Still Looking to Start My first SW Tank: Questions About Lighting

Musing.Dog · 03/15/2010, 02:34 PM

The tank is 36" L, 24" H, and 18" W.
The light is a 2x96 compact fluorescent fixture, 96w 10K, and 96w actinic.

My questions are:
Is this enough light for any corals whatsoever?
Enough light for any macroalgae?
Or is this just enough for coralline?

I plan to keep this tank fowlr with reef safe picks to begin with. But for the future I'd like to know if any corals are within my reach without a lighting upgrade. And if it is capable of sustaining macros, to be able to add them early before the fish.

Vin7250 · 03/15/2010, 02:52 PM

i have a 40 breeder with that same light over it and it works great for my reef. Mostly soft corals and LPS....probably wouldnt put any sps or serious light intense LPS in it but as you can see i have a diverse amount of livestock under those lights. I had MH/PC combo over it for a while, but i didnt like it so i went back to just PC

http://www.ascdocs.com/beta_vin/

Musing.Dog · 03/15/2010, 03:19 PM

@Vin7250

Thanks for the reply.
So that's +1 for softies, and maybe lps.

AdamR · 03/15/2010, 03:46 PM

softies, zoas, pallys, and some lps will do fine under those lights. I would not try any sps or high light lps though.

Musing.Dog · 03/15/2010, 03:51 PM

@AdamR

Thank you.
+2 for soft, zoas and some lps.

I didn't expect to be able to keep sps anyhow.
Actually I didn't expect lps to be in my scope either.

No mention of macroalgae yet.

pugcrush · 03/15/2010, 08:53 PM

+1 on what everyone has already said. On the macros, are you looking to have a planted tank? You thought about a refugium on the side, depending on what purpose you are wanting for the algae; ie food source, nutrient export, pods

Musing.Dog · 03/15/2010, 09:19 PM

I suppose it depends on what I have to do to support them. Not sure exactly what a planted tank is defined by.

Hopefully not a major food source; I think they are interesting and give a very natural feel.
This is a drilled acrylic tank and I do plan a 20ish gallon sump; I imagine a partition of it could be a refugium?

Vin7250 · 03/16/2010, 12:58 PM

Only things i have yet to attempt to keep under that lighting are very light intense LPS and SPS and clams......i just try to stay away from those DT at the LFS

Musing.Dog · 03/16/2010, 02:30 PM

@Vin7250

Thanks for the input. : ) I'll try to to resist temptation. I have relatively good will power anyway.

03/15/2010, 02:34 PM	#1
Musing.Dog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Arizona, US Posts: 231	Still Looking to Start My first SW Tank: Questions About Lighting The tank is 36" L, 24" H, and 18" W. The light is a 2x96 compact fluorescent fixture, 96w 10K, and 96w actinic. My questions are: Is this enough light for any corals whatsoever? Enough light for any macroalgae? Or is this just enough for coralline? I plan to keep this tank fowlr with reef safe picks to begin with. But for the future I'd like to know if any corals are within my reach without a lighting upgrade. And if it is capable of sustaining macros, to be able to add them early before the fish.

03/15/2010, 02:52 PM	#2
Vin7250 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut "The Big East" Posts: 1,144	i have a 40 breeder with that same light over it and it works great for my reef. Mostly soft corals and LPS....probably wouldnt put any sps or serious light intense LPS in it but as you can see i have a diverse amount of livestock under those lights. I had MH/PC combo over it for a while, but i didnt like it so i went back to just PC http://www.ascdocs.com/beta_vin/

03/15/2010, 03:19 PM	#3
Musing.Dog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Arizona, US Posts: 231	@Vin7250 Thanks for the reply. So that's +1 for softies, and maybe lps.

03/15/2010, 03:46 PM	#4
AdamR Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 25	softies, zoas, pallys, and some lps will do fine under those lights. I would not try any sps or high light lps though.

03/15/2010, 03:51 PM	#5
Musing.Dog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Arizona, US Posts: 231	@AdamR Thank you. +2 for soft, zoas and some lps. I didn't expect to be able to keep sps anyhow. Actually I didn't expect lps to be in my scope either. No mention of macroalgae yet.

03/15/2010, 08:53 PM	#6
pugcrush Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: FL Posts: 305	+1 on what everyone has already said. On the macros, are you looking to have a planted tank? You thought about a refugium on the side, depending on what purpose you are wanting for the algae; ie food source, nutrient export, pods

03/15/2010, 09:19 PM	#7
Musing.Dog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Arizona, US Posts: 231	I suppose it depends on what I have to do to support them. Not sure exactly what a planted tank is defined by. Hopefully not a major food source; I think they are interesting and give a very natural feel. This is a drilled acrylic tank and I do plan a 20ish gallon sump; I imagine a partition of it could be a refugium?

03/16/2010, 12:58 PM	#8
Vin7250 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut "The Big East" Posts: 1,144	Only things i have yet to attempt to keep under that lighting are very light intense LPS and SPS and clams......i just try to stay away from those DT at the LFS

03/16/2010, 02:30 PM	#9
Musing.Dog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Arizona, US Posts: 231	@Vin7250 Thanks for the input. : ) I'll try to to resist temptation. I have relatively good will power anyway.