Beginner Reef Questions. I'd Appreciate some feedback.

woody189

woody189

Member
Hi. I have a Couple very beginner Reef questions.
I have a 46 gal tank w/ 45 lbs LR. I have a FOWLR, but plan on upgrading to reef, just don't know anything about reefs. I have a canister filter, skimmer, and in the process of setting up 10 gal sump/fuge.
I've been looking at the reef sections and stuff, but I'm still pretty lost.
1) I'm going to get T-5's. Do I need 2 bulbs or 4? What limitations would I have w/ each?
2) being as though my tank isn't too deep, I don't have too much need for MH's, correct?
3) I read that beginner reefers should go w/ shrooms, zoanthoids, leathers, and softies. Is that correct? Also, Does that mean I can choose ANY one of the items that fall into that category?
Or is it like choosing fish. For example, I may be able to get an angel, but one angel be too small for my tank, and the otehr won't, therefore I have to research.
I was looking at SWF.com's selection and there are sooo many choices.
IDK a thing about the different types of corals and stuff, and I've been trying to find descent threads explaing stuff, but I really can't find any. (YES I've searched and searched).
4) Anyone have any good starter corals/shrooms/etc. I'm mostly concerned about some nice, bright color. I don't like the plain LR look.
5) I see stuff at LFS for like 15$. I guess they are frags because they are tiny and attached to some rubble. they ARE frags, right?
6) I'd be okay buying them and not getting the large $50-100 corals right? Because in time they will grow to be a nice size. Also, are the frags more difficult to care for then the whole coral?
7) I was looking at the Odyssea brand for T5's because they are pretty cheap. Any comments? I did a little research and saw that the brand is a little "Shady" but ppl w/ their products have positive things to say. (other than the fact that I have to upgrade their cheap bulbs.
A lot questions, I know. I'm sure there's plenty more to come though. I'd appreciate any answers you have.
Thanks so much
 
woody189

woody189

Member
Also, I know my water has to be perfect, and my Ca and Alk and stuff has to be balanced. I have to do some more research on that, and get my levels right. I also have to set up my sump/fuge so I have a lot of time.
I'm just trying to do some research so i'm ready when the time comes.
 
awilson500

awilson500

Member
I have a 4 bulb T-5 light and if I had to do it over I would have spend the extra money and got the 8 bulb fixture.... Just my 2 cents.
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
you can get a single 250 watt mh light then put just about anything in there.
consistant water changes should keep the water perfect once cycled.
no need to add anything a good salt mix will have everything in it.
once you get alot of corals is when you need to really look at adding calcium and some trace elements.
if you are going to do a sump you wont need the canister
they are a maintanance pain imo
frags are just pieces of larger corals so they have different cares to what kind you buy
zoos are easy and spread pretty fast sometimes too fast as far as i know most mushrooms are hardy.try a couple small 3-4 inch leather corals they will give you movement instead of just covering the rock.
good luck
 
drakken

drakken

Member
As mentioned zoos and mushrooms are great beginner inverts. Another super easy, fast growing invert is Kenya tree. For a light you can get an inexpensive power compact fixture that will provide plenty of light for these corals.
No need to buy expensive large corals as the above corals grow pretty fast.
 
woody189

woody189

Member
Ok, now I'm lost. I got 3 replies w/ 3 completly different suggestions on lights.
Awilson...you said you wish you had 8 bulbs rather than 4. How big is your tank, and why do you wish you had 8? Is 4 really not enough??
DeeJeff...You said 1 MH. From what I read, these are typically used for deeper tanks, and I THOUGHT if i put one in my tank, It wouldn't be the best choice. They say they get too hot, and focus too much heat into one place, rather than spreading it throughout the tank.
Drakken...You say a PC. I read these aren't the best. Do you have positive experience w/ them? I woudl love to go this route, because they are DEF cheap.
I'm really lost now. I know I was vague on what I want to grow. I really want just a lot of nice bright colors. Can anyone tell me what I WOULDN'T be able to get if I went each route?
My main concern is buying my lighting, and 6 months down the line I regret it and want more powerful lighting. I don't want to have to rebuy lights, and get rid of the old ones.
Thanks for the input so far. I appreciate it. And ANYONE feel free to answers these questions. Not just the original posters.
thanks
 
woody189

woody189

Member
Oh, and Jeff. My tank as already been cycled and up and running for a year. I have 6 fish and I already have the canister filter. I know I should've gotten sump/fuge from the beginning but what are you gonna do. I do regular maintenance and haven't had a problme w/ it yet.
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Woody,
Can you please post the dimensions of your tank, I'm not familiar with the dimensions of the 45 gallon. As for lights, I would stay away from PC if at all possible. T5s maybe your best choice, but several people on the boards are running MH over nanos and not having heat issues, so you may be able to go that route as well.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2922587
Woody,
Can you please post the dimensions of your tank, I'm not familiar with the dimensions of the 45 gallon. As for lights, I would stay away from PC if at all possible. T5s maybe your best choice, but several people on the boards are running MH over nanos and not having heat issues, so you may be able to go that route as well.
Randy at your advanced age you are forgiven let me help you 36X12X24inches (90X30X60 cm)
 
oceansidefish

oceansidefish

Active Member
You can go with MH or T5's, both will allow you to keep just about anything. It's a personal choice really. MH's are hotter though and you COULD have heat issues, nothing a fan can't fix though. MH's will give your tank a glistening more under the ocean appearance. My personal choice. Mushrooms and zoos are pretty much bomb proof so great for beginners.
 
woody189

woody189

Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2922598
Randy at your advanced age you are forgiven let me help you 36X12X24inches (90X30X60 cm)
Thank you. I wouldn't have known that and would have had to research it. Scopus, it's a 46 bowfront. Maybe that's why you're not familiar with it.
Originally Posted by Oceansidefish
http:///forum/post/2922599
You can go with MH or T5's, both will allow you to keep just about anything. It's a personal choice really. MH's are hotter though and you COULD have heat issues, nothing a fan can't fix though. MH's will give your tank a glistening more under the ocean appearance. My personal choice. Mushrooms and zoos are pretty much bomb proof so great for beginners.
If it's a matter of preference, I'm probably going to go with T5's just because they are cheaper.
If I were to go w/ T5's how many bulbs would I need? 2? 4? 8?
How bout if I went MH. Would a single 250 W, as suggested, suffice?
 
oceansidefish

oceansidefish

Active Member
As I don't keep T5's on my tanks I am not as familiar, but I would assume a 4 bulb would be sufficiant unless you want SPS or clams. Yes one 250W MH would be just fine over the tank.
 
stevot123

stevot123

New Member
I have a 8 bulb fixture, but am only running 6 on a 55 gallon tank and I have explsive growth with most of my softies and good continual growth with SPS. I dont have a problem with heat. I also use the tank mount that came with it since I do not have a canopy for my tank.
 
woody189

woody189

Member
Originally Posted by Oceansidefish
http:///forum/post/2922655
As I don't keep T5's on my tanks I am not as familiar, but I would assume a 4 bulb would be sufficiant unless you want SPS or clams. Yes one 250W MH would be just fine over the tank.
I was looking at the SPS on SWF.com, and they only have 2. I was looking at other sites, and they do actually look pretty nice. I think I will like to have them in the future.
If I wanted them, what lights would I need to support them?
Would the single 250 W MH be sufficient for SPS's?
How many T5's, maybe 6??
And would I be able to get an anemone? I know you're not supposed to mix certain things, which I will have to look into, but would I be able to support one?
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2922598
Randy at your advanced age you are forgiven let me help you 36X12X24inches (90X30X60 cm)
Thank you Joe, you have to give us old people a little bit of a break you know
.
Originally Posted by woody189
http:///forum/post/2922679
I was looking at the SPS on SWF.com, and they only have 2. I was looking at other sites, and they do actually look pretty nice. I think I will like to have them in the future.
If I wanted them, what lights would I need to support them?
Would the single 250 W MH be sufficient for SPS's?
How many T5's, maybe 6??
And would I be able to get an anemone? I know you're not supposed to mix certain things, which I will have to look into, but would I be able to support one?
Woody on a 24" deep tank you should be ok with either t5s or MH to support SPS, and anemones. Personally I would recommend the MH if you know for sure that you are going to be doing this; and I would go with a light with two 150w bulbs myself. I've got a single 250watt bulb over my 65gallon (same length, and roughly the same depth and it works good, but a buddy has two 150 watts over the same tank, and he's got better growth. Again, it really comes down to what you want to spend, but if you know where you want to be in the long run, you're better off to spend the money up front once, rather than spending it multiple times to finally end up in the same place. As others stated the MH may cause heat issues and you would then have to add a chiller.
 
woody189

woody189

Member
Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2922699
Thank you Joe, you have to give us old people a little bit of a break you know
.
Woody on a 24" deep tank you should be ok with either t5s or MH to support SPS, and anemones. Personally I would recommend the MH if you know for sure that you are going to be doing this; and I would go with a light with two 150w bulbs myself. I've got a single 250watt bulb over my 65gallon (same length, and roughly the same depth and it works good, but a buddy has two 150 watts over the same tank, and he's got better growth. Again, it really comes down to what you want to spend, but if you know where you want to be in the long run, you're better off to spend the money up front once, rather than spending it multiple times to finally end up in the same place. As others stated the MH may cause heat issues and you would then have to add a chiller.
Thank you all. Scopus, I think you now convinced me to go w/ MH. Which means I have to wait longer to save up. Thanks alot
.
BUT, if it overheated, would I need a chiller, or a fan. A fan is cheap, but isn't a chiller another $150 or so. IDK if I want to take that kind of chance. The fixtures I'm looking at come w/ the fan in the fixture. I'm assuming that will just cool the fixture and not the water right?
Does anyone mind if I PM them? I want to show you a link if you don't mind.
 
janastasio

janastasio

Member
Have had two tanks going. Nano 19 gallon bow front with a single MH 250w pendant and I have a 75 gallon that I am on my 2nd set of T-5's. I would recommend the MH. I think you would be surprised that a MH Pendant light isnt too bad for cost, and if you start with T-5's and they are not what you want, then you will have to upgrade. I started off with the Nova extreme 4 bulb set on my tank, I upgraded last year to the Nova Pro 6 bulb fixture with individual reflectors. That is important with the T-5's. You really want indiv. reflectors If the electricity wasnt so high on the MH's, I would have done those on my 75. My electricity bill is already 250-300 a month, and I dont even have that nano going anymore. Look for a used MH light. That would help with cost. I see people all the time on CL with them.
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Originally Posted by woody189
http:///forum/post/2922736
Thank you all. Scopus, I think you now convinced me to go w/ MH. Which means I have to wait longer to save up. Thanks alot
.
BUT, if it overheated, would I need a chiller, or a fan. A fan is cheap, but isn't a chiller another $150 or so. IDK if I want to take that kind of chance. The fixtures I'm looking at come w/ the fan in the fixture. I'm assuming that will just cool the fixture and not the water right?
Does anyone mind if I PM them? I want to show you a link if you don't mind.
Sorry about that Woody
.
Don't confuse the fan in the light with the fans people are using to cool water temps by blowing across the surface of the water (below the light). Almost every prefab light will come with a built in fan - this is to cool the light itself and prevent it from overheating - it does not help with the amount of heat being generated below the light by bulb itself. Many people on here will tell you they can run the MH with a extra fan or two blowing across the water's surface and maintain tank temp - I've never been so lucky. Several additional factors affect this IMO; lid or no lid, canopy or no canopy, distance of light about the waters surface, etc. My advice; try it without the chiller and if it works you're good to go. If it doesn't, your out the $20.00 to $30.00 for the fan - no big deal.
 
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