I want a frog spawn....

[shaun larlee]

I have a fairly new tank with a pair of clowns and five snails. My LFS has a beautiful frog spawn that i spoke with him about. Apparently i have a chance of the coral hosting my clowns but im curious as to weather my tank is mature enough. I know i need a new light, i have a single strip...can i get a bulb for that or must i get a new set up. The frog spawn is the only coral i plan on getting until i upgrade down the road. Is this possible????

 

[reefkprz]

frog spawn (for that matter most euphyllia in general) are fairly hardy as they come from turbid high nutrient regions with medium light penetration, basicly I'm saying they are a very forgiving LPS as far as water quality goes. flow must not be too strong as it can tear them apart or cause internal damage. But I wouldnt think it unreasonable to say you could probably handkle a frogspawn as long as your lighting is sufficient (PC or better)

 

[shaun larlee]

Ok so lets say this. I have a single strip light, what bulb should i get in order to support a FS ( i plan on upgrading soon). Also my water is good besides trates around 5 but dropping. I use 1 powerhead presently, its a 1200 and runs right below water line.
Basically whats my best bet on a new bulb...and what else would i need to make sure a FS would flourish

 

[florida joe]

IMO a single strip in a 55 is pushing the envelope use the money you would have spent on the FS and upgrade your lighting the good people on the lighting forum will advise you on how and what to upgrade to

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by Shaun Larlee
http:///forum/post/2599095
I have a single strip light,
IMO thats not good enough. your going to want powercompacts at minimum. a 4x96w fixture would be perfect for a 55g. it would allow you to keep just about any LPS, false coral, octocoral, and even a few easy SPS like monitpora digita towards the middle top of the tank. of course t-5 or VHO would be better as well as halides but its all dependant on your price range. regular output flourescents just arent good enough for anything but the shallowest tanks and lowest light corals AKA a 6" deep tank of mushrooms

 

[shaun larlee]

ok...so in your opinion whats the best lighting to purchase in a 55 long with plans of only a frog spawn and community fish?????

 

[nordy]

You know you will be soon thinking about other LPS or softies! It is a very slippery slope my friend when you start with "just one coral"

Seriously, though, what Joe said- spend the money on the very best lighting you can afford and once you have made that investment you won't have any questions about adequate lighting for whatever you want to place in your tank down the road, even if you end up having only fish.
I got the Nova Extreme Pro for my 55 gal and it's great. Adequate for just about anything I would ever want in my tank.
Good luck with that new tank!

 

[reefkprz]

thats an impossible question, if the lighting will be good enough for frogspawn you would be able to have a host of other corals as well. buying a bulb for your strip light wont cut it, I'm sorry

. and buying a lighting fixture for a 55g when you have plans of upgrading would be a waste of money unless your lighting will fit on your upgrade tank as well. I dont really know how to answer you.

 

[shaun larlee]

this sucks......
Ok my upgrade will be FOWLR my 55 will be reep IF i slide down that slippery slope so give me a hint reef...help me save $$$$ but get a light set that will support my new habbit

you know something....just gimme a hint

 

[jaymz]

Look up; 48 inch Coralife Aqualight Double Linear Strip Compact Fluorescent Fixture, 4X65 Watt
This is a good fixture. JBJ is also a good brand for good PC lights.
but a fixture in a higher wattage would be better. because saying you only want frog spawn. is just you saying you only want frog spawn. You will soon want zoo's palys, and other colorful easy to care for corals. Trust me. Everyone else will agree. Plus the good lighting will really help you grow coraline algae. The tank will be much brighter, clearer and nicer to look at.
I think what Im getting at is that if you are planning on having a saltwater tank for a while you might as well spend the money on the good lighting now, because you will eventually buy it. So why buy a medicore light now and buy the right light later.

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by Jaymz
http:///forum/post/2599221
Look up; 48 inch Coralife Aqualight Double Linear Strip Compact Fluorescent Fixture, 4X65 Watt
this light would be ok, you wouldnt be able to house anemone or clams or most SPS under this light but would be able to keep some LPS most softies, false corals etc. a 48' 4x96w powercompact would be better, then of course they go up from there.

 

[morval]

a strip light is deffinatly not enought. i had a double strip with atinic and 10k and it would not support a xenia so i got the corallife double power compact 36" 192w and now am growing several soft and LPS corals including a Frog spawn which just sprouted a baby. if u like the look of frog spawn check out hammer coral and torch coral. my hammer also recently sprouted 2 tiny new heads
so upgrade ur lighting to PC at least

 

[ibew41]

check out the classified on here or on --

 

[fatcat]

I have a 48 gal 48"l=Lx18"Hx12"W i have 2X54 T-5HO on it i have softies and a hammer and they are all growing like crazy...(hammer at middle top ish)
Oya when i first got my tank i kept say no coral just fish ya right now i have a semi reef lol... It took me about 2 months to fold and get my first coral...

 

[shaun larlee]

Hey will a Nova Extreme work in a 55 long guys?

 

[jaymz]

Originally Posted by Shaun Larlee
http:///forum/post/2600337
Hey will a Nova Extreme work in a 55 long guys?
Very much so . With a T5 HO you will be able to keep most anything including SPS and anemones. I know alot of people are on the fence about whether T5's are really worth all the hype. So im not completely sure about anemones long term, but it will for darn sure make a frog spawn happy

 

[ibew41]

get the nova pro if going with a nova I had the extreme and not impressed.get a fixture with individual reflectors,also replace the lamps on the nova the are cheep

 

[shaun larlee]

I think im going with a sundial t5 ho 65x4 watts i believe. Unless someone tells me its junk. For around 300 i get the lights, cooling fans, lunars, and timers. Will this open my horizens in a 55 long????

 

[zeke92]

would a 65 watt PC in an 18 gallon long be good enough for a frogspawn?

 

[shaun larlee]

HIJACKED

Ok lets think of this logically, most say between 5-6 watts a gallon is good. 65 x 4 = 260 watts / 55 gallons = +/- 5 watts per gallon. BUT! the depth is crucial...i have a 55 long so depth i believe is 24"?....
Long story short i know there is a few guys on here who know reef and lighting like stuart scott knows sports so i could use a

or a

or even a

. Just dont wanna throw away money an garbage lighting and im turning into a reef head.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!