Lighting help really needed . . .

joshalicialtjt · 05/18/2008, 12:58 AM

I am really hoping that someone can finally help me with all of this because I have yet to get an answer after asking on like 5 different forums. I have a 29 gallon with a maroon clown and lawnmower blenny for livestock, a maxijet1200 for flow, and a hot magnum 250 along with a reef octopus skimmer for filtration. Now getting to the question I have a Nova Extreme 30" 2x24 watt T5 HO lighting fixture and was wondering if I can keep most things with it or if I would need to get another strip just like the one I have and how that would help. I am really needing some information on this deal because nobody else has really provided me with anything . . .
thanks so much for all information and suggestions

joshalicialtjt · 05/18/2008, 10:48 AM

anyone?

graveyardworm · 05/18/2008, 11:14 AM

You should be alright with most softies, and some low light LPS, keep the LPS well fed. Anemone's, Clams and SPS are pretty much out of the question.

joshalicialtjt · 05/18/2008, 11:30 AM

would the bubble coral be considered lowlight lps? also someone locally in our club is selling a used outer orbit 24inch system if he still has it and its a decent deal do you think just that one fixture would be much better than what i have, i think its a 250watt fixture. or would that be just way overkill?

Reefer Brian · 05/18/2008, 02:26 PM

With 250 watts will able you to have more lps and of course softies. You will never be unsatisfied with more light. Bubble is considered low light lps. If you buy the 250w, place it maybe lower and you should be fine. Good luck with your system.....

DarG · 05/18/2008, 02:34 PM

On your tank, another 2 light strip would probably get you where you want to be in terms of keeping most things. The tank isnt very deep nor wide. Keep the water clean and clear and your parameters in their optimal ranges, skim effectively and I tink you will be fine. They arent the best lights because of the reflectors but with the smaller, fairly shallow tank I thatk that you should do well.

Mark426 · 05/18/2008, 04:55 PM

Softies, maybe some LPS.. but I wouldnt.
If it was me...I would sell the 2 lamp fixture and get a 4 lamp fixture. Cheaper in the long run and would certainly look nicer. With a GOOD 4 lamp T-5 fixture on a 29, keep anything you want.

dynomight · 05/18/2008, 05:13 PM

I also have a 29G. Right now I am running 130W power compact lighting. I notice alot of growth on my softies. The only sps I have is a chalice which I have only had for about three weeks so I thinks it to early to tell.

With that said I am switching to t5's for the efficency and I found a killer deal on a 36" TEK light, also it 156 watts, herehere

The good thing about a 36" light is that you can expand later for any 72" tank like a 125g, 150g, even a 210g and with two of these lights I believe you can keep all softies and with some clever rock work some lowlight deepwater sps.

Hope this helps, I know I dont post around here alot but I do alot of reading when I can, this forum rocks.

05/18/2008, 12:58 AM	#1
joshalicialtjt Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oviedo, UCF Posts: 511	Lighting help really needed . . . I am really hoping that someone can finally help me with all of this because I have yet to get an answer after asking on like 5 different forums. I have a 29 gallon with a maroon clown and lawnmower blenny for livestock, a maxijet1200 for flow, and a hot magnum 250 along with a reef octopus skimmer for filtration. Now getting to the question I have a Nova Extreme 30" 2x24 watt T5 HO lighting fixture and was wondering if I can keep most things with it or if I would need to get another strip just like the one I have and how that would help. I am really needing some information on this deal because nobody else has really provided me with anything . . . thanks so much for all information and suggestions

05/18/2008, 11:14 AM	#3
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	You should be alright with most softies, and some low light LPS, keep the LPS well fed. Anemone's, Clams and SPS are pretty much out of the question. __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

05/18/2008, 10:48 AM	#2
joshalicialtjt Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oviedo, UCF Posts: 511	anyone?

05/18/2008, 11:30 AM	#4
joshalicialtjt Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oviedo, UCF Posts: 511	would the bubble coral be considered lowlight lps? also someone locally in our club is selling a used outer orbit 24inch system if he still has it and its a decent deal do you think just that one fixture would be much better than what i have, i think its a 250watt fixture. or would that be just way overkill?

05/18/2008, 02:26 PM	#5
Reefer Brian Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Santa Barbara County, CA Posts: 783	With 250 watts will able you to have more lps and of course softies. You will never be unsatisfied with more light. Bubble is considered low light lps. If you buy the 250w, place it maybe lower and you should be fine. Good luck with your system.....

05/18/2008, 02:34 PM	#6
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	On your tank, another 2 light strip would probably get you where you want to be in terms of keeping most things. The tank isnt very deep nor wide. Keep the water clean and clear and your parameters in their optimal ranges, skim effectively and I tink you will be fine. They arent the best lights because of the reflectors but with the smaller, fairly shallow tank I thatk that you should do well.

05/18/2008, 04:55 PM	#7
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	Softies, maybe some LPS.. but I wouldnt. If it was me...I would sell the 2 lamp fixture and get a 4 lamp fixture. Cheaper in the long run and would certainly look nicer. With a GOOD 4 lamp T-5 fixture on a 29, keep anything you want.

05/18/2008, 05:13 PM	#8
dynomight Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: texas Posts: 105	I also have a 29G. Right now I am running 130W power compact lighting. I notice alot of growth on my softies. The only sps I have is a chalice which I have only had for about three weeks so I thinks it to early to tell. With that said I am switching to t5's for the efficency and I found a killer deal on a 36" TEK light, also it 156 watts, herehere The good thing about a 36" light is that you can expand later for any 72" tank like a 125g, 150g, even a 210g and with two of these lights I believe you can keep all softies and with some clever rock work some lowlight deepwater sps. Hope this helps, I know I dont post around here alot but I do alot of reading when I can, this forum rocks.