Finally getting started - Page 2

half and half would seem ok to me.  The live would seed the dead and you should be ok.  As far as power failures are concerned, I was recomended the CPR overflow unit as it would stop the syphon to the bottom when it ran out of water as the pump would stop pumping water to the DT.  Just be sure to not have too much water in the whole system I guess. idk.

great job ill be watching for updates

Now comes the hard part, waiting. Looking good so far.

Changin out the light will help the corals and shouldnt cause any other problems that i can see, but dont take my word on it.  There is also that coral wave grow light that i keep reading up on.  It seems to be a pretty decent light for a tank.

wow nice tank i really like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

LOL, it's better than my pictures. yes more rock, but I have to say I love the pieces that you have so far, hand picked?

they BETTER BE!!!!!!! they look so awesome to not be hand picked! lols so many caves!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have the same stand.  Outstanding, I know...

That seems like too much lighting.  Its well over 12 hours total.  But then again, you have no fish or corals in there so I dont see the harm in it.  Other than growing more algea that you wont want, but that is what CUCs are for.

Try to shoot for 12 hours of "daylight" with 1 hour of dawn / dusk on either side of the "daylight" is best.  This might require a special lighting fixture or adding in some LEDs for "moonlight" in the tank.  I would imagine that as long as you have the lights on for atleast 10 hours a day, at regular intervals, that would be good enough.  Do you have a timer on the lights?

Not to sound like a smart ass, but......

When was the last time the sun went out in the middle of the day for a few hours?

Everything I have read suggested to have between 10 to 12 hours of "daylight" on the tank.  Depending on your schedule, you could have your lights come on at 10 am and turn off at 9 pm.  That would be 11 hours and you would have some decent viewing hours.  For me, an admitted night owl, I would have them come on at 11 am and then off at 11 pm. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monsinour 

Not to sound like a smart ass, but......

 

When was the last time the sun went out in the middle of the day for a few hours?

 

Everything I have read suggested to have between 10 to 12 hours of "daylight" on the tank.  Depending on your schedule, you could have your lights come on at 10 am and turn off at 9 pm.  That would be 11 hours and you would have some decent viewing hours.  For me, an admitted night owl, I would have them come on at 11 am and then off at 11 pm. 

Actinic lighting will help the coral stay happy when MH lights are cut off for a span in the day. MH lights run very hot and sometimes we need to shut them down for a bit. I had my MH run in 4 hour shifts last summer or maybe it was the beginning of this summer, I don't recall.