Pc Lighting

[zenj92]

So Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve been reading that pc lights arenââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t the best but thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s what I have for now.
Running 2-65w actinic, 2-65w 10k and 2-96w 10k total of 452w on a 75g tank.
Can I keep any saps high in the tank? Will they survive or is pc light not going to
Cut it. Or will they live and not show good growth and color.

 

[bjonesjr1]

I have a 2x96 watts CustomSeaLife moon light fixture and it does my tank just fine, I mighyt upgrade in the near future but I'm happy with what I have and it does great in my tank...

 

[MrChico]

they work but replacing them every 9 mon. at about $25-30 each can get very expensive.

 

[PiNaPLeX]

zenj,

Keeping SPS depends on water conditions and flow as much as it does on light. with that said, if you believe you have enough flow and good enough water conditions, just try getting a cheap sps frag and try it out?

I've heard of people keeping a few SPS under PC lights before.

 

[zenj92]

Yes it's just fine for me to. but will sps make it under pc.

 

[zenj92]

ok that is an option of getting a cheap sps i was not wanting to
waste a coral for practice. I just haven't read that many people with pc and sps before. Witch should be my first clue??

 

[Mrs.kbmdale]

A lot of people with pc lighting have great coloration and growth with the less light hungry species of sps. And as long as they're kept above mid-tank. As said earlier, water quality and flow is just as important as lighting. You won't get away with keeping Acropora or the other extreme light needy species, which hopefully someone else can name some off for you.

My avatar is a pink birdsnest, we had it under 3x96wPC in a 30g Long. The lights were maybe 3in above the waters surface and the birdsnest was only an inch or 2 under the waters surface. It was almost completely bleached when we got it, after having it less than 2 months we upgraded our lighting to 3x95w VHO. My avatar pic was taken less than 3 days after the light upgrade.

You should be able to keep some Montipora Capricornus though. And you should be able to get a frag from 10-20 bucks from a local reefer. Have you checked out your local reef club yet? If not, check here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&forumid=50
I'm pretty sure that one is closer to you than the Central Coast of CA Reefkeepers.

Good Luck,
Brianna:rollface:

 

[Mrs.kbmdale]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6970796#post6970796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zenj92
I just haven't read that many people with pc and sps before. Witch should be my first clue??

Lack of polyp extension, bleaching, sloughing of the flesh, over all unhealthy look...

Brianna

 

[zenj92]

Mrs.kbmdale- thanks for your input. and that is an awesome coral
love that color.

 

[tanker]

There are some SPS that are LOWER light, and they can handle PC. I have PC and my Caps and staghorn corals are doing OK. I even have two birds-nest corals and they are growing. I would not try and grow acro though.

 

[Mrs.kbmdale]

Also, with caps you'll want to make sure you don't have any serious swings in temps or that your temps don't go above 82 max for more than a day. At least, That is my personal experience. When we upgraded from the 30 to a 75, we had some issues with our temps the first 3 days. It wiped out my mint green and neon green caps. The mint green one bleached and the neon green one sloughed all its tissue off. So keep an eye on that unless you already have it stable

Oh and was gonna ask, what part of San Diego do you live in? I have lots of family there.

We were told we could keep a staghorn under our pc lighting (when we had it), but I haven't tried one yet. Am looking for a blue one, though.

Good Luck,
Brianna

 

[zenj92]

So no acropora is the word not without MH bye the way I have
just not to using because of the heat would need to use
the chiller.Too much electric for my house.Needs to be wired first.

 

[zenj92]

Mrs kbmdale- north county (escondido) my temp is on the mark at
79.8 day and 78.5 night. no fans or other cooling aids.

 

[Mrs.kbmdale]

I've got family in El Cajon, Santee and Lakeside. Sorry to say I don't miss anythng except my family and weekend beach trips to La Jolla. Definitly dont miss the cost of living!:eek2:

I wish I didn't have to use any fans, but with these VHO's it seems inevetable.

Anyway, Good Luck
Brianna:rollface:

 

[zenj92]

I don't miss it. hits me in the face every month.
Thats why i don't want to use MH plus i need to run a power line
to the tank some day.

 

[JENnKerry]

We also use PCs on all our tanks (20,55 & 125) and have some SPS in our 125, which include a blue rimmed monti cap and a birds nest. I've gotten just as much growth and coloration out of my PCs as some of my friends with MH. I'm perfectly happy with them (PCs) and I never have any intention of replacing them

 

[bill37]

I have 520 watts PC lighting on my tank. I have two milliporas that are growing great and a Crocea (up high) that is doing well too. The cost of the bulbs are a little costly.

 

[bill37]

On a side note , I too grew up in San Diego. La Mesa to be exact.

 

[zenj92]

this is good to hear.I was hoping to get some good responses.
every LFS try's to sell you MH if you want sps.

 

[JENnKerry]

Bottom line is that you do not have to have MH to have a nice reef tank, just if you want some higher light nice SPS.