New to hobby, lighting question

nonpareilpearl · 07/20/2013, 10:08 AM

Hello all!

Background: I've been working on setting up my first tank. After doing some reading, I decided on a 14gal Coralife biocube that I've upgraded with LED lighting (http://shop.stevesleds.com/BioCube-1...alife-BC14.htm), a media basket (http://shop.mediabaskets.com/BioCube...ket-BC14MR.htm), and a maxi-jet 900 series utility pump (submersible). Although I've never had a fish tank myself before, my girlfriend has done freshwater in the past. My goal is to ultimately house a mantis shrimp

After getting all the upgrades done I decided to go ahead and start cycling the tank. I bought 10 lbs of live rock the other day and it looks like I have some living corals on there (COOL). My question is: what setting should I use on the lighting? What's the best way to determine what the setting is? (I ask this because, unlike the heater in the tank that marks the actual temperature I'd be setting it to, the LEDs don't seem to have any markers on them that indicate how bright they are. They just seem to go from "brightish" to "really, really bright".)

07/20/2013, 10:08 AM	#1
nonpareilpearl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 22	New to hobby, lighting question Hello all! Background: I've been working on setting up my first tank. After doing some reading, I decided on a 14gal Coralife biocube that I've upgraded with LED lighting (http://shop.stevesleds.com/BioCube-1...alife-BC14.htm), a media basket (http://shop.mediabaskets.com/BioCube...ket-BC14MR.htm), and a maxi-jet 900 series utility pump (submersible). Although I've never had a fish tank myself before, my girlfriend has done freshwater in the past. My goal is to ultimately house a mantis shrimp After getting all the upgrades done I decided to go ahead and start cycling the tank. I bought 10 lbs of live rock the other day and it looks like I have some living corals on there (COOL). My question is: what setting should I use on the lighting? What's the best way to determine what the setting is? (I ask this because, unlike the heater in the tank that marks the actual temperature I'd be setting it to, the LEDs don't seem to have any markers on them that indicate how bright they are. They just seem to go from "brightish" to "really, really bright".)