Saltwater Fish with reef - Lighting

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K

kutti

Feeder Fish
Jun 29, 2009
3
0
0
india
I have my 55 gallon tank set up for awhile now. I have succesfully kept the water in the proper perameters. I have introduced severl differant fish with everyone happy. I also have some crabs, snails, a feather duster, and 2 anemones. I want to begin to get some corals to enhance the live rock. I was use floresent bulbs in my canopy but was told by on person at the lfs that I needed to upgrade and he suggested 50/50 bulbs that would fit into my current hood. So, I went out and purchased them. Went back to the same lfs and the person working tonight says thay aren't strong enough for corals. Now I am confused and fustrated, working on a limited budget, and need some real life advice. Thank you

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ratatouille
No Proof of Income Mortgage
 
Well it will depend on the Coral's you plan to keep as well as location in the tank, tank size, flow? Once I hear the answer I can guide you to the proper lighting requirements.

Mr.reef24
 
i would just go with metal halide (250watt) should be gewd for a 55 gallon lighting they can b pricey..... they are well worth the price and you can put any corals u want un der the MH lighting
 
I would definitely go with a metal halide. Possibly with power compacts as well. You could even put a MH on one side and pcs on the other. There are so many factors to consider. The animals you buy have varying needs as far as lighting goes. Some need bright light some need low lighting. Too much can kill. Too little can kill. I suggest doing a LOT of research on the animals you want to keep before you proceed.
 
depending on his aquarium size and coral's he choose's he may only need HO T-5's or nothing at all I just want to hear what coral's he is thinking about getting and his future plan's before I recommend him spending hard earn money if he don't need too.

mr.reef24
 
well the MH are going to penetrate the water with a better Par rating plus if he has anemones i have always been told you should bne running MH
 
anemones don't require MH
they'll do fine with 4-6 bulbs of T5HO
besides what kind of anemones are they
if they hitchhiked, they could be aiptasia or mojano anemones, which are very bad
 
Gene0514;3247485; said:
anemones don't require MH
they'll do fine with 4-6 bulbs of T5HO
besides what kind of anemones are they
if they hitchhiked, they could be aiptasia or mojano anemones, which are very bad
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+1

decide what corals you want to keep first Softies, Large Polyp Stoney (LPS), or Small Polyp Stoney (SPS).

softies will grow under the least light. mushrooms, leathers, button polyps ect. i have softies in my tank. theyre flourishing in 50w of T8 lighting!!! no where near enough light according to some people. theyve been in the tank for about 9 months, and have doubled in size. my toad stool leather is now about 8" accross. it was less than 3.5" when i bought it.

LPS will need more light, T5 High Output (HO) or Very High Output (VHO) usually 4-6 tubes, around 150w total. you will be able to grow softies too with these lights, but keep them at the bottom or in shaded areas. you will be able to keep anemones under this lighting.

Metal Hailide lighting is the brightest. and many will argue the best. but it can burn softies so you have to be careful if you keep them under MH. you can keep brain coral and clams under these lights though... but its also really expensive to run. so the choice is yours.

remember not all corals have the same requirements, some will like more light than others. so you will need to place them accordingly in the tank. low light at the bottom, high at the top.

your last option is non photosynthetic corals, pulsing xenia, seafans/seawhips ect. these corals require no light at all, but do require feeding every few days with phytoplanton or even larger food items such as brine shrimp, or bits of squid.
 
lots of good info so far, but we have been playing with a strictly T5 tank, 55 cube, running 3 bulbs, and keeping sps, zoa's, plate, xenia, lps's and have had no troubles with them growing well. so if you are looking to keep your power consumption down, you may check into them, still get a nice looking tank, if you go with the right bulbs. as far as MH's go, there is no need for them unless you just want a brighter tank, for 2 years a kept a green bubble tip with no problems, along with several sps under PC lighting in a 55 long
 
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