Help with my lights Please

tbrod

tbrod

Member
I have a 100 gallon reef tank set up for a couple months now, I have some coraline algae on the rocks and very little more. I have noticed some polyps of some kind starting to grow on the rock recently. I have 2 250 watt MH lights and a 48" atinic and a coralife 50/50. These lights are just some lights I had sitting around from years ago when I had my other tanks set up in the past. The MH lights are not the right kelvin, I think they are only 3500 kelvin. I want to beautify my tank and I would like some expert advise. I will back up a bit now, I used to have a tank that was very successfull considering what I had for equipment. I moved, started fresh by purchasing this tank from a friend. I have a 100 gal tank with a berlin protien skimmer , 2 MH lights (250 watt each) and 2 48" florescents. I am adding a regular whisper filter that I have and would like to add since it is just sitting here. I have 3 power heads inside to create enough water movement. A wet/dry filter and thats about it.
So, first of all, I need to purchase some lights, both MH and florescent. What should I buy. ( I want to start adding corals soon). Also, what else should I consider buying to make my tank a successfull one.
I have a few polyps growing in the tank that I will try and get some pics of soon and add them to the message.
THanks
 
tbrod

tbrod

Member
First of all, It is 175 watt MH lights I have that must be replaced, not 250's Like I earlier said. Here are some pics of the tank, maybe some of you can identify these.
THanks.
tbrod
 
reefer44

reefer44

Member
well for kelvin...most ppl go with 10k to 20k the higher the bluer
if your buyinh new lights i would go with 250 if it is njust soft corals and 400 if it is sps
and if you don't have actinics in the flouresens i would get them atinic (blue)
 
dburr

dburr

Active Member
I have 175's in 10K. They are coralvue brand. Good bulbs for $50. White with a tint of blue. If you want alittle bluer go with 12 or 14K. I would get atinics for the NO strip lights. Put them on longer than the MH's for sunrise/sunset effect.
Pics, at 1:30 and 7:30 they look like hydroids. The other 2 look like some kind of button polyp.
 
suver569

suver569

Member
A couple of 14k or 20k halides, 250W HQI IMO supplimented with actinics will do you just fine. If your going VHO or PC, either way would be fine.
I'm in the process of testing T5's on my 29 gallon, so I cant give much advice or reccomend them yet, but my tank seems to be doing fine.
 
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