Pc Lighting

ccolt1 · 04/01/2009, 05:13 AM

I have a 55 gal reef tank I will be setting up soon and was wondering about the lighting.The set up is used and comes with a 48" pc light with 4 65w bulbs and has 4 moon lights. The bulb's are 2 10,000k and 2 50/50. I have another pc light I was thinking of using that has 2 65w bulbs. I was going to put 2 atincs in the one and have 4 10,000k in the other but don't know if I have enough room for both light's until I get the setup here in a couple of weeks. I don't have any extra money for new lighting at the moment,so I was wondering what lawn gnomes I can keep with this setup? I would like to upgrade lighting someday but that will not happen for atleast a year or more. Thanks for any advice!

Jocephus · 04/01/2009, 05:14 AM

You'd be okay with soft corals, keep away from anemones and sps/lps for a while until you upgrade your lights. The other thing to keep in mind is the age of the bulbs. If they have been burning for a year they will need replaced.

ccolt1 · 04/01/2009, 07:57 PM

Thanks for the info! would it be ok with the 4 65w or should I try to add all 6? Thanks

reefworm · 04/01/2009, 08:07 PM

all six if you can - the more light the better. [2x 65w is what I used to have for the 29] The Hebrew historian is spot on.

ccolt1 · 04/02/2009, 08:22 AM

I will try to use all 6... Thanks for the info!

bwbixby · 04/02/2009, 08:43 AM

Take everything with a grain of salt, but you can keep more than just softies under PC lights. I myself have quite a bit of LPS in my 24g aquapod and have a few pieces of SPS that are doing quite well under the stock PC lighting in the hood. I know I am not the only one that has had success with many types of corals under PC lighting. The most important thing is making sure your water quality is right on. For pictures click my red house and go to the second page there is some pictures of the Nano there.

reefworm · 04/02/2009, 09:13 AM

the 29 with PC lighting kept Euphylia sp. with good success. I'm sure they would have grown more rapidly under more intense light, but they were healthy for years

jener8tionx · 04/02/2009, 09:13 AM

I kept a couple LPS and an anemone and everything did just fine. I do think it was pushing it though.

1DeR9_3Hy · 04/02/2009, 09:57 AM

PC's are beat up heavily on the internet because thats what the internet does best.

You will do well with the majority of corals out there with that PC setup (softys, LPS, maybe even SPS if high enough up). Dont expect crazy MH/T5 style growth...but they wont die either.

ccolt1 · 04/02/2009, 10:23 PM

Thank you all for the info!! The last time I did saltwater back in 2001,2002 they were suppose to be the up and coming thing.Now all you here is bad things about them. I will try to use both fixture's to give me more light but I don't know if they both will fit on the tank. If not I will just have to run the 4 65w and maybe a flourescent 40w atinic. Thanks again!

drummereef · 04/02/2009, 11:53 PM

There have been many advances in reef lighting but I've had a relative amount of success with the pc lighting on my 40g. If you have the money go to T5's. You won't be limited with what you keep in the future.

My 40g under PC lighting a while ago.

My 40g under PC lighting today.

Jocephus · 04/03/2009, 07:06 AM

I have a frogspawn, and a torch, and a montipora in my 65 under PC's too. The main thing is you have to change the bulbs. If you wait for them to burn out, your corals will not be happy. Look online for bulbs. You can buy a new fixture with bulbs online for less than you'll buy just the bulbs at Petsmart/Petco.

Jocephus · 04/03/2009, 07:08 AM

Drummerreef,

What is the brown fuzz? I had a bunch of stuff come in on live rock that looked like that. It was some sort of stoney, but the skeleton was sort of sunk into the rock.

drummereef · 04/03/2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jocephus
Drummerreef,

What is the brown fuzz? I had a bunch of stuff come in on live rock that looked like that. It was some sort of stoney, but the skeleton was sort of sunk into the rock.

If you are referring to the first pic, those would be colonial hydroids. You don't want that.

gwenvet · 04/03/2009, 08:27 AM

Joining in...good question for all of us with older light setups.
Nice to see that I can keep frogspawn under PC's. I have 2 96w quad Smartpacs (50/50 actinic) on a 75...so less than you have on a 55. Is that enough wattage? Can't wait to get one!

1DeR9_3Hy · 04/03/2009, 09:52 AM

Thanks Drummer for illustrating my point!

I am setting up a 10 gallon here at work and i fully expect to keep sps in it (under 72 watts of PC). I have been told that it wont grow, and that it will even brown out and die.

Only one way to find out!

ccolt1 · 04/03/2009, 05:34 PM

The pics are great! I now feel alittle better keeping my PC lights for awhile. I would like to get some T5's in the future. At least I know I can have some of the same coral's you have. Thanks for all the advice!!!

davewbush · 04/03/2009, 06:12 PM

I run 6 65 watt pc's over my 90 gal tank and have a few sps, lps, zoas, and they all do great. I think you would be better of running 2 10000k bulbs and the other 4 atinics, whether there are 420 or 460.

I had 2 seperate pc's and I combined them into one. I made the hood out of wood and wired ever thing myself. Here is some pics.

ccolt1 · 04/03/2009, 08:32 PM

NICE job!!!!! I might have to do that with mine. Thank you for those pics. I now have a insperation! So I would be better to run 2 10,000k instead 4 and 2 atinics and use 4 atinics? Would this be better for the corals? Thanks!!!

singold · 04/03/2009, 09:19 PM

Nice job on keeping the Montiporis Capricornis so healthy!

SaltyDr · 04/03/2009, 09:50 PM

I would go equal 10,000K and actinics.

davewbush · 04/03/2009, 10:26 PM

I read here and there and corals take in more light from the blue spectrum between 400nm and 480nm. There is also a peek in the red light spectrum that corals take in well. In my light I have 2 10000k, 2 420nm, and 2 50/50 (420nm, 460nm). When I have to buy lights again I am going to get 2 10000k, and 4 420nm. IMO the 420's make the corals pop more and with the 10000ks on it doesen't look to blue. With 4 10000k lights it might look a little yellow.

With a set up like mine it would not look natural stagering the lights with rows of three using equal 10000k to actinics.

Magga Pie · 04/04/2009, 05:02 PM

Drummereef can you post a FTS?? THe pictures you posted are very ncie!!

ccolt1 · 04/05/2009, 10:40 PM

I would like to see a FTS to! Those pictures give me some hope!

SarasotaDiver · 04/16/2009, 09:27 PM

nice pictures guys!

04/01/2009, 05:13 AM	#1
ccolt1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 323	Pc Lighting I have a 55 gal reef tank I will be setting up soon and was wondering about the lighting.The set up is used and comes with a 48" pc light with 4 65w bulbs and has 4 moon lights. The bulb's are 2 10,000k and 2 50/50. I have another pc light I was thinking of using that has 2 65w bulbs. I was going to put 2 atincs in the one and have 4 10,000k in the other but don't know if I have enough room for both light's until I get the setup here in a couple of weeks. I don't have any extra money for new lighting at the moment,so I was wondering what lawn gnomes I can keep with this setup? I would like to upgrade lighting someday but that will not happen for atleast a year or more. Thanks for any advice!

04/01/2009, 08:07 PM	#4
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	all six if you can - the more light the better. [2x 65w is what I used to have for the 29] The Hebrew historian is spot on. __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school

04/02/2009, 09:13 AM	#7
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	the 29 with PC lighting kept Euphylia sp. with good success. I'm sure they would have grown more rapidly under more intense light, but they were healthy for years __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school

04/02/2009, 09:57 AM	#9
1DeR9_3Hy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,575	PC's are beat up heavily on the internet because thats what the internet does best. You will do well with the majority of corals out there with that PC setup (softys, LPS, maybe even SPS if high enough up). Dont expect crazy MH/T5 style growth...but they wont die either. __________________ I hope it never catches on, I like having the oldest tank on here and I don't have to worry about calcification, bio pellets, Vodka dosing, DSBs, Chaetomorpha (I don't even know what that is) Carbonite hardness and all of these other things many people worry about. If I had to think about all of that stuff I would get a stroke. My test kit came in a wooden box and the directions say to keep in a cool chariott. I throw some food in the tank, wave hello to the fish and go out with my wife and have a nice glass of merlot with dinner. Have a great day but most of all, have fun. -PaulB Current Tank Info: 27 Gallon DAS softy/fish reef

04/02/2009, 11:53 PM	#11
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	There have been many advances in reef lighting but I've had a relative amount of success with the pc lighting on my 40g. If you have the money go to T5's. You won't be limited with what you keep in the future. My 40g under PC lighting a while ago. My 40g under PC lighting today. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

04/01/2009, 05:14 AM	#2
Jocephus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 995	You'd be okay with soft corals, keep away from anemones and sps/lps for a while until you upgrade your lights. The other thing to keep in mind is the age of the bulbs. If they have been burning for a year they will need replaced.

04/01/2009, 07:57 PM	#3
ccolt1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 323	Thanks for the info! would it be ok with the 4 65w or should I try to add all 6? Thanks

04/02/2009, 08:22 AM	#5
ccolt1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 323	I will try to use all 6... Thanks for the info!

04/02/2009, 08:43 AM	#6
bwbixby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Buena Park, CA Posts: 672	Take everything with a grain of salt, but you can keep more than just softies under PC lights. I myself have quite a bit of LPS in my 24g aquapod and have a few pieces of SPS that are doing quite well under the stock PC lighting in the hood. I know I am not the only one that has had success with many types of corals under PC lighting. The most important thing is making sure your water quality is right on. For pictures click my red house and go to the second page there is some pictures of the Nano there.

04/02/2009, 09:13 AM	#8
jener8tionx Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: N. Mesa, Az Posts: 524	I kept a couple LPS and an anemone and everything did just fine. I do think it was pushing it though.

04/02/2009, 10:23 PM	#10
ccolt1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 323	Thank you all for the info!! The last time I did saltwater back in 2001,2002 they were suppose to be the up and coming thing.Now all you here is bad things about them. I will try to use both fixture's to give me more light but I don't know if they both will fit on the tank. If not I will just have to run the 4 65w and maybe a flourescent 40w atinic. Thanks again!

04/03/2009, 07:06 AM	#12
Jocephus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 995	I have a frogspawn, and a torch, and a montipora in my 65 under PC's too. The main thing is you have to change the bulbs. If you wait for them to burn out, your corals will not be happy. Look online for bulbs. You can buy a new fixture with bulbs online for less than you'll buy just the bulbs at Petsmart/Petco.

04/03/2009, 07:08 AM	#13
Jocephus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 995	Drummerreef, What is the brown fuzz? I had a bunch of stuff come in on live rock that looked like that. It was some sort of stoney, but the skeleton was sort of sunk into the rock.

04/03/2009, 08:27 AM	#15
gwenvet Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana Posts: 300	Joining in...good question for all of us with older light setups. Nice to see that I can keep frogspawn under PC's. I have 2 96w quad Smartpacs (50/50 actinic) on a 75...so less than you have on a 55. Is that enough wattage? Can't wait to get one!

04/03/2009, 09:52 AM	#16
1DeR9_3Hy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,575	Thanks Drummer for illustrating my point! I am setting up a 10 gallon here at work and i fully expect to keep sps in it (under 72 watts of PC). I have been told that it wont grow, and that it will even brown out and die. Only one way to find out! __________________ I hope it never catches on, I like having the oldest tank on here and I don't have to worry about calcification, bio pellets, Vodka dosing, DSBs, Chaetomorpha (I don't even know what that is) Carbonite hardness and all of these other things many people worry about. If I had to think about all of that stuff I would get a stroke. My test kit came in a wooden box and the directions say to keep in a cool chariott. I throw some food in the tank, wave hello to the fish and go out with my wife and have a nice glass of merlot with dinner. Have a great day but most of all, have fun. -PaulB Current Tank Info: 27 Gallon DAS softy/fish reef

04/03/2009, 05:34 PM	#17
ccolt1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 323	The pics are great! I now feel alittle better keeping my PC lights for awhile. I would like to get some T5's in the future. At least I know I can have some of the same coral's you have. Thanks for all the advice!!!

04/03/2009, 06:12 PM	#18
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	I run 6 65 watt pc's over my 90 gal tank and have a few sps, lps, zoas, and they all do great. I think you would be better of running 2 10000k bulbs and the other 4 atinics, whether there are 420 or 460. I had 2 seperate pc's and I combined them into one. I made the hood out of wood and wired ever thing myself. Here is some pics.

04/03/2009, 08:32 PM	#19
ccolt1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 323	NICE job!!!!! I might have to do that with mine. Thank you for those pics. I now have a insperation! So I would be better to run 2 10,000k instead 4 and 2 atinics and use 4 atinics? Would this be better for the corals? Thanks!!!

04/03/2009, 09:19 PM	#20
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	Nice job on keeping the Montiporis Capricornis so healthy! __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

04/03/2009, 09:50 PM	#21
SaltyDr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,191	I would go equal 10,000K and actinics.

04/03/2009, 10:26 PM	#22
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	I read here and there and corals take in more light from the blue spectrum between 400nm and 480nm. There is also a peek in the red light spectrum that corals take in well. In my light I have 2 10000k, 2 420nm, and 2 50/50 (420nm, 460nm). When I have to buy lights again I am going to get 2 10000k, and 4 420nm. IMO the 420's make the corals pop more and with the 10000ks on it doesen't look to blue. With 4 10000k lights it might look a little yellow. With a set up like mine it would not look natural stagering the lights with rows of three using equal 10000k to actinics.

04/04/2009, 05:02 PM	#23
Magga Pie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami Fl Posts: 1,490	Drummereef can you post a FTS?? THe pictures you posted are very ncie!!

04/05/2009, 10:40 PM	#24
ccolt1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 323	I would like to see a FTS to! Those pictures give me some hope!

04/16/2009, 09:27 PM	#25
SarasotaDiver Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sarasota, FL USA Posts: 214	nice pictures guys! __________________ Sarasota Dive Services