reef_dart21
Member
i have recently purchased a light that gives my tank a decent 5-6 watts a gallon. now i am newer to corals (not fish) so what corals are very nice looking but arnt for experts but more for me (a begginer).
new light and now what to get?
- Thread starter reef_dart21
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perfectdark
Active Member
Originally Posted by Reef_Dart21
i have recently purchased a light that gives my tank a decent 5-6 watts a gallon. now i am newer to corals (not fish) so what corals are very nice looking but arnt for experts but more for me (a begginer).
What type of lighting is it?
i have recently purchased a light that gives my tank a decent 5-6 watts a gallon. now i am newer to corals (not fish) so what corals are very nice looking but arnt for experts but more for me (a begginer).
What type of lighting is it?
reef_dart21
Member
Coral life lunar light
about 190watts
able to turn on lunar lights for nighttime (which is pretty cool looking)
and the light is elevated so all i need are some coral choices, but a guy i asked told me to stick with hard coral because its better looking and doesnt grow like a weed unlike the soft corals
about 190watts
able to turn on lunar lights for nighttime (which is pretty cool looking)
and the light is elevated so all i need are some coral choices, but a guy i asked told me to stick with hard coral because its better looking and doesnt grow like a weed unlike the soft corals
reef_dart21
Member
now of any hard coral that would do well? and this tank isnt the big so any higher wattage i might litterally fry my fish if i did not get a chiller
perfectdark
Active Member
Originally Posted by Reef_Dart21
now of any hard coral that would do well? and this tank isnt the big so any higher wattage i might litterally fry my fish if i did not get a chiller
No sps and limited LPS.. softies are ok..You will not need a chiller Im guessing its a 40 or so gallon? No chiller necessary and your coral selection is limited.
now of any hard coral that would do well? and this tank isnt the big so any higher wattage i might litterally fry my fish if i did not get a chiller
No sps and limited LPS.. softies are ok..You will not need a chiller Im guessing its a 40 or so gallon? No chiller necessary and your coral selection is limited.
reef_dart21
Member
why no sps or limited lps? is it because the need mroe watts? i use about 5-6 watts gallon which is second to highest
perfectdark
Active Member
Originally Posted by Reef_Dart21
why no sps or limited lps? is it because the need mroe watts? i use about 5-6 watts gallon which is second to highest
Nope it has nothing to do with watts per gallon. PC lighting is the least intense lighting you can purchase for a reef system, its also the least efficient. It loses its penetrating power significantly when it hits the water and it doesnt take long at all before it is usless to your high light demanding corals and anemones. Depth of tank along with bulb type and wattage all factors in to what you can keep as far as corals, and anemones. Bulbs are rated by PAR and lumen output. PC lighting have the least lumens per watt of the 3 light types used in reef keeping. This reduces their par value significantly.
Im not sure why your LFS guy told you to stick to hard corals but you would find out sadly that they will not survive in your tank with those lights.
Im sorry if this is a shock to you but IMO if you can return them then do it. IMO Coralife lights are the worse lights on the market. A decent t5 HO light set would suit your needs and there will still be no need for a chiller.
why no sps or limited lps? is it because the need mroe watts? i use about 5-6 watts gallon which is second to highest
Nope it has nothing to do with watts per gallon. PC lighting is the least intense lighting you can purchase for a reef system, its also the least efficient. It loses its penetrating power significantly when it hits the water and it doesnt take long at all before it is usless to your high light demanding corals and anemones. Depth of tank along with bulb type and wattage all factors in to what you can keep as far as corals, and anemones. Bulbs are rated by PAR and lumen output. PC lighting have the least lumens per watt of the 3 light types used in reef keeping. This reduces their par value significantly.
Im not sure why your LFS guy told you to stick to hard corals but you would find out sadly that they will not survive in your tank with those lights.
Im sorry if this is a shock to you but IMO if you can return them then do it. IMO Coralife lights are the worse lights on the market. A decent t5 HO light set would suit your needs and there will still be no need for a chiller.
reef_dart21
Member
since you nko more about coral then i do heres a list of some i was gonna get (i wasnt getting all of these listed i am jsut listing my top picks)
Colored Colt
Distichopora - Purple
Elephant Ear
Fine Grape Coral
(some kind of aneome (it will be placed safley away form the coral)
sun coral (someone said they make great fillers)
Brain coral (probably pineapple)
others i saw that looked cool
Leather - Devil Hand
Montipora Capricornis - Green
birds nest
Aquacultured ORA Blue Tortuosa
Brain Coral - Red Lobo
and some other ones................again i am not getting all of these i was just listing to see if ne owuld be ok.............also how bout fox face?
Colored Colt
Distichopora - Purple
Elephant Ear
Fine Grape Coral
(some kind of aneome (it will be placed safley away form the coral)
sun coral (someone said they make great fillers)
Brain coral (probably pineapple)
others i saw that looked cool
Leather - Devil Hand
Montipora Capricornis - Green
birds nest
Aquacultured ORA Blue Tortuosa
Brain Coral - Red Lobo
and some other ones................again i am not getting all of these i was just listing to see if ne owuld be ok.............also how bout fox face?
reef_dart21
Member
Originally Posted by PerfectDark
Nope it has nothing to do with watts per gallon. PC lighting is the least intense lighting you can purchase for a reef system, its also the least efficient. It loses its penetrating power significantly when it hits the water and it doesnt take long at all before it is usless to your high light demanding corals and anemones. Depth of tank along with bulb type and wattage all factors in to what you can keep as far as corals, and anemones. Bulbs are rated by PAR and lumen output. PC lighting have the least lumens per watt of the 3 light types used in reef keeping. This reduces their par value significantly.
Im not sure why your LFS guy told you to stick to hard corals but you would find out sadly that they will not survive in your tank with those lights.
Im sorry if this is a shock to you but IMO if you can return them then do it. IMO Coralife lights are the worse lights on the market. A decent t5 HO light set would suit your needs and there will still be no need for a chiller.
this is actually good news because i got a shallow tank but it is very very long
Nope it has nothing to do with watts per gallon. PC lighting is the least intense lighting you can purchase for a reef system, its also the least efficient. It loses its penetrating power significantly when it hits the water and it doesnt take long at all before it is usless to your high light demanding corals and anemones. Depth of tank along with bulb type and wattage all factors in to what you can keep as far as corals, and anemones. Bulbs are rated by PAR and lumen output. PC lighting have the least lumens per watt of the 3 light types used in reef keeping. This reduces their par value significantly.
Im not sure why your LFS guy told you to stick to hard corals but you would find out sadly that they will not survive in your tank with those lights.
Im sorry if this is a shock to you but IMO if you can return them then do it. IMO Coralife lights are the worse lights on the market. A decent t5 HO light set would suit your needs and there will still be no need for a chiller.
this is actually good news because i got a shallow tank but it is very very long
reef_dart21
Member
bump
perfectdark
Active Member
Leathers yes, brains yes, and any soft coral you want yes, sun coral yes they are nonphotosynthetic and need to be spot feed often. Fine grape coral should be ok, Devils hand yes. Montipora up high yes. Acropora NO high light and lots of flow. Birds nest I would say NO. Anemones NO. When you say shallow what in inches is it?
reef_dart21
Member
well i was told that when the light was purchased they gaurenteed that i could have anemoe and the depth is about 13 1/2 inches
the anemoe i could put close enough to light, i just would really like one for my clownfish
the anemoe i could put close enough to light, i just would really like one for my clownfish
reef_dart21
Member
now the depth i DID NOT ADD IN THE SAND BED
perfectdark
Active Member
Originally Posted by Reef_Dart21
well i was told that when the light was purchased they gaurenteed that i could have anemoe and the depth is about 13 1/2 inches
the anemoe i could put close enough to light, i just would really like one for my clownfish
In that case it is possible although getting to stay at the top close to the lights will be not your decision. It will go where it wants. IMO I would get a bubble tip anem if your water chemistry is good and your tank is matured I think it could survive in your tank.
well i was told that when the light was purchased they gaurenteed that i could have anemoe and the depth is about 13 1/2 inches
the anemoe i could put close enough to light, i just would really like one for my clownfish
In that case it is possible although getting to stay at the top close to the lights will be not your decision. It will go where it wants. IMO I would get a bubble tip anem if your water chemistry is good and your tank is matured I think it could survive in your tank.
reef_dart21
Member
all parameters are safe and my nitrate is around 5-6 ppm but i dont think that really affects anything. Thankyou very much for you help ^_^ you will be the first to see the matures tank pics. (the tank has been up for about one year) also i would like to know if their is a way to keep my coral banded shrimp young from dying everytime they are born O_O.....(i did get an awsome pair from SWF.com)
perfectdark
Active Member
Originally Posted by Reef_Dart21
all parameters are safe and my nitrate is around 5-6 ppm but i dont think that really affects anything. Thankyou very much for you help ^_^ you will be the first to see the matures tank pics. (the tank has been up for about one year) also i would like to know if their is a way to keep my coral banded shrimp young from dying everytime they are born O_O.....(i did get an awsome pair from SWF.com)
Anytime
Hmmm not sure about that I dont have a cb shrimp because they dont play well with other shrimp and i have 3 other kinds.
all parameters are safe and my nitrate is around 5-6 ppm but i dont think that really affects anything. Thankyou very much for you help ^_^ you will be the first to see the matures tank pics. (the tank has been up for about one year) also i would like to know if their is a way to keep my coral banded shrimp young from dying everytime they are born O_O.....(i did get an awsome pair from SWF.com)
Anytime
Hmmm not sure about that I dont have a cb shrimp because they dont play well with other shrimp and i have 3 other kinds.
reef_dart21
Member
i have a mated pair of coral banded shrimp and a cleaner shrimp and the cleaner shrimp never gets bothered