What do you keep with PC lights
- Thread starter dirkdaplr
- Start date
anonome
Active Member
I have the corallife 384w power compact unit (72") 125g tank, that sits on stands right on the tank rim. I would say approximately 4-5 inches from the top of the water. My tank is 23 inches deep with a 2-3 inch sand bed. I have zoas, mushrooms, paly's, sponges, various leathers, kenya trees, colt coral, a very large RBTA, and LPS corals (torch, candycane, frogspawn). Halimeda macroalgae. It is very possible to have a jambed packed reef with pc's just remember to clean the lens of the light every 2-3 days if it sits on the tank for the optimum lighting.
I am very pleased with this unit. I change the bulbs every 11-12 months. I am looking into getting the pro unit with halides, but only because I want a clam in the worst way.
I am very pleased with this unit. I change the bulbs every 11-12 months. I am looking into getting the pro unit with halides, but only because I want a clam in the worst way.
tx reef
Active Member
I really doubt that Crocea will last under those PCs for over a year. They are a more light demanding clam.
Also, just because you have 500 watts of PC lighting doesn't mean it penetrates any deeper.
I thought for sure that someone with your knowledge would know better than to buy a clam that needs high intensity lighting to survive and grow.
The only clam that will survive and grow under that lighting would be a Derasa in my opinion. Definately not suitable for a Crocea....
Also, just because you have 500 watts of PC lighting doesn't mean it penetrates any deeper.
I thought for sure that someone with your knowledge would know better than to buy a clam that needs high intensity lighting to survive and grow.
The only clam that will survive and grow under that lighting would be a Derasa in my opinion. Definately not suitable for a Crocea....
zanoshanox
Active Member
Agreed^
the Crocea will maybe last 6 months max, but will start to deteriorate if not given proper lighting.
the Crocea will maybe last 6 months max, but will start to deteriorate if not given proper lighting.
murph
Active Member
IMO PC lighting would work for just about anything we keep provided the tank is shallow enough for the light to penetrate to the bottom as was mentioned. Problem is finding a tank of the proper dimension. You would think with the popularity of reef keeping these days wide short tanks would become standard.
48x48x12 would be a great dimension IMO. Plenty of floor space for a wide assortment of corals and you could stack a ton of PC lighting over it and depending on the sand bed nothing would be more than ten inches or so from there light source.
Imo this would work fine for most fish to as reef dwellers tend to roam on a horizontal plain and not up and down.
48x48x12 would be a great dimension IMO. Plenty of floor space for a wide assortment of corals and you could stack a ton of PC lighting over it and depending on the sand bed nothing would be more than ten inches or so from there light source.
Imo this would work fine for most fish to as reef dwellers tend to roam on a horizontal plain and not up and down.
reefkprz
Active Member
Originally Posted by TX Reef
I really doubt that Crocea will last under those PCs for over a year. They are a more light demanding clam.....
this does worry me.
Originally Posted by TX Reef
Also, just because you have 500 watts of PC lighting doesn't mean it penetrates any deeper.....
very true, this is a fact I try to explain to people all the time, just like if you have 2 65watt bulbs on a 55 you dont have 130watts you have 65 watts over each end.
Originally Posted by TX Reef
I thought for sure that someone with your knowledge would know better than to buy a clam that needs high intensity lighting to survive and grow.
thanks for the vote of confidence, I bought it with the knowledge that I was upgrading to MH lighting.. money problems ensued, didn't happen, its a problem I am working on. the road to hell as they say is paved with good intentions.
Originally Posted by TX Reef
The only clam that will survive and grow under that lighting would be a Derasa in my opinion. Definately not suitable for a Crocea....
I agree, the signs it showed of overextending when My bulb broke showed that this amount of lighting was marginal at best, (though it did return to normal extensiononce the bulb was replaced) I'm just hoping I can keep it alive untill I upgrade. I also feed lots of planktonic foods wich I hope is helping to extend its lower light life. being laid off doesnt help. just having purchased a house doesnt help. trying to explain why I need halide lighting to my girl is impossible when her arguments are can we afford it or the ensuing light bill. honestly right now we cant.
I really doubt that Crocea will last under those PCs for over a year. They are a more light demanding clam.....
this does worry me.
Originally Posted by TX Reef
Also, just because you have 500 watts of PC lighting doesn't mean it penetrates any deeper.....
very true, this is a fact I try to explain to people all the time, just like if you have 2 65watt bulbs on a 55 you dont have 130watts you have 65 watts over each end.
Originally Posted by TX Reef
I thought for sure that someone with your knowledge would know better than to buy a clam that needs high intensity lighting to survive and grow.
thanks for the vote of confidence, I bought it with the knowledge that I was upgrading to MH lighting.. money problems ensued, didn't happen, its a problem I am working on. the road to hell as they say is paved with good intentions.
Originally Posted by TX Reef
The only clam that will survive and grow under that lighting would be a Derasa in my opinion. Definately not suitable for a Crocea....
I agree, the signs it showed of overextending when My bulb broke showed that this amount of lighting was marginal at best, (though it did return to normal extensiononce the bulb was replaced) I'm just hoping I can keep it alive untill I upgrade. I also feed lots of planktonic foods wich I hope is helping to extend its lower light life. being laid off doesnt help. just having purchased a house doesnt help. trying to explain why I need halide lighting to my girl is impossible when her arguments are can we afford it or the ensuing light bill. honestly right now we cant.
cowfishrule
Active Member
under 130w pcs (40g tank), i have
pulse xen, hammer, frogspawn, green stripe shrooms, gsp, capnella, and a maze brain
i also successfully kept a bta under them as well.
pulse xen, hammer, frogspawn, green stripe shrooms, gsp, capnella, and a maze brain
i also successfully kept a bta under them as well.
tx reef
Active Member
Originally Posted by reefkprZ
this does worry me.
very true, this is a fact I try to explain to people all the time, just like if you have 2 65watt bulbs on a 55 you dont have 130watts you have 65 watts over each end.
thanks for the vote of confidence, I bought it with the knowledge that I was upgrading to MH lighting.. money problems ensued, didn't happen, its a problem I am working on. the road to hell as they say is paved with good intentions.
I agree, the signs it showed of overextending when My bulb broke showed that this amount of lighting was marginal at best, (though it did return to normal extensiononce the bulb was replaced) I'm just hoping I can keep it alive untill I upgrade. I also feed lots of planktonic foods wich I hope is helping to extend its lower light life. being laid off doesnt help. just having purchased a house doesnt help. trying to explain why I need halide lighting to my girl is impossible when her arguments are can we afford it or the ensuing light bill. honestly right now we cant.
I knew there had to be a reason behind this......
Good luck with the job hunt.
this does worry me.
very true, this is a fact I try to explain to people all the time, just like if you have 2 65watt bulbs on a 55 you dont have 130watts you have 65 watts over each end.
thanks for the vote of confidence, I bought it with the knowledge that I was upgrading to MH lighting.. money problems ensued, didn't happen, its a problem I am working on. the road to hell as they say is paved with good intentions.
I agree, the signs it showed of overextending when My bulb broke showed that this amount of lighting was marginal at best, (though it did return to normal extensiononce the bulb was replaced) I'm just hoping I can keep it alive untill I upgrade. I also feed lots of planktonic foods wich I hope is helping to extend its lower light life. being laid off doesnt help. just having purchased a house doesnt help. trying to explain why I need halide lighting to my girl is impossible when her arguments are can we afford it or the ensuing light bill. honestly right now we cant.
I knew there had to be a reason behind this......
Good luck with the job hunt.
dirkdaplr
Member
That is exactly what I was talking about those who do not understand the theory about light. I was not implying that someone could keep acro, and clams alive sitting on the bottom of a 24in tank that why I asked location of corals on their reef in relation to light source. I can not see a reason why you could not keep some of the higher light dependent species alive if they are in close proximity to the lights. IMO
dirkdaplr
Member
yes the total wattage is what is being questioned but also one must take into account if the light is divided on two parts of the tank as in a 55 gal setup. with half the light being divided on both sides so the effective light would be 130w not the total. and in response to the question about water vol you only count the display not the entire system when calculating wat/gal. But always remember that is only an approximation and is not always accurate just a startng point for estimating how much light you need.
