Lighting
- Thread starter herpchat
- Start date
VCoo71
Active member
the watts per gallon rule is not a very good rule to use IMO
if thats the case then 50 watts on a ten gallon is sufficient?
its more about the par values.....but for an anemone i would highly suggest metal halides.....T-5s may be alright but i havent really looked much into T-5's and anemones
charlie
if thats the case then 50 watts on a ten gallon is sufficient?
its more about the par values.....but for an anemone i would highly suggest metal halides.....T-5s may be alright but i havent really looked much into T-5's and anemones
charlie
herpchat
New member
Well I got the part about 65K bulbs and on tanks they look great. 5 Watts per gallon would sure get the algae growing but on FW tanks the rule is 3 watts per gallon for high light plants.
What about Caulerpa, what does it need, my regular light seem to be fine for it. This is all new to me and more I get in the more addictive it becomes.
So for a 55 that would be 275 watts which is more then I have on each fish rack. That is a lot of light. The 55 will have a 10 gal fuge hooked to it, can the macros of the fuge handle that much light?
What about Caulerpa, what does it need, my regular light seem to be fine for it. This is all new to me and more I get in the more addictive it becomes.
So for a 55 that would be 275 watts which is more then I have on each fish rack. That is a lot of light. The 55 will have a 10 gal fuge hooked to it, can the macros of the fuge handle that much light?
the main thing is to decide what you want to grow. In this hobby one size does not fit all.
Its better to work toward a goal than nake it up as you go along. Once you know what you want to grow, its an easy step from there.
For soft corals, PCs and VHOs, maybe t5
stoney corals, T5s and MH.
Then you need to decide wattage, which is based on tank depth
then color, based on personal choice.
AS for caulerpa, it will grow with any bulb. Do you want caulerpa in they main tank, I aask because it will kill soft corals if growing near them.
Paul.
Its better to work toward a goal than nake it up as you go along. Once you know what you want to grow, its an easy step from there.
For soft corals, PCs and VHOs, maybe t5
stoney corals, T5s and MH.
Then you need to decide wattage, which is based on tank depth
then color, based on personal choice.
AS for caulerpa, it will grow with any bulb. Do you want caulerpa in they main tank, I aask because it will kill soft corals if growing near them.
Paul.
herpchat
New member
Well I love Caulerpa trifaria, to me its a cool plant. Your reply was what I needed to know, now I have to look the stuff up. So it sounds like T5 covers both.
And since I have no idea what corals I would like to try I have no clue. I would start with easy stuff and build from there, only way to go. So what are some good introductory corals?
And since I have no idea what corals I would like to try I have no clue. I would start with easy stuff and build from there, only way to go. So what are some good introductory corals?
captbunzo
Premium Member
The best advice on an anemone is to hold off for a while. Also, for something (somewhat at least) more delicate, like an anemone, I would recommend that engineering the system for better water quality is important. It should also be advised that many experts will complain loudly against mixing anemone and coral in the same tank. But most of us do it anyhow. 
(I do...)
And the standard, relatively tame, starter anemone is a Bubble Tip Anemone (BTA - Entacmea quadricolor).
I personally think a neat idea would be to dedicate the 29g tank to a nice pair of clownfish and a BTA. And then make the 55g tank a standard garden reef (i.e. a broad mix of corals). I'd stick with Softies & LPS for now, and then work into SPS after you have things figured out a bit.
As for lighting, I am a big proponent of T5 HO lighting. The subject can be a little complicated though (when it comes to ballast & reflector & bulb choices, etc), so please ask questions here. There are some folks that can give some great input. If I had posted before I purchased, I would have ended up with better reflectors (IceCap instead of Sunlight Supply).
However, VHO & PC are great as well. What you might do is see if someone in the club has a decent, used fixture you can give a try. You can always upgrade later, as desired.
Welcome to the forum and good luck on your tank plans!
(I do...)And the standard, relatively tame, starter anemone is a Bubble Tip Anemone (BTA - Entacmea quadricolor).
I personally think a neat idea would be to dedicate the 29g tank to a nice pair of clownfish and a BTA. And then make the 55g tank a standard garden reef (i.e. a broad mix of corals). I'd stick with Softies & LPS for now, and then work into SPS after you have things figured out a bit.
As for lighting, I am a big proponent of T5 HO lighting. The subject can be a little complicated though (when it comes to ballast & reflector & bulb choices, etc), so please ask questions here. There are some folks that can give some great input. If I had posted before I purchased, I would have ended up with better reflectors (IceCap instead of Sunlight Supply).
However, VHO & PC are great as well. What you might do is see if someone in the club has a decent, used fixture you can give a try. You can always upgrade later, as desired.
Welcome to the forum and good luck on your tank plans!
