My 55 gallon adventure

[asp762]

What's up folks. I am a new hobbyist with a 55 gallon aquarium. I want to share some of my trials and tribulations. I will probably ask some questions here since I am sure I will get myself into confusing situations. I'll update this thread when necessary, but right now, the thread contains the same pictures as my "Please ID" thread.
Equipment:
Two Hydor Koralia 550 GPH powerheads
Odyssea Metal Halide (2) 250 watt, 2 T5HO, 6 LED, 2 Fans (Tying to make a better stand for the light ATM)
305 Fluval Filter
2 Heaters
1 Digital Thermometer <--- I will buy one more since 2 is 1and 1 is none mentality same with filter at some point
RO/DI system
Equipment not in use yet:
UV Sterilizer (Came with the tank)
CrapClone 100 wannabe skimmer (came with the tank)
Animals/Live stuffs:
Approximately 35 LBS of Live Rock
3 Green Cromis
1 Zoa
1 Mushroom (MIA at the moment)
1 Something or other
25 Hermit Crabs
2 Turbo Snails
Here are some (large) pictures so enjoy!

 

[asp762]

My circut breaker tripped today. Luckily I was around when it happened.
I am wondering if I really want to deal with the metal halide lighting to keep these corals (that I was given) thriving since it was my intention to keep this a FOWLR for about 6 months to a year.
I have the T5 actinic lights on right now. :/

 

[rlablan]

If you aren't going to keep corals, don't bother with the halides. They're hot and expensive to run. I don't see a reason to run those.
Dont just kill the corals though. Is there an LFS who will take the corals for some credit? Or a friend you can give them to?

 

[asp762]

I will give them to the LFS. I never said anything about killing them.
Damn. I'm bummed. :/
My LFS won't give any store credit.
They also try to sell me a $400 chiller every time walk in the door. LOL

 

[asp762]

I am trying to find a definitive answer, but I couldn't find one using the search button so....
Can a FOWLR thrive under two T5 blue actinic bulbs as the only light source?
My gut feeling says no; however, I constantly read that fish don't have high lighting demands.

 

[rlablan]

I would suggest finding a new LFS. They shouldn't be trying to sell you things that you don't need. But sadly, some do that. Always best to research first and answer your own questions, at least until you find someone you trust.
From what I understand, the fish don't have high light requirements at all. But I am not 100% on that. If you want to grow coralline algae (the purple encrusting algae) you will need some descent lighting. But it's not necessary and a lot of times, people see it crop up under minimal lighting conditions, as long as some existing coralline is in the tank.

 

[rlablan]

Ifmyou only have blue lighting, the tank will be just blue... It's a thought. If it were me, I'd have 1 blue bulb and 1 white bulb.
Btw my first reef tank was under t5 lighting. Some things can be kept under it. T5ho is better. Or t5 with reflectors. Just some info for ya

 

[asp762]

Thanks for the info bud. Yeah two blue T5s is kinda bleh. I am just concerned about the fish at this point since my metal halides were a complete fail.

To be honest my fish seemed to be acting weird under the metal halides. Perhaps they were adjusting to the sun being placed 4 inches above their water. Once the blue lighting was put turned on, their nutty behavior subsided. They calmed down A LOT with the blue lights.

 

[asp762]

I decided to see how running the left halide only will work with the few corals that I have. I will run the left halide from 10AM through 4PM and then the 2 T5HOs will run from 4:05PM to 10PM to prevent overlapping. The LEDS will stay off and the fans will run only when the MH is on.
Hopefully this is a viable solution.
I still have not located the mushroom that's been MIA for a day and a half now.

 

[asp762]

 

[sweat90lx]

I wouldnt run the lights like that if the T5s are actinics. I would turn the on an hour before the MH and run them an hour after the MH is turned off. I keep my LED moonlights on 24/7.
Your auquascape looks great!

 

[rlablan]

Why did your breaker trip? That seems weird. I had a huge tank with a 1/4 hp chiller, and like 700 watts of light and never tripped a breaker. Maybe you should figure out what that is all about...
I agree with the other poster. That seems like an odd lighting schedule.
Can you explain the " odd" behavior from your fish? What are they doing that you think they're doing weird? You said you have a school of chromis right?

 

[asp762]

Thanks ! Ok so my light schedule sucks. Thanks for the input. Would you be kind enough to break it down Crayola style and offer a completely sensible timeline for an optimum lighting schedule?
The odd behavior consisted of frantic movement everytime I walked by the tank which doesn't occur as often when the blue lights are on. They would hide everytime I entered the room. When blues are on, they are rather docile in comparison and didn't appear to stress as easily. Or maybe I'm bat poop crazy and don't know what I'm talking about. This is entirely possible.

 

[asp762]

Water conditions for 55 gallon:
Specific Gravity 1.024
PH 8.0
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 5 mg
Temp 82.1F
I set T5 blue for 10AM-12PM
MH go on at 12PM-6PM
T5 go back on from 6PM-10PM for viewing purposes
My green cromis are doing excellent. They are very active and RAVENOUS feeders. I feed 2-3 times a day.
One of the cromis had a small gash in it's left side. It has almost completely healed.
My LPS appears to be doing well as is the Zoa. The little Zoa is open and looking gorgeous.
Today I am purchasing a turkey baster to target feed as needed.
The mushroom is nowhere to be found.

 

[sweatervest13]

Quote:
I set T5 blue for 10AM-12PM
MH go on at 12PM-6PM
T5 go back on from 6PM-10PM for viewing purposes
That is a good lighting schedule!!! I leave mine on until midnight but I am a night owl and I want see the tank when I am up. But they don't go on until like 1 or 2 pm.
To answer your question on FOWLR- any light will do. Fish don't care. I think the fish acting weird and the MH's is just coincidence.
The MH's might be a bit much for the corals that you have (considering the cost to run them and this all for just three low light corals)
PS go to a different LFS. That one sucks. Chillers are rarely needed unless you don't have any A/C. Fans usually do the trick, even with MH's. I hate LFS like that. We spend enough $$ to make a lot of them happy. I think it is an insult to try to sell me something so unnecessary. Its like a first time hobbyist getting a Calc reactor, dosing pumps with their initial set up. Man that makes me mad. I would tell them you don't appreciate the fact that they tried to take advantage of you. Did they even ask about your system?? Or just pushing the chiller?? Do they think that there are not stores online we can buy things from??? Or that everyone is too stupid to do ANY research??
Sorry, for some reason that really struck a cord.

 

[tonysearsjr]

new to site, but i have 75g mini reef and only use 4xt5HO but IMO u want the actinic on with the MH my lighting sched is act on at 2pm 10,000 on at 330 and 10,00 off at 1230 then act off at 2am. thats my 12 hr just a bit of info as i am an unseasoned vet at this either

 

[asp762]

Quote:
Originally Posted by sweatervest13 http:///t/392546/my-55-gallon-adventure#post_3486706
That is a good lighting schedule!!! I leave mine on until midnight but I am a night owl and I want see the tank when I am up. But they don't go on until like 1 or 2 pm.
To answer your question on FOWLR- any light will do. Fish don't care. I think the fish acting weird and the MH's is just coincidence.
The MH's might be a bit much for the corals that you have (considering the cost to run them and this all for just three low light corals)
PS go to a different LFS. That one sucks. Chillers are rarely needed unless you don't have any A/C. Fans usually do the trick, even with MH's. I hate LFS like that. We spend enough $$ to make a lot of them happy. I think it is an insult to try to sell me something so unnecessary. Its like a first time hobbyist getting a Calc reactor, dosing pumps with their initial set up. Man that makes me mad. I would tell them you don't appreciate the fact that they tried to take advantage of you. Did they even ask about your system?? Or just pushing the chiller?? Do they think that there are not stores online we can buy things from??? Or that everyone is too stupid to do ANY research??
Sorry, for some reason that really struck a cord.
Unfortunately, this is the only LFS I know of. You're right trying to sell non essential equipment frustrates me to no end. They asked about my system. As soon as I stated that my temp is between 81F-83F, they have been trying to shove a chiller down my throat. I just ignore it. I totally understand your feelings on this.
ETA
One of the green cromis stopped "schooling" with the other two and is now hiding in the rock by himself.
He was the one with the small gash that appears to have healed.
I have a feeling he will not be alive in a few weeks.

 

[asp762]

Update:
Added the CrapClone 100 to the tank today. Bubbles are everywhere, but it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I guess it needs a couple weeks to break in.
Green Chromis are doing great.

 

[rlablan]

12 hours of light is a lot of light for any tank... for 90% of hobbyist. I think I have mine on for about 6 hours most days... Theyre all on timers but different days mean different things. In a new tank (and old), you will end up with hair algae, film algae and even red/green slime. Just be aware of that. Most tanks will go through this stage, but the added light makes it so much harder to rid the tank of problems.
If that Chromis dies, I wouldn't replace it. JMO. I think they will probably all die off in the near future. In a tank that small, best not to get any more schooling fish. They can become territorial and take up all of your tank space for other fish. If you want color and variety, then don't get any more schooling fish.
See how that skimmer does. It may not even be worth running it. see if it actually skims anything. This may be hard since you don't really have a real bioload. There may not be anything to skim.

 

[asp762]

Quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan http:///t/392546/my-55-gallon-adventure#post_3487216
12 hours of light is a lot of light for any tank... for 90% of hobbyist. I think I have mine on for about 6 hours most days... Theyre all on timers but different days mean different things. In a new tank (and old), you will end up with hair algae, film algae and even red/green slime. Just be aware of that. Most tanks will go through this stage, but the added light makes it so much harder to rid the tank of problems.
If that Chromis dies, I wouldn't replace it. JMO. I think they will probably all die off in the near future. In a tank that small, best not to get any more schooling fish. They can become territorial and take up all of your tank space for other fish. If you want color and variety, then don't get any more schooling fish.
See how that skimmer does. It may not even be worth running it. see if it actually skims anything. This may be hard since you don't really have a real bioload. There may not be anything to skim.
Ok thanks for the lighting info! The skimmer has produced some small brown crud, so it does work. Obviously it isn't the best, but I didn't buy it. The thing came with the whole package.
Update:
The Chromis has bounced back, and is doing just fine. In fact, they all are doing amazingly well. I wouldn't ever by anymore of them. I think my next purchase may be a firefish, but that's weeks away. If one looks closely, they can observe the protein skimmer working hard to piss me off as it launches a plethora of micro bubbles into the aquarium.

I bought a small zoa frag today. I think the LPS and coral are doing very well so far.
Terrible placement. This is how I know I am not gay because I can't aqauscape for the life of me.
The feng shui is so off.
The corals should be facing NORTH!
What is wrong with me?

LSP