are these lights good enough for a 55 gallon reef?

ontheairship · 01/07/2010, 03:23 PM

I have these lights on my 55 gallon and i'm wondering if they're any good for a reef. My tank has been set up for a little while now with fish and live rock and I decided to add an anemone for my clown but I'm pretty certain it's dying

. I also added some polyps that my friend gifted me and they looked much much better in her tank. I've had saltwater tanks in the past and I kept my bubble anemone and some sun polyps just fine until I took my tank down so I'm wondering what could be the problem this time. I know I could have better flow in the tank but I've been spot feeding to try to make up for that. I've been testing my water and my nitrate and salt is all good. I do weekly water changes, and I try to cycle my lights as best as I can. I'm just wondering what else it could be or if my lights just aren't as good as they could be.

I'm running sunlight supply tek light 44 with these bulb sand reflectors
aquablue +
pure actinic+
actinic+
actinic+

Hephalump · 01/07/2010, 03:33 PM

It sounds like you have an aweful lot of actinic light on your tank and not enough light that is actually usable for growth. I recently relamped my 2 foot fixture with 2 actinic+ and 2 aquablue from geissman, and I still feel that I have too much actinic. I'm going to swap an actinic out for a 6500k bulb for extra growth.

As far as it goes it sounds like your tank is young, and not really ready for an anemone yet. Also it strikes me that if your flow is low and you are spot feeding to make up for it then you are probably polluting your tank with too much food. What do you have for filtration? Also, are you testing for alkalinity and calcium? If not you probably should start as they are super important for the health of your corals.

ontheairship · 01/07/2010, 03:50 PM

those are the bulbs that came with my tank when I bought it. I have had so many problems with this tank I'm seriously considering throwing everything in my empty 34 gallon so I can afford to buy better things. Should I swap my pure actinic out for a different bulb them? What do you recommend?

My tank is drilled and I'm running my sump as the person before me had it, live rock rubble instead of bioballs, a sponge, and carbon bag. I have a protein skimmer that came with the setup but its HUGE and I'm not sure how exactly it will fit with everything. Should I hook that up too? I will test for alkalinity and calcium as early as possible and get back to you with that.

Do I have a better chance trying to setup my smaller tank or can this be a simple solution? I don't have alot of money, that's why I bought everything used but I love saltwater systems so I rather have something smaller than nothing at all

zach jay · 01/07/2010, 04:00 PM

probably too early for an anemone. but definitely set up the protein skimmer. once larger tanks are setup, they should be easier than smaller ones because more water = more stability.

Hephalump · 01/07/2010, 04:12 PM

I don't think you will save enough money by downgrading to the 34 to make it worth doing. I'd say stay in the 55, hook up the skimmer, and swap out one of your actinic bulbs for a 10k bulb like the aquablue that you already have. Then just let it run for a while. If you're ambitious you can turn your 34 into a refugium and that will dramatically improve your water quality. I currently run a 55g refugium on my 29g display.

lordofthereef · 01/07/2010, 05:13 PM

How long has the tank been set up? I would lean towards the tank being to premature for an anemone too, but I don't think you gave us a timeline. Some pics would also help us help you.

bertoni · 01/07/2010, 06:52 PM

Are the bulbs PC or T5? Does each bulb have an individual reflector?

I'd put in three bulbs that are 6500-10,000 K in place of three of the actinics. Bulbs wear out rather rapidly, so the actinic need not go to waste.

ontheairship · 01/07/2010, 09:29 PM

There is a big reflector than bends around each light individually but it is just 1 big piece. I imagine they are t-5's because the lamp says t-5. Could they be otherwise and still work? I will do my best to grab a new bulb tomorrow. As far as a refuge, I really want to set one up but I only have room for a 10 gallon tank in the stand and no room for anything else around my tank. Will the polyps be ok if I get a new light and flow or should I try to rehome them before its too late? Also does it make a huge difference how far my lights are from my tank and if I have lids or not on it? Thanks!

And does the size of the skimmer matter? Its almost as tall as my stand (standard wooden 55 stand). Thanks again for everyone's help!

bertoni · 01/07/2010, 09:52 PM

They pretty much have to be T5 unless the label is lying.

Most soft corals should be happy with that lighting. If the reflectors and ballast are good enough, some high-light animals likely will be fine.

Do you know the brand of the skimmer and the model number?

ontheairship · 01/08/2010, 01:59 PM

The skimmer is: Euro-Reef RS-80 Protein Skimmer

I'll have pictures up sometime tonight or tomorrow, my camera is dead right now

I didn't really know anemones were so sensitive. I got mine as my clown's christmas present from my roommate lol, but it probably is that my tank is just too young. I'm off to get a new bulb then to eliminate some actinic overdosing and I'll let you guys know from there.

Thanks again for everyone's help! I was really considering throwing in the towel and downsizing

bertoni · 01/08/2010, 06:20 PM

That's a well-rated skimmer, so that should be okay. The lighting might not be all that good for an anemone.

01/07/2010, 03:23 PM	#1
ontheairship Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 68	are these lights good enough for a 55 gallon reef? I have these lights on my 55 gallon and i'm wondering if they're any good for a reef. My tank has been set up for a little while now with fish and live rock and I decided to add an anemone for my clown but I'm pretty certain it's dying . I also added some polyps that my friend gifted me and they looked much much better in her tank. I've had saltwater tanks in the past and I kept my bubble anemone and some sun polyps just fine until I took my tank down so I'm wondering what could be the problem this time. I know I could have better flow in the tank but I've been spot feeding to try to make up for that. I've been testing my water and my nitrate and salt is all good. I do weekly water changes, and I try to cycle my lights as best as I can. I'm just wondering what else it could be or if my lights just aren't as good as they could be. I'm running sunlight supply tek light 44 with these bulb sand reflectors aquablue + pure actinic+ actinic+ actinic+

01/07/2010, 03:33 PM	#2
Hephalump Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 244	It sounds like you have an aweful lot of actinic light on your tank and not enough light that is actually usable for growth. I recently relamped my 2 foot fixture with 2 actinic+ and 2 aquablue from geissman, and I still feel that I have too much actinic. I'm going to swap an actinic out for a 6500k bulb for extra growth. As far as it goes it sounds like your tank is young, and not really ready for an anemone yet. Also it strikes me that if your flow is low and you are spot feeding to make up for it then you are probably polluting your tank with too much food. What do you have for filtration? Also, are you testing for alkalinity and calcium? If not you probably should start as they are super important for the health of your corals. __________________ You can change your socks, but if you don't wash your feet they will still stink. Current Tank Info: 65 gal bowfront mixed reef, Maxspect Razor 160w, Reef Octopus NW150, Aquamaxx Nano calcium reactor, vortech mp40, pair of ocellaris clowns, starry blenny.

01/07/2010, 04:12 PM	#5
Hephalump Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 244	I don't think you will save enough money by downgrading to the 34 to make it worth doing. I'd say stay in the 55, hook up the skimmer, and swap out one of your actinic bulbs for a 10k bulb like the aquablue that you already have. Then just let it run for a while. If you're ambitious you can turn your 34 into a refugium and that will dramatically improve your water quality. I currently run a 55g refugium on my 29g display. __________________ You can change your socks, but if you don't wash your feet they will still stink. Current Tank Info: 65 gal bowfront mixed reef, Maxspect Razor 160w, Reef Octopus NW150, Aquamaxx Nano calcium reactor, vortech mp40, pair of ocellaris clowns, starry blenny.

01/07/2010, 05:13 PM	#6
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	How long has the tank been set up? I would lean towards the tank being to premature for an anemone too, but I don't think you gave us a timeline. Some pics would also help us help you. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

01/07/2010, 06:52 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Are the bulbs PC or T5? Does each bulb have an individual reflector? I'd put in three bulbs that are 6500-10,000 K in place of three of the actinics. Bulbs wear out rather rapidly, so the actinic need not go to waste. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/07/2010, 03:50 PM	#3
ontheairship Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 68	those are the bulbs that came with my tank when I bought it. I have had so many problems with this tank I'm seriously considering throwing everything in my empty 34 gallon so I can afford to buy better things. Should I swap my pure actinic out for a different bulb them? What do you recommend? My tank is drilled and I'm running my sump as the person before me had it, live rock rubble instead of bioballs, a sponge, and carbon bag. I have a protein skimmer that came with the setup but its HUGE and I'm not sure how exactly it will fit with everything. Should I hook that up too? I will test for alkalinity and calcium as early as possible and get back to you with that. Do I have a better chance trying to setup my smaller tank or can this be a simple solution? I don't have alot of money, that's why I bought everything used but I love saltwater systems so I rather have something smaller than nothing at all

01/07/2010, 04:00 PM	#4
zach jay Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: west hartford, ct Posts: 630	probably too early for an anemone. but definitely set up the protein skimmer. once larger tanks are setup, they should be easier than smaller ones because more water = more stability.

01/07/2010, 09:29 PM	#8
ontheairship Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 68	There is a big reflector than bends around each light individually but it is just 1 big piece. I imagine they are t-5's because the lamp says t-5. Could they be otherwise and still work? I will do my best to grab a new bulb tomorrow. As far as a refuge, I really want to set one up but I only have room for a 10 gallon tank in the stand and no room for anything else around my tank. Will the polyps be ok if I get a new light and flow or should I try to rehome them before its too late? Also does it make a huge difference how far my lights are from my tank and if I have lids or not on it? Thanks! And does the size of the skimmer matter? Its almost as tall as my stand (standard wooden 55 stand). Thanks again for everyone's help!

01/07/2010, 09:52 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	They pretty much have to be T5 unless the label is lying. Most soft corals should be happy with that lighting. If the reflectors and ballast are good enough, some high-light animals likely will be fine. Do you know the brand of the skimmer and the model number? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/08/2010, 01:59 PM	#10
ontheairship Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 68	The skimmer is: Euro-Reef RS-80 Protein Skimmer I'll have pictures up sometime tonight or tomorrow, my camera is dead right now I didn't really know anemones were so sensitive. I got mine as my clown's christmas present from my roommate lol, but it probably is that my tank is just too young. I'm off to get a new bulb then to eliminate some actinic overdosing and I'll let you guys know from there. Thanks again for everyone's help! I was really considering throwing in the towel and downsizing

01/08/2010, 06:20 PM	#11
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That's a well-rated skimmer, so that should be okay. The lighting might not be all that good for an anemone. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni