Can I grow hard corals with this fixture?

surfer0063 · 06/09/2009, 08:23 PM

I have a Sunpaq 36" 4 bulb T5HO 39w fixture over a 65G tank. 36x18x24. I have (front) daylight, UV Super Actinic, daylight, blue. Hopefully Grim Reefer can chime in here. Looking to grow hard corals.

nikon187 · 06/09/2009, 09:19 PM

What kind of fixture? ( reflectors most important) You should be fine in the upper part of your tank for most SPS depending on bulbs. ( brands do play a big part here. Top ones are ATI, Giessman, UVL, KZ) There is more to keeping SPS other than lighting though, water flow and stability are just as important

surfer0063 · 06/09/2009, 10:07 PM

Ok, this would be my first time growing them. Im planning on running a barebottom tank, minimal live rock, with a wet/dry. Would that be ok? When you say, upper part of the tank, like 12" to the surface or shorter?

surfer0063 · 06/09/2009, 10:08 PM

I believe it is a current USA

euromomtx · 06/09/2009, 10:16 PM

I have 4 T5 80w bulbs in a 72" fixture over a 6ft long tank so very similar to yours and I got a montipora frag that's growing way too fast so I'd say it works okay for at least some.
Haven't tried any others yet since I am happy with soft corals and polyps. The monti just came as a bonus.

surfer0063 · 06/09/2009, 10:26 PM

Ok thanx, where is the coral located in the tank? near the top?

06/09/2009, 08:23 PM	#1
surfer0063 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 79	Can I grow hard corals with this fixture? I have a Sunpaq 36" 4 bulb T5HO 39w fixture over a 65G tank. 36x18x24. I have (front) daylight, UV Super Actinic, daylight, blue. Hopefully Grim Reefer can chime in here. Looking to grow hard corals. __________________ I'm That Guy Bring a man to a fish store, he looks at fish for a couple minutes. Teach a man to marine keep, he looks at fish for a life time.

06/09/2009, 09:19 PM	#2
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	What kind of fixture? ( reflectors most important) You should be fine in the upper part of your tank for most SPS depending on bulbs. ( brands do play a big part here. Top ones are ATI, Giessman, UVL, KZ) There is more to keeping SPS other than lighting though, water flow and stability are just as important __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

06/09/2009, 10:07 PM	#3
surfer0063 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 79	Ok, this would be my first time growing them. Im planning on running a barebottom tank, minimal live rock, with a wet/dry. Would that be ok? When you say, upper part of the tank, like 12" to the surface or shorter? __________________ I'm That Guy Bring a man to a fish store, he looks at fish for a couple minutes. Teach a man to marine keep, he looks at fish for a life time.

06/09/2009, 10:08 PM	#4
surfer0063 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 79	I believe it is a current USA __________________ I'm That Guy Bring a man to a fish store, he looks at fish for a couple minutes. Teach a man to marine keep, he looks at fish for a life time.

06/09/2009, 10:16 PM	#5
euromomtx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 742 Blog Entries: 3	I have 4 T5 80w bulbs in a 72" fixture over a 6ft long tank so very similar to yours and I got a montipora frag that's growing way too fast so I'd say it works okay for at least some. Haven't tried any others yet since I am happy with soft corals and polyps. The monti just came as a bonus. __________________ Karin Current Tank Info: 215g Caribbean Inspired Reef with Shadowbox

06/09/2009, 10:26 PM	#6
surfer0063 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 79	Ok thanx, where is the coral located in the tank? near the top? __________________ I'm That Guy Bring a man to a fish store, he looks at fish for a couple minutes. Teach a man to marine keep, he looks at fish for a life time.