Is this enough lighting for a reef tank?

mariner360

mariner360

New Member
I have been searching and can't find much to help me. I have a 30g long tank with a power filter and protein skimmer. I have probably 30lb of live rock now but I ordered 45lb more and am in the process of curing it. I will take some out when I put the new rock in but should have about 60lb of live rock. I have the nova extreme t5 lights. Its a total of 156 watts. 4x39w bulbs. I have a glass top also which I'm sure is blocking some light plus the shield on the light itself. I have 2 clowns a sixline wrasse 4 supar nassarius snails and 4 small hermit crabs. I bought a pom pom xenia a few weeks ago that seems to be doing okay. Doesn't really seem to be thriving though. Is this enough light for this tank for more corals? Whether they be sps corals or corals that don't need as much light?
 
mariner360

mariner360

New Member
But I definitly could get away with plenty of lps and soft corals? And it wouldn't be possible to do sps corals if I were to put them at the very top. Like damn near sticking out of the water?
 
fox1135

fox1135

Member
break out the iodide and those xenia will be thriving. kents lugol solution works wonders. best 18 dollars i ever spent
 
jpa0741

jpa0741

Member
Originally Posted by mariner360
http:///forum/post/2942160
But I definitly could get away with plenty of lps and soft corals? And it wouldn't be possible to do sps corals if I were to put them at the very top. Like damn near sticking out of the water?
It's possible. Start with some easy ones (monti, digi). They will let you know if they are happy.
 
mariner360

mariner360

New Member
Originally Posted by fox1135
http:///forum/post/2942162
break out the iodide and those xenia will be thriving. kents lugol solution works wonders. best 18 dollars i ever spent
I actually have been using the brightwell lugols solution for 2 weeks now. It says to use 1 drop per 30 gallon everyday. But the lfs I got it from told me that once a week would be fine. What do you suggest?
 
fox1135

fox1135

Member
mine is also 1 drop per 30 gallon and my lfs said once a week. i dose every other day and im just 100 percent satisfied. you have to be carefull with everyday because you can overdose your water, in which case you would have to have ammonia detox on hand incase of this. also how old are your bulbs. they tend to start loosing strength after 6 months
 
mariner360

mariner360

New Member
Originally Posted by fox1135
http:///forum/post/2942701
mine is also 1 drop per 30 gallon and my lfs said once a week. i dose every other day and im just 100 percent satisfied. you have to be carefull with everyday because you can overdose your water, in which case you would have to have ammonia detox on hand incase of this. also how old are your bulbs. they tend to start loosing strength after 6 months
I really hate to admit this but I think those bulbs are almost 2 years old....
I have been wanting to get new ones but just haven't done it. I saw at the lfs I go to they have the same light fixture as me and they have 3 actinic bulbs and 1 daylight bulb. I'm kinda wanting to try that since I know the actinic is really what corals need.
 
jerryatrick

jerryatrick

Active Member
Originally Posted by jpa0741
http:///forum/post/2942168
It's possible. Start with some easy ones (monti, digi). They will let you know if they are happy.
I agree here. A 30 gallon tank is not deep and although ind. reflectors are great I still think that you could keep most SPS up high in the tank. Get new bulbs first but not before you do some research on some higher quality bulbs. Don't just look for the cheapest or the "current" replacement bulbs.
 
mariner360

mariner360

New Member
Originally Posted by JerryAtrick
http:///forum/post/2942918
I agree here. A 30 gallon tank is not deep and although ind. reflectors are great I still think that you could keep most SPS up high in the tank. Get new bulbs first but not before you do some research on some higher quality bulbs. Don't just look for the cheapest or the "current" replacement bulbs.
What kind of bulbs do you suggest? I've been looking at the ones they sell on drs foster and smith and they have some nice ones there. Do you mean brand as in higher quality or the kelvin rating? I think thats what its called.
 
K

k1sully

Guest
i agree ATI is a great brand. switch out your bulbs and then get some nice LPS to start off with. as for the xenia they tend to like "dirty" water i hand a bunch that were going wild and then i put a skimmer on my tank and they slowly withered away.
 
mariner360

mariner360

New Member
Originally Posted by k1sully
http:///forum/post/2943239
i agree ATI is a great brand. switch out your bulbs and then get some nice LPS to start off with. as for the xenia they tend to like "dirty" water i hand a bunch that were going wild and then i put a skimmer on my tank and they slowly withered away.
Well that seems kinda weird about your xenia though. Sure there wasn't something else going on in your tank to cause them to die off? Or were they the only coral in your tank dying?
 
jerryatrick

jerryatrick

Active Member
Originally Posted by mariner360
http:///forum/post/2943246
Well that seems kinda weird about your xenia though. Sure there wasn't something else going on in your tank to cause them to die off? Or were they the only coral in your tank dying?
My xenia is either doubling in size by the week or not growing at all for months. There are a lot of theories and I have heard that they prefer dirty water.
As for bulbs I have heard good things about ATI as well. Giesemann is another choice.
 
jpa0741

jpa0741

Member
Originally Posted by mariner360
http:///forum/post/2943246
Well that seems kinda weird about your xenia though. Sure there wasn't something else going on in your tank to cause them to die off? Or were they the only coral in your tank dying?
As many people that have xenia growing out of controll. There are that many that can't grow it at all. They do like dirty water as stated and could die off after putting an skimmer in place.
 
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