when to upgrade lights

[royce]

I am setting up a new 55g FOWLR with dsb, upgrading from my old 45 FO with cc. I know that I will need to upgrade my 40w NO lamp but when should I do this? From the very beginning or after a few weeks to avoid an algae bloom? I don't want to lose any of the critters in the LR due to unsufficient lighting. I was going to try a CSL smartlight (2x65w) but now I am beginning to think that it won't be enough light so I am starting to think PC or VHO.
Thanks

 

[dburr]

Their was another post that said the smartlite only lasted 3 months- bad choice.
PC bulbs last about 14 months, but I hear alot that VHO is better in light spectrum, but only last 6 months. It's a trade off.
It's up to you what you would rather have.
I just upgraded to pc from no. Everything is thriving. I will have MH in a year or 2.
Good luck.

 

[nm reef]

Just want to comment on the "CSL smart lite expires in 3 months" deal....I installed a CSL 2x65 watt smartlite in February......to date they are still in good shape...no problems with algae due to change in spectrum...added a CSL 2x65 10k set-up to the origionals in March and those have been outstanding also......and I added 2x110 watt vho in about June to complete my lighting on a 55 reef.....no problems with any of the lamps to date....I will replace each at the 1 year mark ...sooner if they develope any problems....but these CSL fixtures have been beneficial to my system and I would not hesitate to reccomend them to anybody looking for quality lighting up-grades.....there are numerous types of lighting and endless options available.....CSL does offer a quality product..........if I develope a larger system(and I plan to do so) then I will probably go with a combination of VHO and MH.....but its my personal opinion that PC and or VHO do quite well on a 55

 

[fishfreek]

I agree with NMreef. I too run smartlites and i am happy with their performance so far. I upgraded about three weeks ago from NO bulbs.(tank looks great now!) The blueness of the actinic bulb was not quite as intense after say two weeks, but still casts a plesent blue light. So far... i would reccomend them.

 

[jond]

Check out URI bulbs run on an icecap ballast. 12-13 months bulb life before replacement.

 

[royce]

Thanks for all the information, but my burning question is still "when should I do this? Right when I add the LR or after a few weeks to avoid an algae bloom? I don't want to lose any of the critters in the LR due to unsufficient lighting"

 

[javajoe]

I am wondering this as well... here is my stats:
55 gallon tank
150 lbs SouthDown sand
20 lbs live sand to seed SD sand
I am adding 30 lbs of live rock this weekend, and have 2x40 watt NO bulbs-- adding either MH, VHO or PC's once i can afford it, most likely afer christmas-- is this ok for sand and liverock?

 

[dburr]

Upgrading lights may cause an algea break!!
Does that answer your question?

 

[big tuna]

it's best to leave the lights out so you don't have algae blooms.

 

[royce]

Ok, it sounds like lights are out during cycling, and I will expect an algal bloom when I add the lights. I'm going to have to bite the bullet at some point though, so that I can keep all of my critters happy. dburr, where in CT are you? I'm in New London. Also, do you have any plans for that DIY canopy of yours? I'm going to need something to mount those lights in and luckily, my guy is good at building things

 

[javajoe]

Ok, so just to make sure I understand this, because I am going to put LR in my tank today....
With LR/LS waiting for cycle, leave the lights OFF all the time? (until it cycles?)

 

[royce]

JavaJoe,
looks like we are in this together! I've also got the 55, southdown that I will seed with LS and will be buying some LR. Let me know what you decide on the lights, I'm still trying to figure out what I want

 

[javajoe]

Originally posted by Royce:
<STRONG>JavaJoe,
looks like we are in this together! I've also got the 55, southdown that I will seed with LS and will be buying some LR. Let me know what you decide on the lights, I'm still trying to figure out what I want </STRONG>

royce... yeah- i guess we are! see my other post here and read what happened when put in LS to seed the southdown sand....

 

[royce]

JavaJoe,
I read your post yesterday, but didn't realize that it was you - awesome! Since I already have the 45 all stocked, I can probably move a critter or 2 over to the new tank once it cycles - but oh the temptation

 

[dburr]

It's best to leave the lights off during a cycle. Why don't you do your upgrade while it cycles?
When I up graded my lights I set the photo period for shorter days and leave them on a little longer every few days until I reached the length I wanted.
Royce- I am in Haddam, Its south of Middletown.
I dont have a digital camera, so I wont have pics. Basicly I had H.D. cut 12"x 1" wood.
2 at 51" and 2 at 13". It"s alittle wide for
your 55 so you may want to go with 10". (I was planning to upgrade tanks.) Keep the 51".
That are your sides, the shorter ones get nailed inside of the longer ones. I also had them cut some thinner peices for the top. they allow for heat out the top of the canopy. I did 2 at 3"x1" and 1 at 4"x1".
SAnd the edges and faces. Nail front to sides. Pre drill, they wont crack that way. I used panel nails and filled later. Nail on the back. Check for squarness, nail on top peices, spaced equally. Sand, stain and waterproof. I used waterbased polyurathayn(sp?). I bought reflectors, screwed in end caps, mounted ballists outside the canopy.
Added chains and hung.
any questions let me know.
good luck both of you.
dburr

 

[dburr]

Royce one question,
you have live rock in your 45 gal?
I precycled 200lbs of southdown in a can for 2 weeks before it went in the tank. I added the sand and exsisting lr together. My tank cycled in 6 days!!! Yours may do the same if my assumption is correct.

 

[cayers]

I was under the impression that smartlights are pc's is this true? I also have the 2-65 watt smarlights , they work for me. As for lasting 3 months, Thats a new one, I was told that the bulbs have a long life, like 14 months or so, if I remember right.

 

[royce]

dburr,
unfortunately, I only have cc in my 45 - I have to buy all of my LR. I'll probably put down some base rock, then the southdown and some LS and then add the LR. Even though I'll buy cured LR it sounds like I will have to do some curing of my own before I add it to the tank - I don't want it killing off my LS! And thanks for the canopy instructions!

 

[dburr]

Royce-My .02-
If you can, like in a rubbermaid trash can, add uncured rock and southdown now (or a month in advance)to start the process. Add a powerhead and a heater. Your sand will settle faster when you add it to the tank, and you can skip the L/S- it will be live.
Good luck to ya!

 

[chocochipper]

Yes Cayers smartlites are PC's. And as far as the lasting 3 months thing, if I remember correctly without going back to the other post it was pertaining to the blue not being as blue after 3 months use. I have them also and I can't really complain aside from the ballast being in the fixture adding heat. I personally prefer remote mounted ballasts.