Newbie + New Tank = Lighting Questions :-)

[dutchswan]

I have a 47 Gallon 30" Tall aquarium that is currently finishing its 3rd week of cycling (see below). Let me give you the Cliff Notes version of the process I have gone through: Tank came with a single bulb hood that holds a standard 18W bulb. After posting my desired coral and anemone hopes, everyone told me I needed much better lighting. This is when I discovered how much a fully functional tank really costs. Anyway; I upgraded to a 96W 50/50 PC lighting system. The owner of the local pet store, as well as ***** both confirmed that this would be sufficient for most anemones and some corals. Everyone in this forum (in the newbie section...this is my first post outside of that area) told me my coral and anemones would not survive with a 96W PC. All recommended 250W MH, or at very minimum 150W MH. Herein lies my question:
Will my current setup allow corals and anemones to do well (maybe not fat and happy, but also not struggling)? It seems to me everyone will jump right to that 250W MH, and of course that would be the best choice...but again that was not the question. Question 2: If the current setup is not sufficient, would it be if I simply doubled up on the 96W PC? That would make it 192W total, and would still be the cheapest option. I value your input!
96W Quad 50/50 PC 6,700K: ~$105 - Current Setup
http://www.***********.com/ps_viewit...&child=ES53111
108W (6x18W) 10,000K HO T-5: ~$230
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...4538&subref=AA
150W MH 14,500K: ~$290
http://www.aquacave.com/20-sunpod-1x...t-usa-806.html
250W MH 14,500K: ~$399
http://www.aquacave.com/20-sunpod-1x...-usa-1995.html

 

[acrylic51]

Nope..... Sorry, but 30" is a good depth to penetrate, and that was why the 250 was recommended. IMHO doubling up the PC's would be a real waste of money. The setups are inefficient. In the hobby you honestly if you can't provide the best possible care for the creatures then you should honestly refrain from purchasing them until you can give the best. Another option would b Rostock the tank with less light demanding corals????? Bottom line the question ask isn't responsible reef keeping.

 

[flower]

I have to ask, what is so important about getting an anemone? Non-photosynthetic corals are drop dead beautiful and like all corals, you must do the homework to know how to care for them best. Your current light system will work just fine for them.
I know you have a clown fish...I have had three sets of clown fish over the years, they are pretty hardy and live a long time. Not one ever hosted an anemone, my first set hosted a flower pot coral. One clown even wallowed a coral to death, I gave it away because it then moved to the next coral victim, and it was just too rough on coral. The ones I have now host the output and intake tubes and I have an anemone they ignore completely.
I have also over the years had anemones kill and feed on my fish. For a long time I even swore off ever getting another one. They move where they want to go, sometimes in the most inconvenient place, stinging coral or behind some rock way in the back. They move and get caught in the power heads, sometimes (not my tank) the spew white gunk that clouds the tank, and sometimes they just kill a fish, crab or shrimp because it swam too close.
Anemones are beautiful, they are also a big pain in the butt.

 

[dutchswan]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3285694

I have to ask, what is so important about getting an anemone? Non-photosynthetic corals are drop dead beautiful and like all corals, you must do the homework to know how to care for them best. Your current light system will work just fine for them.
With not being fully educated on what animals are out there and what their requirements are, I am just trying to give myself a setup that keeps my options open.

 

[2quills]

Get yourself a good book on corals, check into some articles online. Your light just seriously limits the options on what you will be able to keep. And anything you do try to keep will have to be placed near the top 1/3rd of your tank. There are non-photosynthetics out there but like Flower said, you need to really do your research on them. Lights for keeping a living thriving reef envirornment in your home or place of business is not the same as purchasing a lense for a camera. It's like expecting to raise your children on bread and water alone...sure you might be able to keep them alive but they are not going to look very good or live a very productive lifestyle.
Keep searching, you can get MH lighting for cheaper if you do some digging...you could install a descent pendant light for cheaper than $400 than doesn't necissarily have to sit right on top of your tank. Check out the auction sites, see if anyone is selling good used equipment, or check into some local reef clubs...people are always buying, selling or trading.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by 2Quills
http:///forum/post/3285755
Get yourself a good book on corals, check into some articles online. Your light just seriously limits the options on what you will be able to keep. And anything you do try to keep will have to be placed near the top 1/3rd of your tank. There are non-photosynthetics out there but like Flower said, you need to really do your research on them. Lights for keeping a living thriving reef envirornment in your home or place of business is not the same as purchasing a lense for a camera. It's like expecting to raise your children on bread and water alone...sure you might be able to keep them alive but they are not going to look very good or live a very productive lifestyle.
Keep searching, you can get MH lighting for cheaper if you do some digging...you could install a descent pendant light for cheaper than $400 than doesn't necissarily have to sit right on top of your tank. Check out the auction sites, see if anyone is selling good used equipment, or check into some local reef clubs...people are always buying, selling or trading.

+1 a good coral book is exactly what you need.

Having bright lights is no guarantee you can have anything you want to keep, having a tank that is too well lit will also limit you. Lots of critters don’t want that kind of lighting. Your tank is so deep that those tall sea pens and gorgonian (non-photosynthetic) corals would be quite happy in there.
There are so many fish in the sea, and so many corals to choose from that a book makes perfect sense. Since you already have a light system..check out what you can already house in your tank. So Instead of planning to spend more money on equipment..Dream of what you will be adding when the time is right and spend your money on coral and fish instead.

 

[gio28]

Originally Posted by acrylic51
http:///forum/post/3285690
Nope..... Sorry, but 30" is a good depth to penetrate, and that was why the 250 was recommended. IMHO doubling up the PC's would be a real waste of money. The setups are inefficient. In the hobby you honestly if you can't provide the best possible care for the creatures then you should honestly refrain from purchasing them until you can give the best. Another option would b Rostock the tank with less light demanding corals????? Bottom line the question ask isn't responsible reef keeping.
+1
doubling the PCs will not help you very much at all...its all about how deep the light penetrates cause you have such a deep tank and want to keep anemones and corals...hence a 250 watt MH is really what you need. You shouldn't want anything less than a VERY happy anemone and VERY happy corals...not ADEQUATELY happy ones. So basically your current setup isnt up to par with what your future plans for this tank are. With that said...if you want to keep your current lighting system...take Flower's advice. Your questions that you asked aren't showing that you are a responsible aquarist. I'm not trying to attack you in any way or discourage you from continuing this awesome hobby...just please reconsider what the other, more experienced, people on this site have to say and go with it, because in the end...you will be MUCH happier (as well as your corals). Good luck

 

[gio28]

I looked on craigslist for you...i found a 250watt MH with a 14,000K bulb for sale near where you live ($275)...so PM me if you are interested and I can give you a link for it...

 

[dutchswan]

Originally Posted by gio28
http:///forum/post/3285805
I looked on craigslist for you...i found a 250watt MH with a 14,000K bulb for sale near where you live ($275)...so PM me if you are interested and I can give you a link for it...
I wish I would have read your post before I made a change, though I still think 250W is too much. Yes, it will reach the bottom, but cook the top (see picture below). I ended up getting a 150W 14,000K Metal Halide clip on (also below). If the animal likes lots of light, placement at top, less light preferences move down a level (5 levels). What does everyone think?

 

[acrylic51]

Regardless of opinion, the 250W MH would not have been overkill for the depth of the tank......Usually when people have tanks over 30" or more in depth they step up to 400W MH's for the penetration of depth......Lighting is alot more than what is visual acceptable to the eyes.....You have left yourself with options this way, but you still might find the anenome wondering about till it finds it's happy spot; if it does......You might want/choose to place something like an anenome near the top, but if it doesn't like the spot, you will see him travel....Again alot of things will dictate where your corals are placed....Lighting being 1 of them, but also water flow as well will dictate how your corals prosper!!!!!!
With a 250W MH you could have reached/had further light penetration into the tank. The cooking aspect could have been resolved, by simply raising the light higher over the tank, and depending what type of reflector your using, you would/could possibly loose penetration as well.