not enough lighting?

[adam & jeanne]

I know this is a very debated subject, but I have a question anyway. I have a 55 gal reef with 2x65w pcs(10000k) w/reflector. The lr I bought has a lot of life on it so I decided to upgrade my lighting. My lighting has been upgraded for about two weeks now and my skimmer has been running for just two days. I started dosing with calcium, iodine, and essential elements this week. The lr has alot of coraline algae on it and has some of what I believe is called halimeda, im not sure but its macroalgae that looks like green coins hooked together on the ends. It also has what I believe are polyps or something like seamat.
This is whats happening. The purple and pink coraline is starting to flourish everywhere. The polyps or seamat whatever is looking better at the top of my tank than at the bottom and the halimeda has lost its color. Is it too soon to worry about this? or is it a lack of lighting at the bottom of my tank? If it is, I have two 18" strip lights that I could retrofit if anyone knows of a good cheap place for retrofits.
Here are my parameters for my tank:
55 gal reef
4" lsb w/45 lbs aragonite
45 lbs florida keys ls
60 lbs lr
1 penguin 330 biowheel
1 prism protein skimmer
2 penguin 550 powerheads
1 ebo jager 200w heater
2x65w pcs (10000k)
ammo: 0 trites: 0 trates: 10 temp: 77
ph: 8.2 dKH: 13 calcium: 430
Fish: 1 damsel(just couldnt get him)
Inverts: 10 scarlet hermits, 5 mexican turbo snails, 1 bahama starfish, 1 sally lightfoot, 2 emerald crabs, 1 peppermint shrimp
Seems like ive read before that emerald crabs will devour some of the algae, these may be my culprits!

 

[deucey]

so are you saying now that you have the two 65w PC on the tank? If so I would prob say yeah it maybe a lack of lighting...for the macroalgae and corals......i know its just a rule of thumb and not a concrete thing but you only have about 2.35w/Gallon which is pretty low when it comes to reef intensity lighting...you may want to consider some retrofits or something of that nature....VHO, PC, or MH combos....they will all do well on 55! Hope this helps....good luck!

 

[adam & jeanne]

yes thats what i have.
any such thing as a cheap place for good retrofits? if so, what kind of lights should i look to get and what temp?
thanks

 

[nm reef]

Just for the sake of comparission....on my 55 I run 4x65 watts of PC(10k's) & 2x110 watts of VHO(03 actinic's)...your lighting is good I like the 10k pc's but on your system you really need more lighting before you'll be able to diversify your corals or even have the few you now have flourish.... Custom sealife has good retros on pc's....icecap carries outstanding VHO ballasts.....below are a few lighting links. Look around and find what you like.........build your lighting to provide adaquate lighting for your system.
<a href="http://www.aquaticlight.com/" target="_blank">aquatic light</a>
<a href="http://www.hellolights.com/" target="_blank">hellolights</a>
<a href="http://www.customsealife.com/" target="_blank">custom sealife</a>

 

[fishfreek]

You can also try <a href="http://www.ahsupply.com" target="_blank">www.ahsupply.com</a> . They offer very high quality pc retros and are reasonably priced.

 

[deucey]

yeah i agree with NM reef if you want to get retros those are prob the best places to look....if you go with MH keep in mind that you will need atleast a 10in canopy....and 8in my work but it will be close.....and keep in mind that any lighting will work better under a closed canopy with reflectors.......this will help all the light to be directed into the tank!.....Good luck and let us know what ya decide!

 

[adam & jeanne]

ok, through my searching i have found the kits to retro my strip lights so they will be 32w pcs instead of whatever they are now. That will give me another 64w to add to my 2x65w pcs now. I can get the kits and bulbs for $120 roughly. My questions are now:
Will this be enough to solve my problem?
What temperature bulb should I get?
Is a 'smartlite' a good bulb to get?

 

[deucey]

Well this will give you a total of 194watts on a 55g tank....that will be ~3.5watts/g which is in the acceptable range for reef tanks with is ~3-10watts/g! I would consider checking on maybe two 110watt VHOs just to compair....you may get more bang for your buck.....or maybe two 96watt PC!! And as far as K ratings i would prob go with actinics if you go with the two 32watters...if you go higher like the 96watt PCs or 110 VHOs i would prob do 50/50 ......meaning one actinic and one daylight.....not smartlamps.....though they are okay.....you can't have dusk to dawn with them! IMHO....more info to come

 

[adam & jeanne]

Sammy, I'm not quite sure the exact dimensions. I want to say its 48x12x18, does that sound right? i'm not sure, im away from it right now.
Anyway, aside from what we have in it right now, we were thinking about a few small fish, such as a couple of gobies, jawfish, maybe a coral beauty. I dont plan on putting in anymore than three more fish. Aside from that, maybe some polyps, mushrooms, and ive heard that a bubble or frogspawn coral is pretty hardy.
I'm a little stressed for room on top of my glass hoods right now. I have a 48" 2x65w pc sitting on top right now and if I retro my strip lights its going to be cramped.

 

[deucey]

Hey petsolutions has a dual 96watt electrolite PC ballast for 114.99 and the two bulbs cost 36.99 and 44.99....total of 196.97 for a total of 192 watts of light.....thats more light for your buck....
OR you could do a dual 65watt electrolite PC ballast for 79.99 and two bulbs at 29.99....total of 139.97 for a total of 130watts of light....thats more bang for your buck too....
i would suggest if you go with the dual 96watts to go with one superday light 10000k and one ultra actinic ....but if you go with the dual 65watts go with both ultra actinics.....IMO......your tank your choice!http://www.petsolutions.com/cgi-bin/cgicatls?l=26
the ballast are under you guessed it ballast and the bulbs under bulbs.....hope this helps.....Good luck and let us know what you decide!

 

[adam & jeanne]

thanks for your help duecey, im just not quite sure ive got enough room for the lights. ill have to see if i can move something around.

 

[deucey]

If you are thinking of bubble corals or frog spawn you definatly need to boost up you lights....and if you decide to go with the lights i have suggested you can retro fit a standard 48" strip light to one 96w PC (requiring you to have to have two fixtures) or you can retro fit a standard 48" strip light to two 65w PC (requiring only one fixture). I hope this all makes since if not feel free to ask me questions...and also you will need to perchase bulb clips they are like $2 a piece......you will need 4 for two bulbs....

 

[deucey]

well you could go with a single 96 watt ballast and bulb and......you should be able to fit a standard 48" fixture on top along with the dual 65watt fixture you already have!....

 

[adam & jeanne]

the light strips I have to work with are two strips that came with the aquarium. they hold 18" bulbs. My 2x65w pcs are in a 48" fixture. Im trying to work with the 18" strips that came with the aquarium. Its not a definite that I have to keep a bubble or frogspawn. If I am only able to retrofit and get 64 more watts I'll just see what I can handle with that and go from there. Surely I could keep some mushrooms or polyps.
Thanks!

 

[deucey]

oh i didn't realize that...sorry....but hey you could always build a canopy if your a handy man....my Dad and I did for my 36g and it worked out super.....but i understand you situation....its just that in the long run i would think that you will prob want more lighting so why not spend a litte extra and find a used 48" fixture you could gut and retro or build a canopy and mount all your lighting under it....i know what has happen to me in the past and i know i always wanted more light till i finally spent the $$......good luck anyway......you could keep polyps and mushrooms.....maybe even some star polyps....or some type of leather!...

 

[adam & jeanne]

cool, thanks alot!!

 

[adam & jeanne]

Hey Deucey, after looking a little bit, I think Im gonna go with your suggestion and build a canopy to house the 2x96w compacts. Ive looked around and for the money Im getting much more with those ballasts youve suggested. Its about 70 more dollars and about 130 more watts. And how hard can it be to build a box to put some lights in? Thanks for your help!!

 

[deucey]

np man.....and hey good luck with the building process and hey go the the LFS and check on a prebuilt canopy for your tank...maybe cheaper to buy.....and if not take your time building.....let us know how it goes....good luck and happy reefing!!

 

[adam & jeanne]

yeah looks like its gonna be a 48" fixture with 2 55w pcs in it. I found some good DIY plans and some good kits w/reflectors and all. I think Im gonna go with actinic in these.

 

[deucey]

yep sounds good.....two superdaylights and two actinics.....sweet........gonna be great!! Good luck......