Small prop tank?

[aerie]

Hi! Having read your book a few times,some chapters more than others, I have decided to put together a small propagation setup. What I am thinking is something like one(or more as need arise) tank,size 60x40x30cm with four 18W VHO above(2x6500K,1x11.000K,1xactinic). My question is,to which depth will this light count as bright/moderate? My main focus will be SPS on shelfs,will this be sufficient for my pink pocillopora to grow and keep its color? Or might it even be to bright for keeping soft corals/buttons on the bottom?

BTW,just wanted to say I love your book! Can't wait for nr.2,any tip on when it can be expected?

 

[Anthony Calfo]

Cheers my distant friend

Its a pleasure to hear from you and of your efforts.

The lighting you have will be easily sufficient for growing SPS corals in the top 15-20 cm of water from the surface. I'm sure there are some tolerant SPS corals that will even fare well near the bottom of this shallow tank (like some Montipora species).

With any reasonable lighting scheme in place (corals are highly adaptable to light variances), the real key to success and good growth is to have optimal water flow: most aquarists do not have enough water flow or enough of the right kind. Too often we use powerheads providing unnatural laminar flow for corals that need surge or random turbulent water movement. Be sure to address this issue with a very good convergence of nozzles.

As for the new books I believe I can release NMA v 2 (Reef Fises) at the end of this year, and hope to finish BOCP v 2 as early as possible next year.

with kind regards,

Anthony

 

[aerie]

Thanks for the fast reply!

Having ordered two Tunze Streamers with a total of 12000L/h for my main 325L tank, I will have some powerheads left over for the propagation so I think I can make something out of it,thanks for the reminder

I am working on a idea on a very compact propagation setup(being a student with little room or money,but free electricity ),if I ever manage to CAD it when I'm done planning, I will post it here so you can have a look at it.