seniorabreu
New Member
I have a 180 galloon - fish only tank. I have 3 clowns and wanted to get an anemone but do I need special lighting. I have strip lights that came with my tank ( which is new). Thanks for any help. ***)
anemone lighting question
- Thread starter seniorabreu
- Start date
choco
Member
PCs give out horrible PAR and PAR is an essential for all anemones. I would strictly go with MH or T5s(ones with individual reflectors). T5s and MH put out way more PAR than PCs, and VHO. The lighting you have now which is NO(normal output) doesn't do anything for photosynthetic inverts. How old is your tank by the way. Anemones need established tanks of at least 8 months.
seniorabreu
New Member
Originally Posted by Dawman
I have successfully kept anemones with my tanks which use pc lighting . If all you are planning to have is anemones and no coral , M.H. is overkill and costly.
I pla n to have 1-2 anemones and no coral. I just wanted to get an anemone for my clowns.
I have successfully kept anemones with my tanks which use pc lighting . If all you are planning to have is anemones and no coral , M.H. is overkill and costly.
I pla n to have 1-2 anemones and no coral. I just wanted to get an anemone for my clowns.
choco
Member
Originally Posted by Dawman
I have successfully kept anemones with my tanks which use pc lighting . If all you are planning to have is anemones and no coral , M.H. is overkill and costly.
Yes PCs will work fine for E. Quadricolor and possible S. Mertensii but they will not provide enough light long term for any other species. What kind of anemones are you keeping Dawman? MH nor T5s are not an overkill by the way. They put out terrific PAR depending on what ballast your using, what type of reflectors and bulbs. Please don't provide false information.
I have successfully kept anemones with my tanks which use pc lighting . If all you are planning to have is anemones and no coral , M.H. is overkill and costly.
Yes PCs will work fine for E. Quadricolor and possible S. Mertensii but they will not provide enough light long term for any other species. What kind of anemones are you keeping Dawman? MH nor T5s are not an overkill by the way. They put out terrific PAR depending on what ballast your using, what type of reflectors and bulbs. Please don't provide false information.
choco
Member
Originally Posted by joojoo
If you use PCs to keep anemone, you will need more wattage, IME... I have never successfully kept an anemone under PCs (130 watts over 20 gallons).
S. Mertensii ... as in the carpet anemone? Def needs MH.
S. Mertensii is one of three species of the genus Stichodactyla.
1.) Stichodactyla Gigantea (I would say the most difficult anemone to keep)
2.) Stichodactyla Haddoni (The most common carpet anemone)
3.) Stichodactyla Mertensii (Not as demanding but definately more rare)
S. Mertensii actually does poorer under MH. It actually likes the type of lighting that gives out less PAR and a higher kelvin rating. IMO/IME, VHO and PCS are the best type of lighting for S. Mertensii given that its in a proper location. Now, S. Gigantea need either MH or T5s. I have kept a green Gigantea under T5s without any problem. S. Haddoni usually need T5s or MH imo.
Now back to the thread...seniorabreu, what is your budget? The best option is to go with either T5s or MH. Personally, I would go with T5s since there are more benefits to having them. They put out just as much light, they use less heat, cheaper to run, don't have to replace the bulbs as often and its a more natural source of lighting. PCs over a 180 gallon tank would not be good enough for an anemone long term. PCs at best get about 3-4 inches of PAR while MH and T5s can put out around 18 if I remember correctly. There is a big difference. PCs are really only effective on keeping photosynthetic invertebrates alive in a shallow tank. A 180 gallon tank is wide, long and not shallow. PCS on this type of tank would thus be ineffective. Remember, we are suppose to mimic an anemones natural enviroment as much as possible, not give it the minimum.
If you use PCs to keep anemone, you will need more wattage, IME... I have never successfully kept an anemone under PCs (130 watts over 20 gallons).
S. Mertensii ... as in the carpet anemone? Def needs MH.
S. Mertensii is one of three species of the genus Stichodactyla.
1.) Stichodactyla Gigantea (I would say the most difficult anemone to keep)
2.) Stichodactyla Haddoni (The most common carpet anemone)
3.) Stichodactyla Mertensii (Not as demanding but definately more rare)
S. Mertensii actually does poorer under MH. It actually likes the type of lighting that gives out less PAR and a higher kelvin rating. IMO/IME, VHO and PCS are the best type of lighting for S. Mertensii given that its in a proper location. Now, S. Gigantea need either MH or T5s. I have kept a green Gigantea under T5s without any problem. S. Haddoni usually need T5s or MH imo.
Now back to the thread...seniorabreu, what is your budget? The best option is to go with either T5s or MH. Personally, I would go with T5s since there are more benefits to having them. They put out just as much light, they use less heat, cheaper to run, don't have to replace the bulbs as often and its a more natural source of lighting. PCs over a 180 gallon tank would not be good enough for an anemone long term. PCs at best get about 3-4 inches of PAR while MH and T5s can put out around 18 if I remember correctly. There is a big difference. PCs are really only effective on keeping photosynthetic invertebrates alive in a shallow tank. A 180 gallon tank is wide, long and not shallow. PCS on this type of tank would thus be ineffective. Remember, we are suppose to mimic an anemones natural enviroment as much as possible, not give it the minimum.
dawman
Active Member
Originally Posted by Choco
Yes PCs will work fine for E. Quadricolor and possible S. Mertensii but they will not provide enough light long term for any other species. What kind of anemones are you keeping Dawman? MH nor T5s are not an overkill by the way. They put out terrific PAR depending on what ballast your using, what type of reflectors and bulbs. Please don't provide false information.
MH is overkill if all you want is a few anemones . By the way I have a LTA , BTA , and others with no problems . 260 watts on a 75 .
Yes PCs will work fine for E. Quadricolor and possible S. Mertensii but they will not provide enough light long term for any other species. What kind of anemones are you keeping Dawman? MH nor T5s are not an overkill by the way. They put out terrific PAR depending on what ballast your using, what type of reflectors and bulbs. Please don't provide false information.
MH is overkill if all you want is a few anemones . By the way I have a LTA , BTA , and others with no problems . 260 watts on a 75 .