Green Craline Algae/lighting ?

[eskimo44]

My tank has been cyclying for about three weeks, my amonnia just hit 0 last night, Nitrites are still off the charts. I was wondering if the bright/lime green algae will turn to that nice purple color?
Also, my perfecto fixture has one 48" bulb, are there any 1 single 48" bulbs that will sustain coral long term.
Please advise

 

[reefnut]

Originally posted by eskimo44
Also, my perfecto fixture has one 48" bulb, are there any 1 single 48" bulbs that will sustain coral long term.
Not likely. What size is your tank and what do you plan to keep??

 

[eskimo44]

75gal, i want a reef tank, lots of corals, my light fixture holds 1 48" NO flouresant. Is there a VHO, or PC bulb that i can replace?

 

[mbrands]

You are probably going to have to replace the light hood before you can keep most corals. I could be wrong, but I haven't heard of a VHO that fits into a 48" flourescent fitting. Also, PC bulbs are smaller and have prongs that almost plug in (again, a different hood).
As for the corraline, I've got all different colors in mine. I doubt your green will turn to purple, but that doesn't mean some purple might not develop. It takes some time though. If your tank has only been set up for 3 weeks you've got some waiting to do. You can check your calcium levels. That is supposed to help corraline grow.

 

[reefnut]

You will need a new fixture. VHOs, PCs, HOs, MHs, ect have special ballasts.
If you're wanting to keep just soft corals and LPS corals then you could go with PCs, VHOs or HOs.
If you want to keep sps corals, clams, anemones, etc I would go with MHs.

 

[eskimo44]

Ok, MH sounds the way to go, what's the cheapest way to get set up? To me, it looks like a hanging pendant with 1 MH bulb. Are others MH set ups better/cheaper?

 

[mbrands]

Originally posted by eskimo44
Ok, MH sounds the way to go, what's the cheapest way to get set up?

Funny you should say that. Have you looked into the prices of MH yet? I'd suggest shopping around various online retailers and see what you can come up with, but it certainly won't be cheap.

 

[snipe]

It is recommended 1 metal halide bulb for every 2 feet of tank.
And I have also seen this.
175watts for tanks up to 16 inches deep
250watts for tanks 16 to 24 inches deep
400watts for tanks 24 to 40 inches deep
And if it goes over 40 inches you may have to go up to 1000watts

 

[reefnut]

Yea you will need two MHs. The cheapest way to go is a retro fit kit but you need a canopy. Are you handy with wood?? If so they are not that difficult to build or you can buy one.
They are a little more expensive than fluorescents but they are well worth the extra expense. and if you want light demanding corals, clams or anemones they are necessary.
Check out CoolTouch Lighting. You can get a dual 250w MH canopy for 335.00. The canopies with MHs + VHOs are a little more if you also want actinics. You can get a dual 250w MH retro kit for 235.00... again if you want VHOs it would be a little more.

 

[eskimo44]

Reefnut, where can i find that set up? What website?

 

[eskimo44]

Will 1 48'' VHO T-12 110W, be enough light for corals? There are $25

 

[snipe]

If all your doing is fish only with live rock 1 VHO would be fine I only have 30 watts on my 55 "gonna upgrade soon since im doing a reef" and my algea is fine. If you ever plan on having corals I would save my money and buy at least a 4x110 vho system and if I could I would save for metal halides.

 

[reefnut]

Originally posted by eskimo44
Will 1 48'' VHO T-12 110W, be enough light for corals? There are $25
Nope, and that 25$ "bulb" will not light in your current fixture. Do some searches for cooltouch lighing... we can't post any links or websites here.

 

[snipe]

I didnt see the part on wanting to place it in the existing fixture. It would probly fit but the ballast for it wouldnt work. The ballast is only rated for a certain amount of watts and if you put to many watts for that to run then it will burn the ballast out and you wont have anything. You can buy VHO retro's that will run 2 bulbs for around $60 you have to buy the bulbs and reflector seperate.