corals

andrewbram · 01/03/2012, 07:34 PM

I want to start some sps. I know that I can keep them under t5 but will I get decent growth. I asked about the color and brand in lighting forum but wanted to ask here if anyone gets pretty good growth with t5. mine is 75g 4x54.

Jsteffen · 01/03/2012, 07:38 PM

I have no problem and get decent growth.

andrewbram · 01/03/2012, 07:44 PM

I know that the corals are dependent on lots of things. I just dont want to buy one inch frags and have them stay one inch for a year.lol

baja_driver · 01/03/2012, 09:02 PM

Well there is something much more important to sps which is good water quality and stable.
What are your levels?

andrewbram · 01/03/2012, 09:10 PM

Oh I am still in planning stage. Had my water tested to day and I am zero across the board my alk was 6-7 but havent been dosing calcium was 400. I just got tank back from ex wife she was nice enough to just put water in it to keep snails crabs and one fish alive then low and behold a few softies and a duncan,and a gorgonian survived some how they must all be invincable. I posed on another thread and I am gonna slowly bring those levels up with a two part. My question is now just lights I have decent flow although I want more and levels look ok

sporto0 · 01/03/2012, 09:12 PM

Lighting a Reef tank & especially an SPS dominated tank comes down to a balance between kelvin ratings, the 6,500-10,000K has been linked to faster growth, 14,000 -20,000k is the color spectrum, I try to stay around 13,000k with my daylight & I run super Actinic VHO's as a supplement. Also, as someone else has stated SPS prefer a more pristine environment, less phosphates & nitrates as well as proper water parameters including calcium, magnesium & alkalinity.

andrewbram · 01/03/2012, 09:16 PM

So like Two ati Blue Plus A Purple Plus and like a Nz 10k or so

sporto0 · 01/03/2012, 09:23 PM

I would do 2 10k's & 1 blue plus & 1 purple plus if it is a 4 bulb fixture, but yeah that's the idea, you can adjust the coral height by observing it's behavior at certain depths.

andrewbram · 01/03/2012, 09:39 PM

I do plan on adding either two more T5s for total of 6 or even some led lighting to help, but household six determines budget lol

sponger0 · 01/04/2012, 06:40 AM

Im actually using a cheap lighting with ATI bulbs lol. Its worked out pretty well. I have a birdsnest that has at least doubled in size, red table is now started to grow and at a very rapid rate I might add. Blue tort grown about a 1/4 of an inch. This has been in a 6 month or less time frame.

Bulbs 2 blue plus, 1 aquablue special and 1 purple plus

andrewbram · 01/04/2012, 09:28 AM

Is the tank really blue with that combo of lights. I like blueish tint but not blue. have you ever though of some led supp. Where do you have them placed spong. and thanks for the info.

01/03/2012, 07:34 PM	#1
andrewbram Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 337	corals I want to start some sps. I know that I can keep them under t5 but will I get decent growth. I asked about the color and brand in lighting forum but wanted to ask here if anyone gets pretty good growth with t5. mine is 75g 4x54.

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01/03/2012, 07:38 PM	#2
Jsteffen Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 10	I have no problem and get decent growth.

01/03/2012, 07:44 PM	#3
andrewbram Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 337	I know that the corals are dependent on lots of things. I just dont want to buy one inch frags and have them stay one inch for a year.lol

01/03/2012, 09:02 PM	#4
baja_driver Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: grove city ohio Posts: 70	Well there is something much more important to sps which is good water quality and stable. What are your levels?

01/03/2012, 09:10 PM	#5
andrewbram Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 337	Oh I am still in planning stage. Had my water tested to day and I am zero across the board my alk was 6-7 but havent been dosing calcium was 400. I just got tank back from ex wife she was nice enough to just put water in it to keep snails crabs and one fish alive then low and behold a few softies and a duncan,and a gorgonian survived some how they must all be invincable. I posed on another thread and I am gonna slowly bring those levels up with a two part. My question is now just lights I have decent flow although I want more and levels look ok

01/03/2012, 09:12 PM	#6
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	Lighting a Reef tank & especially an SPS dominated tank comes down to a balance between kelvin ratings, the 6,500-10,000K has been linked to faster growth, 14,000 -20,000k is the color spectrum, I try to stay around 13,000k with my daylight & I run super Actinic VHO's as a supplement. Also, as someone else has stated SPS prefer a more pristine environment, less phosphates & nitrates as well as proper water parameters including calcium, magnesium & alkalinity.

01/03/2012, 09:16 PM	#7
andrewbram Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 337	So like Two ati Blue Plus A Purple Plus and like a Nz 10k or so

01/03/2012, 09:23 PM	#8
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	I would do 2 10k's & 1 blue plus & 1 purple plus if it is a 4 bulb fixture, but yeah that's the idea, you can adjust the coral height by observing it's behavior at certain depths.

01/03/2012, 09:39 PM	#9
andrewbram Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 337	I do plan on adding either two more T5s for total of 6 or even some led lighting to help, but household six determines budget lol

01/04/2012, 06:40 AM	#10
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Im actually using a cheap lighting with ATI bulbs lol. Its worked out pretty well. I have a birdsnest that has at least doubled in size, red table is now started to grow and at a very rapid rate I might add. Blue tort grown about a 1/4 of an inch. This has been in a 6 month or less time frame. Bulbs 2 blue plus, 1 aquablue special and 1 purple plus

01/04/2012, 09:28 AM	#11
andrewbram Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 337	Is the tank really blue with that combo of lights. I like blueish tint but not blue. have you ever though of some led supp. Where do you have them placed spong. and thanks for the info.