75 gallon reef TANK DIARY

[slademan]

i have a coralife retrofit with two PC actinics and two 150w metal halides at 15k...soon i will upgrade to PFO ballasts and reflectors at 250k with an actinic t5 strip

 

[slademan]

Hey everyone,
quick question if someone can answer....
im upgrading my lighting and i was wondering if 400w MH's were too much for the 18 inch depth that i have?
will acros thrive if i only have 250w?
also, if im thinking of using two 250w pendants, what would be best to use as actinics on the tank?

 

[brandon7491]

no 400watts wouldnt be too much but y waste the money on them. 250watts are more than enough to have acropora thriving. the only reason people go 400watts is because they can use a 20k bulb which provides both growth and awsome colors. but if u put a 14k bulb in 250s u will get groth all though it will be slower ur colors will be great. no u dont have to supplement with attinics but it will help in the coloration but not drastically with a 14k bulb. id stick with ur 250s and just change the bulb spectrum to what u like. good looking tank

 

[slademan]

I think im just gonna go with the 400w and yeah 20k bulbs....no PC's or T-5s to add color because the intensity of the 400w and color of 20k will be enough i just gotta get rid of my coralife retrofit....ANY TAKERS?

 

[brandon7491]

how much?

 

[slademan]

for the retro....well its just over a year old and the pcs need to be replaced....for new its 750 so id say about 400

 

[slademan]

oh and its 48 inches

 

[slademan]

just set up the new 250 w pendants on the tank last week, temp has been perfect with the fans blowing on the lights....will post pics tomorrow night

 

[reefmate75]

nice looking tank! odd thing is you tore down your old tank becuase it was infested with aptasia....could have added a copperbanded and cleared that right up =) i have 1 in my tank...alot of people say they eat polyps but i havent seen him eat any of mine...keep him feed is all, pepperment shrimp eat that stuff two, but they dont handle the bigger ones to well..they will eat the tentacules off and leave the crown so it would just grow back just my 2 cents though

 

[slademan]

new pics with new lights....250w 14k hamilton reefstars

 

[slademan]

now for the problem...
my BTA is acting weird and im wondering what i should do...
Its basically hiding under the rock and doesnt look at its fullest

 

[slademan]

anyone got an idea as to whats going on he doesnt look any better today?

 

[hefner413]

dunno about your bta - never had one myself. But wondering about your lights.... you have awesome color out of them. Got any pics of them installed? And you say they are the 250 W pendants with 20K bulbs?

 

[slademan]

nope not evern 20k just 14k.....i basically just cut out two holes in a new wooden canopy and put sheet metal where the lights would touch...in case they heat up.
they end up being about 7 inches off the water and i installed 2 6 inch fans and ill be getting a chiller in the spring but theres no heat transfer with the amazing fans i put on.
ill take pics of what the canopy looks like tomorrow but yeah theyr only 14k 250w...hamilton reef stars definitely worth upgrading there is massive polyp extension in my acros!