lbg4life01
Member
what would be the right lighting for a 55 gallon tank? Where do I start?
New Lighting for a SW Fish only Tank
- Thread starter lbg4life01
- Start date
lbg4life01
Member
Hello,
Thanks that help alot!
I know this is a stupid question but does that have anything to do with the sand you use at the bottom of the tank?
I have heard the currently I have a bio wheel (I have rocks that was used in a freshwater tank) I didnt know?
But right now i have no fish in the tank
Thanks that help alot!
I know this is a stupid question but does that have anything to do with the sand you use at the bottom of the tank?
I have heard the currently I have a bio wheel (I have rocks that was used in a freshwater tank) I didnt know?
But right now i have no fish in the tank
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
I currently have a 55g that i am using home depot 2 tube 4' utility fixtures for lighting. I use the 3200 lumen tubes and have two fixtures for a total of (4x40 watt tubes) 160 watts. The tubes were on sale at 2 tubes for $.88, The fixtures were $8.00 so my entire lighting is under $20. If i get around to it I plan to add another fixture in a diy hood.
the tank currently has about 5 fish, half a dozen corals, a ball sponge, a green brittle starfish, an anemone, lotsa plant life, a small refug, and some base rock. All seems acceptable.
I highly recommend you establish a thriving plant growth and then do the rest. In that way the plants get ahead of the algaes, keep the water clean, and establish a balanced eocsystem that takes care of the livestock waste products.
the tank currently has about 5 fish, half a dozen corals, a ball sponge, a green brittle starfish, an anemone, lotsa plant life, a small refug, and some base rock. All seems acceptable.
I highly recommend you establish a thriving plant growth and then do the rest. In that way the plants get ahead of the algaes, keep the water clean, and establish a balanced eocsystem that takes care of the livestock waste products.
lbg4life01
Member
I have a new fish tank and just now set it up do i have to get into plants now because the whole setup parts has me confused already. Plants and coral and reefs (whatever) would make me frustrated at this point
cordell
Member
it's helpful to decide what kind of life you want in the tank first.. that makes it alot easier to decide what type of lighting, filtering, etc.. to get. The hardware is the trickiest part of it all to me right now.. but I'm just starting out too. Once ya get the hardware right and everything stable, then you can start adding rock and sand.. and then later, fish. I don't know much on the plant side?
lbg4life01
Member
I want
2 clown
1 royal gramma
1 neon goby
3 blue green chromis
2 clown
1 royal gramma
1 neon goby
3 blue green chromis
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
You do not have to get into plants now. And I certainly understand the confusion at this point.
I suggest you glance over the posts on this board. Notice how many of them are hair algae or fish dieing. On the fish dieing I notice these common things: The fish are breathing heavy, have white spots, moving jerky or slowly or lying on their sides. Additionally, ammonia may have bumped up and ph is down. The common thread through all of those is the carbon dioxide has built up (and the ph fell as a result) therefore sufficating the fish. And algae is starved for nutrients when desirable plant life is established. Finally, very high quality, expensife live rock is just covered with plant life.
the one more thing you are afraid of learning is the single most important part of keeping a closed system tank. If you establish plant life you desire now, all the above problems are most likely avoided or at least vastely reduced. Plus plants are extremely inexpensive (like free from other hobbiests). Once plants are established (bout a week or so) you have a very strong indication there is no toxins in the system.
Believe me, get the plants started as the first thing and you will not regret it. With my 55g, I was not told of plants until i had been running for 3 months. Once I got plants in the system, the problems I had been having disappeared. And those problems are very similiar to the problems you see on this board from posters who do not have plants.
I suggest you glance over the posts on this board. Notice how many of them are hair algae or fish dieing. On the fish dieing I notice these common things: The fish are breathing heavy, have white spots, moving jerky or slowly or lying on their sides. Additionally, ammonia may have bumped up and ph is down. The common thread through all of those is the carbon dioxide has built up (and the ph fell as a result) therefore sufficating the fish. And algae is starved for nutrients when desirable plant life is established. Finally, very high quality, expensife live rock is just covered with plant life.
the one more thing you are afraid of learning is the single most important part of keeping a closed system tank. If you establish plant life you desire now, all the above problems are most likely avoided or at least vastely reduced. Plus plants are extremely inexpensive (like free from other hobbiests). Once plants are established (bout a week or so) you have a very strong indication there is no toxins in the system.
Believe me, get the plants started as the first thing and you will not regret it. With my 55g, I was not told of plants until i had been running for 3 months. Once I got plants in the system, the problems I had been having disappeared. And those problems are very similiar to the problems you see on this board from posters who do not have plants.
tarhull87
Member
Beaslbob,
I am buying a 90 gallon tommorow, could I use that same lighting you were talking about for your 55g? Is it capable of supporting shrooms?
What bulbs do you have in those fixtures?
Are these the fixtures you use?
Lithonia Lighting
48 In. 2-Light Strip Fluorescent Fixture
If not, can you email me telling me what I should buy from home depot to set up that kind of lighting?
My email is mhull87@cox.net
I am buying a 90 gallon tommorow, could I use that same lighting you were talking about for your 55g? Is it capable of supporting shrooms?
What bulbs do you have in those fixtures?
Are these the fixtures you use?
Lithonia Lighting
48 In. 2-Light Strip Fluorescent Fixture
If not, can you email me telling me what I should buy from home depot to set up that kind of lighting?
My email is mhull87@cox.net
robchuck
Active Member
I have plenty of reservations about using shoplights over saltwater tanks. My main concern would be with the lights hanging over a lot of saltwater. I would be concerned with salt corroding the fixture, especially the end caps which are not designed for saltwater use. This sounds like a BIG fire hazard to me, and something I would not want to be constantly worried about, especially when you can buy NO lights designed for aquarium use for a few bucks more.
The color spectrum thing is a whole nother ball of wax, and I'm sure there will be plenty of responses in that regard.
The color spectrum thing is a whole nother ball of wax, and I'm sure there will be plenty of responses in that regard.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Originally posted by tarhull87
Beaslbob,
I am buying a 90 gallon tommorow, could I use that same lighting you were talking about for your 55g? Is it capable of supporting shrooms?
What bulbs do you have in those fixtures?
Are these the fixtures you use?
Lithonia Lighting
48 In. 2-Light Strip Fluorescent Fixture
If not, can you email me telling me what I should buy from home depot to set up that kind of lighting?
My email is mhull87@cox.net
Well others say what I use for lighting is totally unacceptable. So I guess it is your choice. And my shop lights are over a glass top so they are insulated from the water.
Basically, I use the 4' shop lights that do not have the 1" end caps. Found my hood would not fit over the thicker end caps on my 4' long 55g. The tubes were the 3200 lumen (not K) output for bout $3/2 tube normally but were on sale once for $.88 /two tubes. I am currently using two fixtures and with a diy fixture I could strip out the utility fistures and put 6 tubes in. I am also limited by the HOB tetratek filter Which takes up space at the back of the tank. Seems to be working fine. If you need more info my email is beaslbob@aol.com.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Originally posted by Kipass4130
I also dont understand... why post after post.... some people just dont get that lumens dont mean a thing.
And now... to be able to further influence newbies with off the wall advice... there is an email address available so it can be done in private. What are we hiding from?
I offer my email out of respect to our hosts. I say nothing in the emails that has not been said here except the links which are not allowed here.