|
09/22/2007, 08:58 PM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: louisiana
Posts: 34
|
can I have corals in my tank?
Hi, I am new to this and am wanting to keep some simple corals in my tank. I just want maybe some polyps and shrooms to add decor and kinda start me out learning. I have 2 damsels and a percula clown now. My tank set up is: 55gal, penn-plax cascade 700 canister filter, maxi-jet 1200, super skimmer w/ needle wheel, regular light hood w/ reef sun 50/50 457mm T-8 15w bulbs. On the box that my bulbs came in it says 6500k trichromatic daylight phosphor and actinic 420 phosphor in same lamp. It also says ideal for reef aquariums, african cichilids and discus fish. I know my bulbs seem low wattage but box and lfs says they will work for polyps and shrooms. My question is....will they? And are my filters and setup okay for them too? Oh and I used crushed coral for bottom and have 55lbs live rock. My tank has been up for a couple of months.
|
09/22/2007, 09:16 PM | #2 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 245
|
I definately think you should to try to upgrade your lighting system. Oh, and how are the 2 damsels doing together?
|
09/22/2007, 09:21 PM | #3 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Evans,Georgia
Posts: 633
|
Your lights should be fine for mushrooms and polyps.I have mushrooms and button polyps that thrive in shaded areas of my tank that are very low light.
__________________
"It was only 20 dollars honey (yeah right)and when it grows bigger I can frag it sell it and triple my money!!!" Current Tank Info: 92 corner bow,160lb`s Figi,SPS,LPS and a few softies,EuroReef CS8-3 skimmer,MRC dual reactor,OM supersquirt on Iwaki MD30rlxt w/4 returns,2 Tunze 6055`s w/multicontroller,poseiden auto top off,aqualogic 1/3 chiller,blah,blah,blah,blah |
09/22/2007, 09:21 PM | #4 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 208
|
Sounds like a nice set up you have there. You will need more light to keep shrooms alive. Think about investing in a couple hundred watts of light and you will be ready to add corals.
__________________
If reefing was easy, everyone would be doing it! Current Tank Info: 150g Miracles Rimless, AI Hydra 52's, Tunzes, & tons of Anthias! |
09/22/2007, 09:31 PM | #5 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: louisiana
Posts: 34
|
OK, so if I get different bulbs...what do u reccomend and can I just get new bulbs with more wattage for my lighting system that came with my tank or do I have to get completely new system? my damsels have fine so far but I have been reading that they will eventually get aggressive so I guess I need to get rid of them soon.
|
09/22/2007, 09:40 PM | #6 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Eatonton Ga.
Posts: 66
|
Here's a place to get lighting stuff at a good price if you don't mind going the DIY route http://ahsupply.com/index.html It's relatively easy to build your own and I'm suprised I don't see this site recommended more often. No affiliation here, I'm just a satisfied customer because it's saved me money.
|
09/22/2007, 09:56 PM | #7 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: louisiana
Posts: 34
|
thank u but I really dont think I can build ANYTHING myself...lol. I am not very good at that kind of thing. Can I just put those bulbs in my fixtures I have now? What wattage do I need?
|
09/22/2007, 10:06 PM | #8 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Eatonton Ga.
Posts: 66
|
No, you can't just put the bulbs in the hood you have, if that's what you are asking. The power compacts require a ballast designed for them. Some people do what's called retrofit the ballast, bulbs and all in an existing hood but to me it's just easier to build from the ground up.
|
09/22/2007, 10:07 PM | #9 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ft Lauderdale
Posts: 887
|
I really think you need more light. Do you only have one bulb? 15 watts total? Thats very little light especially for a 55 gal. The general sure is 3 watts per gallon, and that usually only works w/ soft corals.
You might be able to get away with getting some mushrooms and some polyps, but keep in mind, the majority of coral is photosynthetic, which means they rely most on light for food, so you are taking a risk. BTW, no matter how tempted you are, do not buy an anemone. They seem like a good idea for your clowns, but they require TONS of light. As far as buying a new bulb, I dont think this will work because they usually have wattage requirements. I think you might have to get a new lighting system, specifically for saltwater/reef if you want to power that much light. Sorry. Hope I didnt bum you out
__________________
I tried modifying my avatar so that it would fit the size requirements for ReefCentral, but after frankensteining the the graphic, I ended up with a limping Venom. Current Tank Info: 34g Solana | AI SOL & 2x Panorama Pro LED |
09/22/2007, 10:15 PM | #10 | |
Moved On
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 8,375
|
Lights
Quote:
|
|
09/22/2007, 10:17 PM | #11 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: louisiana
Posts: 34
|
I have 2 strips of 15 watt bulbs and I do only want to have polyps and shrooms for at least the next year until I learn alot more about this hobby. But if I need to I will buy a whole new fixture. I just was hoping I didnt have to right now. At least until I can get more experience in all of this.
|
09/22/2007, 10:22 PM | #12 | |
Moved On
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 8,375
|
Lights
Quote:
No way should you get an anemone, they do need more light....each anemone needs different amounts but you can't provide them right now. Par is what you need to look at, not wattage. |
|
09/22/2007, 10:22 PM | #13 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: louisiana
Posts: 34
|
I dont know as far as budget. I could maybe spend a couple hundred on lights if I had to but I figure a whole new fixture is alot more than that. Ive heard they cost thousands for a good system and I am not willing to pay that at this point. I still need more experience before spending that much. I want to make sure I can even do this hobby good enough. I hear so many stories about how hard it is.
|
09/22/2007, 10:25 PM | #14 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: louisiana
Posts: 34
|
What is Par?
|
09/22/2007, 10:27 PM | #15 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Eatonton Ga.
Posts: 66
|
Re: Lights
Quote:
|
|
09/22/2007, 10:36 PM | #16 |
Moved On
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 8,375
|
lol, welcome to the great sw hobby bud! lol, anyhow your a perfect candidate for t5's. You can keep anything anywhere you want with t5's. They are perfect for a 55g. Look at a .....dare i say it cuz i don't care for them a ton, tek light. A 4x54w fixture. believe me after this upgrade you will love the hobby. You don't need to spend thousands.....
Here's a good light for you that will allow you to keep anything anywhere. http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=SunlightT5 Here's a much better light that will get you better growth. Either will work. http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...de=Aquactinics |
09/22/2007, 10:41 PM | #17 | |
Moved On
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 8,375
|
Re: Re: Lights
Quote:
|
|
09/22/2007, 10:47 PM | #18 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ft Lauderdale
Posts: 887
|
Re: Lights
Quote:
If Cajundolphin setup was 55 Gal, w/ 2x96 watts PC, and she wanted to keep mushrooms and other easy softies, most of us, with that information alone, would say yes, that it should be ok. As far as Power Compacts being crap, if youre going to keep softies, for the money they work great. Cajundolphin is not trying to keep SPS and LPS. Although I am sure they would be great, theres no NEED for metal halides. Not everyone has the budget for halides, and not everyone needs them as well. Theres nothing wrong with working within a parameter.
__________________
I tried modifying my avatar so that it would fit the size requirements for ReefCentral, but after frankensteining the the graphic, I ended up with a limping Venom. Current Tank Info: 34g Solana | AI SOL & 2x Panorama Pro LED |
|
09/22/2007, 10:50 PM | #19 |
Moved On
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 297
|
Where in Louisiana are you located?
|
09/22/2007, 10:56 PM | #20 |
Moved On
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 8,375
|
PAR+Photosynthiticly Active Radiation....thats what your lookin for.
If you are looking at softies you will eventually move over to everything and want some growth with them as well. Don't settle for PC's, as they will KEEP some softies fine, but that's all they will do. For a 55g the t5's will be perfect. I'm not recomending halide's as some are saying??? |
09/22/2007, 11:10 PM | #21 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Eatonton Ga.
Posts: 66
|
Re: Re: Re: Lights
Quote:
cajundolphin since you are not a DIY'er I would still suggest you look into some of the commercially availabe PC fixtures . You can keep softies and shrooms with them, I've done it in the past. As already stated, they are not for LPS and SPS but my impression was that you weren't anywhere near wanting to do that yet. I apoligize for cluttering up your thread. I was only trying to help. |
|
09/23/2007, 06:29 AM | #22 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Edenton, NC
Posts: 630
|
Try HelloLights web site. http://www.hellolights.com/ They have a wide variety of lighting at reasonable prices. If you have a friend with some electrical ability, you can probably put together a really nice T5 setup for around $200. This would be a good investment at this stage of your tank, and allow you a lot more flexibility with the future of your tank.
__________________
Bob & Brenda Happy Reefers Everything in excess .... moderation is for monks!!! Current Tank Info: new 240 Gallon Tank |
09/23/2007, 07:22 AM | #23 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: louisiana
Posts: 34
|
Wow, I am really confused now....lol. I am from Elizabeth, La. It is central La. A midpoint between Alexandria, Lake Charles and Leesville. About an hour from each.
|
09/23/2007, 09:38 AM | #24 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 384
|
With all due respect to Luke, he has very definitive opinions on lighting and filtration. While I agree that T5 fixtures are ideal if you are upgrading, I don't always agree with his choices for application or the veracity of this opinions.
For T5 fixtures, in general the reflector (the metal backing) is best when each bulb has one. However I know a lot of people are happy with a single reflector such as the Nova Extreme T5 fixture. You will get more lighting out of a Tek with individual reflectors though. On Compact fluorescents, they don't put out as much intensity Watt for Watt as a T5 or Metal Halide light. However they are relatively inexpensive and given you are doing mushrooms and polyps they should be fine. Some quality sponsors: Drs Foster and Smith That Fish Place Marine Depot (Link shows Compact Fluorescent) Premium Aquatics t5 Tek fixture (Optimal) On the subject of PAR. It's the only way to judge the intensity/spectrum of a given lamp. However I hardly know any vendor that rates their lamps based on this because the measure changes from system to system, unless you put it on YOUR system and test at a given depth it's hard to quantify. This is why the watts per gallon general rule was even used. It may be garbage, it may be inaccurate comparing across lighting types, but it helps people understand. To better help people understand I tell them a ROUGH rule for lighting is: Normal Output (What the poster has) --> Compact Fluorescent --> T5 HO --> Metal Halide Each step up increases the intensity. There is debate on the final step if Metal Halide is superior or inferior then T5 lights. However I see most people running Metal Halides on the high end and supplementing with T5. So my advice after all this: I recommend a T5 fixture with individual reflectors like the Tek fixture from Premium Aquatics. However if your budget isn't there the Nova Extreme from Foster and Smith is good too. Finally, if your budget is less then that I would recommend a compact fluorescent fixture from Current USA at Foster and Smith or Marine Depot. Finally, if you have a good budget, you can never go wrong with a Metal Halide lamp, it allows you to put just about anything you want for corals if you get the right wattage (and PAR :P ). I personally like the Sunpod system for that. |
09/23/2007, 09:50 AM | #25 |
Moved On
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 8,375
|
I'd look through the used forum for a good t5 fixure, you may be able to find a good deal. If you are going to get pc's.......spend as little as possible. Look at the pc fixtures at aquatraders if you have to get pc's. It will cost you around a hundred bux and this way when your going to upgrade you won't be out alot.
|
|
|