lighting & plants

55galsalt · 05/30/2007, 10:48 PM

Hello everyone!
I have a 55 gallon saltwater tank that I started about 2 years ago, and I just bought some plants for it recently (polyps and some other coral). So far I've only had live rock and fish (4 tangs an angel, cardinal, and two clown fish). I do also have some crabs, some small blue legged crabs and one bigger crab that has one really big claw and the color of the crab is black and white.
Anyway, once I acclimated the new plants, everything seemed fine. After a few days they started too close up little by little. I thought it might have been the activity of the fish, or maybe even the crab dragging its shell over them? After a few more days I noticed the polyps started to look damaged and chunks missing. I decided to take them out about a week into this, and put them in my 10 gallon refugium tank. I also took the two 65 watt coralife lights off the 55 gallon tank and placed them on the 10 gallon tank. Within three days the growth of my caulupera and other green plants excelerated, growing new leaves and more. Also, the coral I had placed in there from my 55 gallon opened way up and has already shown growth. Even the polyps were looking better and showing repair.
So my question is... Was it the fish and crabs that were messing with my new plants? Or was it the fact that I moved them to a more well lit area? And would I get the same growth as the 10 gallon if I just upgraded the 55 gallon lights? Also any suggestions on where and what type of lighting I should use or at least look into?

alan214 · 05/30/2007, 10:52 PM

It was most likely the fish nipping at your "plants", which I assume in reality are corals.

If you could be more specific about what you are referring to being plants, that might be helpful.

05/30/2007, 10:48 PM	#1
55galsalt Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Boonies, Il Posts: 1	lighting & plants Hello everyone! I have a 55 gallon saltwater tank that I started about 2 years ago, and I just bought some plants for it recently (polyps and some other coral). So far I've only had live rock and fish (4 tangs an angel, cardinal, and two clown fish). I do also have some crabs, some small blue legged crabs and one bigger crab that has one really big claw and the color of the crab is black and white. Anyway, once I acclimated the new plants, everything seemed fine. After a few days they started too close up little by little. I thought it might have been the activity of the fish, or maybe even the crab dragging its shell over them? After a few more days I noticed the polyps started to look damaged and chunks missing. I decided to take them out about a week into this, and put them in my 10 gallon refugium tank. I also took the two 65 watt coralife lights off the 55 gallon tank and placed them on the 10 gallon tank. Within three days the growth of my caulupera and other green plants excelerated, growing new leaves and more. Also, the coral I had placed in there from my 55 gallon opened way up and has already shown growth. Even the polyps were looking better and showing repair. So my question is... Was it the fish and crabs that were messing with my new plants? Or was it the fact that I moved them to a more well lit area? And would I get the same growth as the 10 gallon if I just upgraded the 55 gallon lights? Also any suggestions on where and what type of lighting I should use or at least look into?

05/30/2007, 10:52 PM	#2
alan214 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 1,258	It was most likely the fish nipping at your "plants", which I assume in reality are corals. If you could be more specific about what you are referring to being plants, that might be helpful. __________________ I live really close to the airport. The other day I was walking across the living room and the stewardess told me to take my seat. Current Tank Info: 73G FOWLR