Live Rock and Lighting

joe143 · 02/14/2010, 04:41 PM

Hey everyone, first post to the forum.

I have a live rock/ lighting question. I have a 55gallon tank and its depth is around 20 inches. My lighting set up is a 30 inch Coralife T5 HO with 10,000k and Actinic bulbs.

Ive had the setup for about 2-3 months now. Everything is going well in the tank besides a litte red slime. However my live rock is struggling a litttle bit. It's had a little alage die off but not too bad. No real coralline alage expansion at all. Just seems kinda stagnant. I've started monitoring all parameters and they seem to be in line with whats suggested.

My question is if the lighting is enough for the tank. I've been leaving the lights on for around 12 hours a day. Thanks guys!

sterling18 · 02/14/2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe143

Hey everyone, first post to the forum.

I have a live rock/ lighting question. I have a 55gallon tank and its depth is around 20 inches. My lighting set up is a 30 inch Coralife T5 HO with 10,000k and Actinic bulbs.

Ive had the setup for about 2-3 months now. Everything is going well in the tank besides a litte red slime. However my live rock is struggling a litttle bit. It's had a little alage die off but not too bad. No real coralline alage expansion at all. Just seems kinda stagnant. I've started monitoring all parameters and they seem to be in line with whats suggested.

My question is if the lighting is enough for the tank. I've been leaving the lights on for around 12 hours a day. Thanks guys!

Sorry, just woke up so the brain is still foggy.

How many watts do you have above it? What else do you have in it. What are your param's in Alk and Ca?

shred5 · 02/14/2010, 06:00 PM

Most coralline algae actually prefer lower light levels. It could be you rock was collected from deeper water to...

lordofthereef · 02/14/2010, 06:17 PM

What are your calcium levels like? At the 2-3 months stage I wouldn't expect much coralline growth just yet. It starts exploding IME at around 6-8+ months.

joe143 · 02/14/2010, 09:20 PM

Thanks guys!

The bulbs are 31 watts each. Calcium was around 400 ppm and ALK was right around 12 DKH.

Yeah its a little confusing. Im not sure if its too little or too much light. Or maybe its just a little early and needs more time to grow.

BigRedSpecial · 02/14/2010, 09:37 PM

definitely time. 2-3 months is nothing in this hobby!

joe143 · 02/15/2010, 09:12 AM

Yeah, ill be patient with it. Hopefully no more die off and some alage will start growing.

rob.mwpropane · 02/15/2010, 09:28 AM

From what I have read and experienced, patience and stability.... and then you get so much you wish it would slow down. Good luck and Happy Reefing

02/14/2010, 04:41 PM	#1
joe143 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 143	Live Rock and Lighting Hey everyone, first post to the forum. I have a live rock/ lighting question. I have a 55gallon tank and its depth is around 20 inches. My lighting set up is a 30 inch Coralife T5 HO with 10,000k and Actinic bulbs. Ive had the setup for about 2-3 months now. Everything is going well in the tank besides a litte red slime. However my live rock is struggling a litttle bit. It's had a little alage die off but not too bad. No real coralline alage expansion at all. Just seems kinda stagnant. I've started monitoring all parameters and they seem to be in line with whats suggested. My question is if the lighting is enough for the tank. I've been leaving the lights on for around 12 hours a day. Thanks guys!

02/14/2010, 06:00 PM	#3
shred5 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Waukesha , WI Posts: 4,998	Most coralline algae actually prefer lower light levels. It could be you rock was collected from deeper water to... __________________ David Polzin

02/14/2010, 06:17 PM	#4
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	What are your calcium levels like? At the 2-3 months stage I wouldn't expect much coralline growth just yet. It starts exploding IME at around 6-8+ months. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

02/14/2010, 09:37 PM	#6
BigRedSpecial Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. John's, Newfoundland Posts: 405	definitely time. 2-3 months is nothing in this hobby! __________________ My progression: 10g/T8 NO to PC; 20h/PC to T5; 45 corner/55 sump/kessil

02/14/2010, 09:20 PM	#5
joe143 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 143	Thanks guys! The bulbs are 31 watts each. Calcium was around 400 ppm and ALK was right around 12 DKH. Yeah its a little confusing. Im not sure if its too little or too much light. Or maybe its just a little early and needs more time to grow.

02/15/2010, 09:12 AM	#7
joe143 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 143	Yeah, ill be patient with it. Hopefully no more die off and some alage will start growing.

02/15/2010, 09:28 AM	#8
rob.mwpropane Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 371	From what I have read and experienced, patience and stability.... and then you get so much you wish it would slow down. Good luck and Happy Reefing