55 Gallon equipment upgrade

terrymr · 02/18/2007, 02:23 AM

My employer was looking for a new home for a 55 gallon set up - so now it's in my living room :-)

The current lighting system is 2 normal output 36 inch flourescents mounted in the hood.

I'm looking at upgrade options - right now the tank has a couple of fish and a lot of mushrooms.

I'm concerned that if I throw a bunch of HO T5s in there then the mushrooms won't like it. But I'd like to keep a broader range of corals.

Secondly the return plumbing from the sump is kind of half baked - basically a pvc hose dumps the water back into the tank - I'd like to change this and stop the house flooding if the power goes out.

Advice ?

ratimpulse · 02/18/2007, 08:09 AM

As long as you acclimate the Mushrooms to the T-5 HO then you should be fine. I would suggest the T-5 HO lights. As of plumbing i cant be of help

ChemE · 02/18/2007, 08:58 AM

My blue mushrooms don't mind my T5HO setup. They are about 18" under the water (SSB in a 21" deep tank) and below 3 54watt T5's w/ IceCap reflectors. YMMV but at least this is one data point for you.

Bri Guy · 02/18/2007, 10:31 AM

To Reef Central

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...04+2035+113783

This is what i use for my return, two of them hooked up to a SQWD. Hang them over the tank with a full tank of water, right below the water line drill a small hole in this return (i did it on the back side right above the knob with the lock link adjustable head), that way when the power goes out, and the tank starts syphoning back into the sump, there will be a break in suction when the water level drops a little to that small hole you drilled in each of the returns. Thats one precaution you can take to not have a flood, but none are fool proof (2 snails at once could block those holes, so I drilled 2 small holes in each).

good luck!!!!!!!

terrymr · 02/19/2007, 12:53 AM

Thanks Bri Guy - That looks like the thing I was thinking I needed.

terrymr · 02/19/2007, 12:54 AM

On acclimating, do you recommend i run the lights for fewer hours per day, or add bulbs gradually over a number of days/weeks/months ?

McCrary · 02/19/2007, 01:00 AM

Just run the lights for a couple hours for the first couple days and gradually increase it. If the mushrooms are big and full looking then you know that they are happy, if they are withered and small then you know you have a problem.

02/18/2007, 02:23 AM	#1
terrymr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 24	55 Gallon equipment upgrade My employer was looking for a new home for a 55 gallon set up - so now it's in my living room :-) The current lighting system is 2 normal output 36 inch flourescents mounted in the hood. I'm looking at upgrade options - right now the tank has a couple of fish and a lot of mushrooms. I'm concerned that if I throw a bunch of HO T5s in there then the mushrooms won't like it. But I'd like to keep a broader range of corals. Secondly the return plumbing from the sump is kind of half baked - basically a pvc hose dumps the water back into the tank - I'd like to change this and stop the house flooding if the power goes out. Advice ?

02/18/2007, 08:09 AM	#2
ratimpulse Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Chadds Ford, PA Posts: 943	As long as you acclimate the Mushrooms to the T-5 HO then you should be fine. I would suggest the T-5 HO lights. As of plumbing i cant be of help __________________ RIP A+ FBM factory -Mushumatt-

02/18/2007, 08:58 AM	#3
ChemE Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Nashville, TN Posts: 1,607	My blue mushrooms don't mind my T5HO setup. They are about 18" under the water (SSB in a 21" deep tank) and below 3 54watt T5's w/ IceCap reflectors. YMMV but at least this is one data point for you. __________________ Holding it down on the engineering tip y'all Current Tank Info: 190G

02/18/2007, 10:31 AM	#4
Bri Guy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin Posts: 2,995	*To Reef Central* http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...04+2035+113783 This is what i use for my return, two of them hooked up to a SQWD. Hang them over the tank with a full tank of water, right below the water line drill a small hole in this return (i did it on the back side right above the knob with the lock link adjustable head), that way when the power goes out, and the tank starts syphoning back into the sump, there will be a break in suction when the water level drops a little to that small hole you drilled in each of the returns. Thats one precaution you can take to not have a flood, but none are fool proof (2 snails at once could block those holes, so I drilled 2 small holes in each). good luck!!!!!!! __________________ For my birthday i got a humidifier and a de-humidifier... I put them in the same room and let them fight it out. (Steven Wright) Current Tank Info: 40BR w/ 250w 14K Phoenix + 192w PC, 10g fuge w/ 55w PC, 10g sump, Eheim 1250 return w/ SCWD, ASM Mini G skimmer, Gravity fed ATO, Kalk doser, 1/10 HP chiller, 1 Vortec + 3MJs, all on an AC Jr. - Born on date 8-06 Pics in gallery! + 55g FOWLR w/ macro

02/19/2007, 01:00 AM	#7
McCrary Can't Stop Time Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,079	Just run the lights for a couple hours for the first couple days and gradually increase it. If the mushrooms are big and full looking then you know that they are happy, if they are withered and small then you know you have a problem. __________________ Matt Patience is the best remedy for every trouble. Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC), Rudens

02/19/2007, 12:53 AM	#5
terrymr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 24	Thanks Bri Guy - That looks like the thing I was thinking I needed.

02/19/2007, 12:54 AM	#6
terrymr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 24	On acclimating, do you recommend i run the lights for fewer hours per day, or add bulbs gradually over a number of days/weeks/months ?