Newbie question settup

dragginzuzu · 07/15/2007, 07:07 PM

Hi guys, Im new to corals and would like to run my settup by you to see if it sound ok, I've always had SW tanks, mostly LR and fish. But now Im trying to settup a reef/coral tank. Ive started with a 45gal mostly because of space issues, its 36lx12wx24h, I have a wetdry filter with an external overflow. My lighting is 2 18" 96 watt Quad SmartPaq's with the 10K and blue, and I also have a 65 watt coralife PC that I wanna just run a blue in for the hour sunrise and sunset, does that sound like a good idea or is it to much blue. I cant turn the SmartPaq on and of seprately because of the quad bulb. I have about 3-4" of live sand and no rock yet. Does this sound like I'm on the right track?
Tony

Shooter7 · 07/15/2007, 07:32 PM

At 24" high, you're going to be hurting for light down at the bottom. Don't know what kinds of corals you're hoping for, but I would stick to shrooms, xenia, maybe green star polyps, in other words low light softies.

dragginzuzu · 07/15/2007, 07:42 PM

So should I add another 10k or 20k for the coralife pc or do I just not have enough watts?

theatrus · 07/15/2007, 07:46 PM

Some LPS stonies are probably quite possible midway and higher in the tank. The bottom of the tank at 24" with that light I'd leave to softies only.

Shooter7 · 07/15/2007, 07:48 PM

More along the lines of penetration than just watts - how much of the useable light for the corals actually gets down to them. I would suggest halides or quality T-5 lights over PC's if you do not want to limit yourself in terms of types of corals. Even VHO's would be better than PC's IMO. Your tank is as tall as my 120g tank, and I have 250w halides over it, with VHO actinics.

07/15/2007, 07:07 PM	#1
dragginzuzu Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tampa FL Posts: 43	Newbie question settup Hi guys, Im new to corals and would like to run my settup by you to see if it sound ok, I've always had SW tanks, mostly LR and fish. But now Im trying to settup a reef/coral tank. Ive started with a 45gal mostly because of space issues, its 36lx12wx24h, I have a wetdry filter with an external overflow. My lighting is 2 18" 96 watt Quad SmartPaq's with the 10K and blue, and I also have a 65 watt coralife PC that I wanna just run a blue in for the hour sunrise and sunset, does that sound like a good idea or is it to much blue. I cant turn the SmartPaq on and of seprately because of the quad bulb. I have about 3-4" of live sand and no rock yet. Does this sound like I'm on the right track? Tony

07/15/2007, 07:32 PM	#2
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	At 24" high, you're going to be hurting for light down at the bottom. Don't know what kinds of corals you're hoping for, but I would stick to shrooms, xenia, maybe green star polyps, in other words low light softies. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

07/15/2007, 07:46 PM	#4
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Some LPS stonies are probably quite possible midway and higher in the tank. The bottom of the tank at 24" with that light I'd leave to softies only. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

07/15/2007, 07:48 PM	#5
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	More along the lines of penetration than just watts - how much of the useable light for the corals actually gets down to them. I would suggest halides or quality T-5 lights over PC's if you do not want to limit yourself in terms of types of corals. Even VHO's would be better than PC's IMO. Your tank is as tall as my 120g tank, and I have 250w halides over it, with VHO actinics. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

07/15/2007, 07:42 PM	#3
dragginzuzu Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tampa FL Posts: 43	So should I add another 10k or 20k for the coralife pc or do I just not have enough watts?