research and reading as you can before jumping in, I am still in the research phase and reading everything I can before ever starting, I am in the planning stage and am taking it very slow for my first tank I wanna do it right.

 

[TMF89]

Sorry guys, I hate people who ask easy to find the answer to questions, and after I asked I found out pretty much all of the info, lol. Sorry again.

So a refuge is part of a sump, not another name for it. And wet/dry filters are just sump systems with a trickle filter in it?

Also, in reference to my first post, if I could find two of those two bulb fixtures for that price, wouldn't it make sense to just get two T5X2 fixtures, instead of one T5X4, when the X2s would be cheaper? Thanks for puttin up with me guys!