dlehto
New Member
Need some advice here.
I have a 55 gallon tank. new to swf (4 to 5months) I started with 135 watts of pc (50/50) light. When just starting, after reading some, and wanting to in grow sps corals, and keep an anenome and crocea clam, I took the advice MORE IS BETTER as far as light is concerned. I bought one 400watt MH and placed it in my hood on the right side. but it is a big bugger for my hood.
The MH is 8 inches from the water and 3-4inches from top/back and is in addition to the PC. Obviously the right side of the tank gets much more light.
I have been working on my water quality, and finally have my nitrates low and dropping(5ppm). *as of 2 months now, peaked at 25* (other parameters are about where they should be, I only add a lilttle bit of iodine, trace, and calc.
I added a purple acropora, crocea clam, yellow leather, star and yellow pollyps, ricordea, sun coral, and a colt coral about 2 months ago(not all at once). they appear to be doing well, with some growing and spreading/multiplying fast.
My question is the light.????? Do I have too much? I really enjoy the growing colt and other corals, I like the purple acropora, but I dont want to do this 'wrong'
should I sell/trade the 400 watt, and get 2 250watt MH (one for each side? or should I just add a 250watt on the left side? my current 4inch fan (on timer with MH) keeps it from heating up too much with the 400watt, but it still gets hot under hood after 6 hours. (water temp does not spike too much *max 82 after MH has been on for a while*
will I be okay with a 400 watt over a 55 gallon? (its only about 4 feet in length) so light from the bulb does cover the whole tank, with most on the right side + the 135watt PC.
I have a 55 gallon tank. new to swf (4 to 5months) I started with 135 watts of pc (50/50) light. When just starting, after reading some, and wanting to in grow sps corals, and keep an anenome and crocea clam, I took the advice MORE IS BETTER as far as light is concerned. I bought one 400watt MH and placed it in my hood on the right side. but it is a big bugger for my hood.
The MH is 8 inches from the water and 3-4inches from top/back and is in addition to the PC. Obviously the right side of the tank gets much more light.
I have been working on my water quality, and finally have my nitrates low and dropping(5ppm). *as of 2 months now, peaked at 25* (other parameters are about where they should be, I only add a lilttle bit of iodine, trace, and calc.
I added a purple acropora, crocea clam, yellow leather, star and yellow pollyps, ricordea, sun coral, and a colt coral about 2 months ago(not all at once). they appear to be doing well, with some growing and spreading/multiplying fast.
My question is the light.????? Do I have too much? I really enjoy the growing colt and other corals, I like the purple acropora, but I dont want to do this 'wrong'
should I sell/trade the 400 watt, and get 2 250watt MH (one for each side? or should I just add a 250watt on the left side? my current 4inch fan (on timer with MH) keeps it from heating up too much with the 400watt, but it still gets hot under hood after 6 hours. (water temp does not spike too much *max 82 after MH has been on for a while*
will I be okay with a 400 watt over a 55 gallon? (its only about 4 feet in length) so light from the bulb does cover the whole tank, with most on the right side + the 135watt PC.
