minimum lighting required for "the package"

[gumbyri]

I received a 26 gallon bowed aquarium as a father's day gift and would like to try my luck with saltwater.

After reading posts on this web-site, it sounds as if both the filter and light/hood/bulb that came with this Petco package are not ideal for saltwater.

I do have a few specific lighting questions.

The bulb that came with the hood is 15w and measures 17". If I continue to use this bulb, and get "the package", will any corals I get on the live rock die?

Are their bulbs that would fit in my existing hood and improve my lighting?

I've also been confused by the many mentionings of "ballasts". Is this the same as the battery shaped "starter" that is also under the hood? Is this also something that I should consider upgrading?

I don't think adding a 2nd light to the top of the aquarium is an option....there is no open room on top of the hood.

thanks in advance for any help I receive

 

[docklink]

For the initial cycle, the light that you have will probably be ok. A low intensity light will help keep alge growth down. In the long run, you will want a brighter light source. Something in the neighborhood of 75 to 100 watts unless your intent is to add bright light demanding corals (sps corals) requiring 150 to 200w.
It sounds like the light you have is a flourescent bulb. Yes, it is driven by a ballast. The ballast that is in your hood would be good only for a bulb of 15 watts and is also dependent on the type of flourescent bulb it is driving (power compact, standard output, high output, very high output, etc.)
Changing the light would require changing out the ballast and possibly the clamps that hold the light. Easier would probably be to replace the hood completely with a prebuilt fixture that would fit the demensions of your tank. Check out some of the vendors in the sponsor listings to get an idea of what is available. And, give some thought to how you would like to develope your tank (the things you want to keep). It is easier and less expensive in the long run to get what you will use at the start than to continually upgrade over time, IMO. HTH

 

[tperk9784]

HI gumbyri,

I am new to Saltwater as well I only have a 10 gallon reef tank and I have not even ordered my TBS package for my 75 gallon as I plan to do in a few months. But I have read and searched these forums for all the information I can.

the Light that comes standard on Fish tanks purchased at a petstore are not suffecient for saltwater aquaria such as the corals and softies that will come on your TBS rock. Some would argue that they are not good even for a fish only tank.

A ballast is different from the starter you are correct. And no there are no bulbs that will work with your existing equipment. I think if you wish to use the urrent hood you will need to look into the purchase of a good retro-fit lighting kit that are available at many online vendors. The retro-fit kit will include new equipment to replace your existing ballast and starter.

I would also suggest using the search feature of these forums for there is more information contained here that I would have once belived. The people here aside from the occasional smartass are more than willing to give you as much help and knowledge as they can.


Tim

 

[hdtran]

Hi, Gumbyri,

I know that Richard says that the gulf water is murky and plain-old-fluorescents are OK, but I think your tank looks better with brighter lighting. I'd say a minimum 25-30W fixture for a 26g tank, if not even 40-50W, even if you don't intend to keep photosynthetic corals, just to make your fish look brighter. I had a 20W 50/50 bulb in a 29g FOwLR, and it just did not look very good. Ditto Tim's advice re: retrofitting a fixture into your existing hood. You can get CF (compact fluorescent) fixtures that either lay on top of your tank glass, or screw into the hood wood.

Minimum filtration is "throw away the Petco filter and buy a good protein skimmer + 2 powerheads for water circulation." I won't get into the protein skimmer discussions

Best of luck!

 

[gumbyri]

thanks to all for their replies

I've returned the TetraTec to PetCoand exchanged it for the AquaClear 50 powerhead and the "Guardian" 200w heater

The clerk at PetCo said their best protein skimmer was the SeaClone 100 for $110 so I picked that up as well.

I've given up on a light fitting my all-glass hood, now I'm looking for a PC light and fixture combo that will fit my aquarium top.

 

[hdtran]

Coralife makes a number of PC fixtures that lay across the top of an aquarium top (depending on the width of the aquarium & crossbars...). They're called "Aqualights", I think, and have various widths (from 9" to 48"). I have one of their 20" wide lights on top of my HOB refugium; 28W 50/50. Bought it from innovativelights.com for around $40; I'm happy with it.

Do a search on "seaclone"

 

[gumbyri]

the 24" "orbit looked pretty nice
I saw it for $158

 

[ghostbear29]

bro, take the "hood" off the tank and throw it out. no need for it in a reef setup. everybody here has told me to and I am alot happier for it. better gas exchange. as for the lighting, i am going with a corallife 96w quad 50/50 set up. that should do the trick and it only cost me 88 bucks.