Setting up Live Rock

[magyk]

Hello All
I have a 75 gallon tank and I'm thinking of buying 50lbs of LR and turning my tank into a reef.
However, my lighting is 2 strips which contain two bulbs each one of 50/50 lighting and with the blue actinic, the strips are 20 watts each.
My question will the live rock live and will I get the brilliant corraline purples and greens. Secondly will the diatoms overrun the liverock. My water is fine ammonia=0 nitrate and trite=0 PH=8.3
Any Suggestions would be appreciated

 

[thomas712]

If your intent is to also add corals to your tank the I would say that you lighting will not be enough. 40 watts is pretty low for coralline algea as well but possible. If you increase your lighting you may wind up bleaching some of the coralline until it gets used to it. However understand that the lighting that it came from is most likely more intense than what you have now.
I do not see a problem with diatoms unless you are also changing your substrate. What is your substrate now? Diatoms show up more on the substrate in a new tank, snails and hermits do a pretty good job on the rocks and substrate as well.
Thomas

 

[magyk]

should I get better lighting

 

[mousers68]

How long have you had your tank is my first question? If you are trying to cycle the tank I would not be concerned about the lights at this time. It might help to keep the algea bloom down with lower lighting. I am reading a book that states to actually keep the lights off during the cycle. The live rock will help it cycle faster and you will need 1 to 1 1/2 lbs per gallon. 50 is a good starting number though.
If you want a fish only tank the lighting will be fine. If you want to get corals and inverts you will need a lot more lighting.
LR is always a good thing. It will help the filtration. You will have a spike in levels so don't freak. They will go down in time.
I would look at getting a lot more light though if you want the other stuff since a lot of the inverts and corals use light as nutrients.

 

[thomas712]

Yes you will have to get better lighting if your going to have a reef tank. Use the search button on the upper right to look up VHO, PC, or MH.
This is an expensive part of the reef setup. A VHO fixture and ballast can cost around $160.00 with endcaps and all, and the bulbs run about $20-$25 dollars a peice. Those are online prices.
Double or triple the cost at an LFS.
Thomas

 

[magyk]

I was told if I change my ballast in my light strip to a 40 watt
I could then put stronger bulbs in there what do you think about that
Anyone?

 

[goldrush]

Magyk,Welcome to the board. You want to have somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 watts of light in a 75 to support a reef (for hard corals and clams you need even more). Live rock should be about 125 lbs. . I would also rethink the use of a UV in a reef as it's job is to destroy bacteria(even the good kind). In short,sit back,slow down,do a lot of reading. Read back through previous posts here and ask questions. With a reef,patience is not a virtue,it's a necessity. Good luck.

 

[mousers68]

Just checking to see if you are just starting the cycle that is one ? that is very important? After the cycle is when you can look into lights.
Let me know

 

[magyk]

Tank has been established 10 months
looking into VHO lighting
does anyone know if I'd be able to place the lights on my tank hood

 

[mousers68]

You should be able to. I would ask your questions under the DIY section but I think it would work. I would have to see a pic to be certain.