Tank setup: Lighting questions

Joefiss00 · 02/09/2006, 01:02 AM

Hi Everyone,
First time checking out this site, and was hoping someone could help me understand a few things. First off I just upgraded to a 65 gallon tank from a 16 gallon tank.

Im using:
Aqua C protein skimmer
Biowheel Filter
2x96w coralife lunar light
60 lbs live sand
20 lbs live rock(w/ some large fake rocks)

Im wondering if my lighting is sufficient? I have a few corals thats were doing well in my old 16 gallon tank with a 96w caralife light.(green finger leather, pearl coral, kenya tree, trumpet coral, colony rock, green hairy mushroom) I have had this new tank set up for 2 months and the finger leather and pearl coral are not looking great. I know the finger leather requires more lighting. How much more do I need? The pearl coral has been closed up for almost a month, any suggestions? Everything else seems to be doing fine, and water conditions are great.

Thansk for the help!

egdevilboy · 02/09/2006, 01:26 AM

[IMG]/images/welcome.gif[/IMG]

Definately Not Sufficent enough lighting. Aim for about 5-7w/ gallon. Id recomment either another 2x96 or look into MH lighting.

Other than that ... The Remora is a great HOB skimmer. Also go with about 50-60lbs of livesand and about 1.5 lbs of Liverock/gallon for bio filtration filtation and more livestock options. The base rock wont provide good biological until it is seeded via the LR.

I have a 2x96 Retro for sale if interested ($120 shipped), just pm me. That'll put you at about 6w/g which you can keep most anything but SPS's and Clams (need MHs)

egdevilboy · 02/09/2006, 01:30 AM

Also, in the future you may wanna look into a sump or refugium. It provides good filtration and let you get alot of equipment outta the tank

What kind of flow you have in the take (Powerheads/pumps). Go with 10-30x gph/gallon (so for 15x flow you want 65x15gph=975gph water movemnt)

Keep reading and check the posts that are "Stickyed" at the top of the forums. Best of luck and happy reefing!

Monkeyfish · 02/09/2006, 10:14 AM

I agree that more light would be beneficial with a tank of that size/depth. The watts per gallon rule is a bit of a myth, but not a bad place to start (do search for lumens, light temp, and PAR for additional info on lighting). More rock would definitely be beneficial and help with your filtration. IMO you should ditch the biowheel as they become "nitrate factories." The bacteria that colonizes bio-wheels are excellent at converting ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate, but this results in a lot of nitrates (over time) which is not good for a reef tank.

Joefiss00 · 02/10/2006, 10:40 AM

Thanks a lot guys!
I dont have any other water movement other than the protein skimmer and biowheel filter making a current. I shoud prob look into another water pump huh?

reverendmaynard · 02/10/2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joefiss00
Thanks a lot guys!
I dont have any other water movement other than the protein skimmer and biowheel filter making a current. I shoud prob look into another water pump huh?

Power heads are cheap. Maxi-Jet 1200s cost $20 or less on line. One in each back corner would add almost 600gph.

Monkeyfish · 02/10/2006, 11:38 AM

For powerheads you should look at maxijets and seio superflows. How much current you have dependson what you are trying to keep. Fish typically do fine with 10x tank turnover (for you that's 650 gallons an hour) but some corals need twice that.

02/09/2006, 01:02 AM	#1
Joefiss00 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2	Tank setup: Lighting questions Hi Everyone, First time checking out this site, and was hoping someone could help me understand a few things. First off I just upgraded to a 65 gallon tank from a 16 gallon tank. Im using: Aqua C protein skimmer Biowheel Filter 2x96w coralife lunar light 60 lbs live sand 20 lbs live rock(w/ some large fake rocks) Im wondering if my lighting is sufficient? I have a few corals thats were doing well in my old 16 gallon tank with a 96w caralife light.(green finger leather, pearl coral, kenya tree, trumpet coral, colony rock, green hairy mushroom) I have had this new tank set up for 2 months and the finger leather and pearl coral are not looking great. I know the finger leather requires more lighting. How much more do I need? The pearl coral has been closed up for almost a month, any suggestions? Everything else seems to be doing fine, and water conditions are great. Thansk for the help!

02/09/2006, 10:14 AM	#4
Monkeyfish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Long Island (NY) Posts: 4,077	I agree that more light would be beneficial with a tank of that size/depth. The watts per gallon rule is a bit of a myth, but not a bad place to start (do search for lumens, light temp, and PAR for additional info on lighting). More rock would definitely be beneficial and help with your filtration. IMO you should ditch the biowheel as they become "nitrate factories." The bacteria that colonizes bio-wheels are excellent at converting ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate, but this results in a lot of nitrates (over time) which is not good for a reef tank. __________________ Eric "One thing that humbles me deeply is to see that human genius has its limits while human stupidity does not." Current Tank Info: Taking a break

02/10/2006, 11:38 AM	#7
Monkeyfish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Long Island (NY) Posts: 4,077	For powerheads you should look at maxijets and seio superflows. How much current you have dependson what you are trying to keep. Fish typically do fine with 10x tank turnover (for you that's 650 gallons an hour) but some corals need twice that. __________________ Eric "One thing that humbles me deeply is to see that human genius has its limits while human stupidity does not." Current Tank Info: Taking a break

02/09/2006, 01:26 AM	#2
egdevilboy Moved On Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southern Florida Posts: 620	[IMG]/images/welcome.gif[/IMG] Definately Not Sufficent enough lighting. Aim for about 5-7w/ gallon. Id recomment either another 2x96 or look into MH lighting. Other than that ... The Remora is a great HOB skimmer. Also go with about 50-60lbs of livesand and about 1.5 lbs of Liverock/gallon for bio filtration filtation and more livestock options. The base rock wont provide good biological until it is seeded via the LR. I have a 2x96 Retro for sale if interested ($120 shipped), just pm me. That'll put you at about 6w/g which you can keep most anything but SPS's and Clams (need MHs)

02/09/2006, 01:30 AM	#3
egdevilboy Moved On Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southern Florida Posts: 620	Also, in the future you may wanna look into a sump or refugium. It provides good filtration and let you get alot of equipment outta the tank What kind of flow you have in the take (Powerheads/pumps). Go with 10-30x gph/gallon (so for 15x flow you want 65x15gph=975gph water movemnt) Keep reading and check the posts that are "Stickyed" at the top of the forums. Best of luck and happy reefing!

02/10/2006, 10:40 AM	#5
Joefiss00 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2	Thanks a lot guys! I dont have any other water movement other than the protein skimmer and biowheel filter making a current. I shoud prob look into another water pump huh?