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08/01/2008, 07:48 AM | #1 |
Moved On
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: MA
Posts: 470
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Beginner Coral? How To Light?
Hey All,
I'm very new to the hobby! I have a 10g nano tank thats been going for about 3 months now. I initially started this venture as a FOWLR tank. But now I'm at a crossroad and looking to slowly take the plunge into coral. I would like to get coral, and based on my research the easiest to manage for a beginner are mushroom and polyp. I have just a standard stock lighting that comes with a 10g tank (15W AGA lighting). I spoke to my LFS and I was told I could keep mushroom coral in my existing lighting conditions as mushroom are low light corals. They recommended I get a 15W 10K light. On my way from work, I stopped in at local petco. When I went to pick up the light, the attendee suggested I not get the 10K light and instead get a 50/50 6500K bulb claiming that 10K would cause much unwanted algae to grow and that I could only keep it on for shorter intervals (4 -6 hours I think) I bought and installed the 50/50 light, but now everything looks "blue" and my clown fish and other livestock all have a drab, washed out appearance. Should I have gone with the 10K? I haven't added any coral yet, but how do I light this so that: 1.) My mushroom coral have enough light 2.) My fish dont look washed out My Specs are- Filtration: 10g tank 13lbs Live Rock 10lbs Live Sand 100gph Bio Wheel Filter Live Stock: 2 Clown Fish 1 Dottyback 1 Red Banded Shrimp 1 Black Long Spiny Urchin Clean Up Crew: 10 small hermits 1 Turbo Snail 1 Mexican Snail (I think that's what its called) Lighting: 18" 50/50 6500K 15W Flresnt I do a 10 - 20% water change EVERY week My water chemistry is: Ammonia - 0 PH - 8.2 Salinity - 1.023 Temp - 82 degrees nitrate- 0 nitrite -20ppm |
08/01/2008, 08:50 AM | #2 |
Mangroves are kool.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 5,246
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mushrooms and polyps are great beginners but 15 watt even for softies is a little low IMO i recommend a little boost. i had a ten back in the day and did a 40 watt PC 50/50 bulb and it did very well until i upgraded. but my 50/50 was a 10K with a 460 nm actinic (blue) and it looked great. here's my fixture: http://thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/204923/product.web
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-The Wiz Current Tank Info: Elos Mini Seahorse Tank, 2500 gallon Koi pond |
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