Is my light good enough for corals?

jsharp1 · 01/02/2010, 08:09 PM

Hello all,

I am wondering if I have a poweful enough lighting system for a 65 gallon setup? I purchased a used setup about 3 weeks ago and the light that came with it is a power compact that has the 2 dual lights, both are 96w, one is
10k and the other is actinic. Fixture and bulbs are both made by Current. The tank depth is around 20". I currently have a xenia and a few polyps. They seem to be doing well, but I would like to know what types of corals I would be able to put in my tank with the type of lighting setup I have or if I should upgrade the lighting first. After reading some of the threads it seems that that PC lighting isn't sufficient for alot of corals? I'm a newbie, so I definitely welcome any advice or suggestions

Aquarist007 · 01/02/2010, 08:13 PM

what size is your tank?
If the system is used I would replace the bulbs first or get a kit for that fixture and replace the pcs with t5s. These bulbs last alot longer then pcs, are more powerful and much cheaper to replace.
With new pc bulbs and a high reef you should be able to grow most lps corals and softies

To Reef Central

bertoni · 01/02/2010, 08:33 PM

Soft corals should be fine with that lighting. Medium light corals might be fine towards the top of the tank.

jsharp1 · 01/02/2010, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capn_hylinur

what size is your tank?
If the system is used I would replace the bulbs first or get a kit for that fixture and replace the pcs with t5s. These bulbs last alot longer then pcs, are more powerful and much cheaper to replace.
With new pc bulbs and a high reef you should be able to grow most lps corals and softies

To Reef Central

It's a 65 gallon. The person I bought the setup from bought the light new and only had his tank set up for about 3 months before he sold it to me. I would still like to get new bulbs at least for now. Any suggestions on brands or does that matter? Thanks

jsharp1 · 01/02/2010, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

Soft corals should be fine with that lighting. Medium light corals might be fine towards the top of the tank.

Thanks for the info. I have a xenia that's somewhat near the bottom of the tank. should I move it closer to the top?

bertoni · 01/02/2010, 09:16 PM

The Xenia should be okay at the bottom. It might grow more rapidly near the top. I'd leave it alone if it's doing well. Otherwise, it could be moved up the tank slowly, to give it some time to acclimate to a higher light level.

DC_40gallon · 01/02/2010, 10:10 PM

You will be fine for softies. Just try to keep them as close
to the surface as possible while still making it look good. This will give them more light penetration.

Your out of the game for anemones, sps and hard corals as well as clams.

ultimatemusky · 01/02/2010, 10:40 PM

My first reef was a 40 gal that was over 21" deep, I had soft corals, a variety of lps and a sebae anemone that tripled in size in one year(without feeding). All were under pc's, now while I don't recommend everyone doing it, you can't just say it can not be done.

matttu1983 · 01/03/2010, 11:25 AM

I disagree completely with the comment made about not being able to keep an anenome under PC's. i have kept my condy under PC's for about four months now with no problems. my tank is a 20l with a 4x65watt current usa fixture. I would say that anything is possible with proper care and patience.

Aquarist007 · 01/03/2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsharp1

Thanks for the info. I have a xenia that's somewhat near the bottom of the tank. should I move it closer to the top?

It will move on its own to the conditions it prefers

Aquarist007 · 01/03/2010, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsharp1

It's a 65 gallon. The person I bought the setup from bought the light new and only had his tank set up for about 3 months before he sold it to me. I would still like to get new bulbs at least for now. Any suggestions on brands or does that matter? Thanks

You don't need new bulbs right now. Suggest at the 9 month period you replace those bulbs and refit the existing lighting system to handle t5's

bertoni · 01/03/2010, 05:10 PM

Four months isn't long enough to prove much, although I agree that with care, some anemones might do well under PC light. Spot feeding would help, for example. Generally, for the host anemones, brighter light is a good idea. I've never tried Condylactus, so I can't comment on them.

pleasants9 · 01/03/2010, 05:14 PM

I have about the same wattage on my 55, 4x65W PC's Any softie or LPS does fine in my tank, SPS and clams not really

jsharp1 · 01/04/2010, 12:25 PM

Thanks for all the feedback, I really appreciate it. I decided to go ahead and move the xenia more towards the top of the tank just in case. Definitely gonna stick with the more hardy corals for now and see how I do with them. This is a very addicting hobby and I can already tell that I will be upgrading in the future

Def glad for the website, it helps alot, especially for the newbies

jsharp1 · 01/04/2010, 12:40 PM

About the anemones....I would love to have one, but I heard that they move around and sting other corals. Is that true for all anenomes?

lifesareef4sure · 01/04/2010, 12:52 PM

I think soft corals would be okay. If you want anything else either place them high up on the tank or upgrade. I just upgraded to t5's from PC's you do see i difference in growth and color.

01/02/2010, 08:09 PM	#1
jsharp1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 162	Is my light good enough for corals? Hello all, I am wondering if I have a poweful enough lighting system for a 65 gallon setup? I purchased a used setup about 3 weeks ago and the light that came with it is a power compact that has the 2 dual lights, both are 96w, one is 10k and the other is actinic. Fixture and bulbs are both made by Current. The tank depth is around 20". I currently have a xenia and a few polyps. They seem to be doing well, but I would like to know what types of corals I would be able to put in my tank with the type of lighting setup I have or if I should upgrade the lighting first. After reading some of the threads it seems that that PC lighting isn't sufficient for alot of corals? I'm a newbie, so I definitely welcome any advice or suggestions

01/02/2010, 08:13 PM	#2
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	what size is your tank? If the system is used I would replace the bulbs first or get a kit for that fixture and replace the pcs with t5s. These bulbs last alot longer then pcs, are more powerful and much cheaper to replace. With new pc bulbs and a high reef you should be able to grow most lps corals and softies *To Reef Central* __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

01/02/2010, 08:33 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Soft corals should be fine with that lighting. Medium light corals might be fine towards the top of the tank. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/02/2010, 09:16 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The Xenia should be okay at the bottom. It might grow more rapidly near the top. I'd leave it alone if it's doing well. Otherwise, it could be moved up the tank slowly, to give it some time to acclimate to a higher light level. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/02/2010, 10:40 PM	#8
ultimatemusky Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: wisconsin Posts: 462	My first reef was a 40 gal that was over 21" deep, I had soft corals, a variety of lps and a sebae anemone that tripled in size in one year(without feeding). All were under pc's, now while I don't recommend everyone doing it, you can't just say it can not be done. __________________ Goooz--Frabba........Ok, that didn't work I'm still ticked off. Current Tank Info: 75 gal w/lps, zoas, shrooms, RO/DI, 500watt halide+ 108watt t5, 1500+gph flow, 10g fuge w/chaeto/rubble rock, 10gal sump w/rock, 125#'s+ live rock, 3.5" sand bed, 40 gal breeder frag tank w/250 watt halide & 192 watts actinic pc's

01/02/2010, 10:10 PM	#7
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	You will be fine for softies. Just try to keep them as close to the surface as possible while still making it look good. This will give them more light penetration. Your out of the game for anemones, sps and hard corals as well as clams.

01/03/2010, 11:25 AM	#9
matttu1983 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: big pine key, fl Posts: 38	I disagree completely with the comment made about not being able to keep an anenome under PC's. i have kept my condy under PC's for about four months now with no problems. my tank is a 20l with a 4x65watt current usa fixture. I would say that anything is possible with proper care and patience.

01/03/2010, 05:10 PM	#12
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Four months isn't long enough to prove much, although I agree that with care, some anemones might do well under PC light. Spot feeding would help, for example. Generally, for the host anemones, brighter light is a good idea. I've never tried Condylactus, so I can't comment on them. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/03/2010, 05:14 PM	#13
pleasants9 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 251	I have about the same wattage on my 55, 4x65W PC's Any softie or LPS does fine in my tank, SPS and clams not really

01/04/2010, 12:25 PM	#14
jsharp1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 162	Thanks for all the feedback, I really appreciate it. I decided to go ahead and move the xenia more towards the top of the tank just in case. Definitely gonna stick with the more hardy corals for now and see how I do with them. This is a very addicting hobby and I can already tell that I will be upgrading in the future Def glad for the website, it helps alot, especially for the newbies

01/04/2010, 12:40 PM	#15
jsharp1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 162	About the anemones....I would love to have one, but I heard that they move around and sting other corals. Is that true for all anenomes?

01/04/2010, 12:52 PM	#16
lifesareef4sure Moved On Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 26	I think soft corals would be okay. If you want anything else either place them high up on the tank or upgrade. I just upgraded to t5's from PC's you do see i difference in growth and color.