I now have a 55 gallon long with 2-96 power compacts both 50/50 I have a few soft coral/mushrooms now. I would like to add maybe a maxima clam (would either niger trigger or wrasse eat a clam) and couple stoney coral but what I have now is not enough light. My canopy is nice and it sits on the tank it also covers 3 sides only the back is open with only 5" to top of tank. This setup does not allow metal halide. Would it be enough light if I added more PC's, this would be much cheaper, or just totaly upgrade to metal halide.
Add more PC or upgrade to MH
- Thread starter Tab64
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well here is my take on your situation...
you have 3.4 watts per gallon now and ideal for reef is 5 watts per gallon. Since you already have the setup for the pc lights i would just add to what you have that way you do not have to modify your hood hopefully.
Not sure about the trigger but i am interested in what others will say.
Mike
you have 3.4 watts per gallon now and ideal for reef is 5 watts per gallon. Since you already have the setup for the pc lights i would just add to what you have that way you do not have to modify your hood hopefully.
Not sure about the trigger but i am interested in what others will say.
Mike
A maxima in a tall tank would be much better off with halides. I would be very hesitant to keep any clam with a trigger, even a niger. It will probably find the mantle too tempting to pass up. What kind of wrasse?
I am not a big fan of using wpg as a measure of the adequacy of light. A lot depends on the type of light, the reflectors, the depth and clarity of the water, and the needs of the livestock. With 250 watts of PC light over a 55 gallon tank, you can do well with soft corals, LPs and most SPS, but light-hungry corals like acropora, and demanding clams like crocea and maxima will probably not do well.
On the other hand, derasa, Hippopus, and maybe squamosa clams would do well if you added another 96 watts of PC. And got rid of the trigger.
I am not a big fan of using wpg as a measure of the adequacy of light. A lot depends on the type of light, the reflectors, the depth and clarity of the water, and the needs of the livestock. With 250 watts of PC light over a 55 gallon tank, you can do well with soft corals, LPs and most SPS, but light-hungry corals like acropora, and demanding clams like crocea and maxima will probably not do well.
On the other hand, derasa, Hippopus, and maybe squamosa clams would do well if you added another 96 watts of PC. And got rid of the trigger.
Thanks, I am a bit confussd with the watts per gallon thing. I have heard between 4-6 watts for coral but the idea of 4-50 watt bulbs have the same power as 1-200 watt in penetrating power. But if light decreases in intensity per inch in both width and depth, than maybe directly below would not matter as much if all 4 bulb are compacted on the same area and not spaced since this would decrease the wattage the further you got for the center.
I knida thought the niger trigger woth a clam would be iffy, but they are one the the more peaceful triggers.
The wrasse is either a orante or christmas. I am hoping it is still going through it's color morph because if it is done it is a female.
I knida thought the niger trigger woth a clam would be iffy, but they are one the the more peaceful triggers.
The wrasse is either a orante or christmas. I am hoping it is still going through it's color morph because if it is done it is a female.
throw out the watts per gallon rule...... a 250 watt MH will let you keep anything in a tank like a 29, but 260 watts of PC wont.
watts has nothing to do with anything. intensity is what it is all about. IMO, if you want any clams or sps, go with MH. you may be able to keep some like montis and derasa clams under pc, but not necessarilyl for long term, and color will be lacking a lot (you could probably do hippo under PCs, but IMO, they are kinda stupid looking....). but anyways, you wont regret going to halides.
and you arae right as far as the area it is given. But even so, a 250 watt SE magnetic ballast with a new coralife bulb will have a significantly lower PAR than a 250 watt DE URI ballast with an HQI electronic ballast. it is all about PAR ratings, not watts.
watts has nothing to do with anything. intensity is what it is all about. IMO, if you want any clams or sps, go with MH. you may be able to keep some like montis and derasa clams under pc, but not necessarilyl for long term, and color will be lacking a lot (you could probably do hippo under PCs, but IMO, they are kinda stupid looking....). but anyways, you wont regret going to halides.
and you arae right as far as the area it is given. But even so, a 250 watt SE magnetic ballast with a new coralife bulb will have a significantly lower PAR than a 250 watt DE URI ballast with an HQI electronic ballast. it is all about PAR ratings, not watts.
My experience has been different. I have kept several Montipora species under both PCs and Halides, and have seen almost no difference in color. The growth rate is better with more intense light, but that's about it. What kind of PC lights have you tried with montis?
The colour of the mantle is whats important for example a brown maxima will have adjusted to lower light conditions and can actually be burned by metal hailide lights. The brighter the mantle the more intense the light needs to be, i have kept a brown maxima under 2 55 watt pc for 4 years now with excellent growth.
Germanman
My fish are my babies
Germanman
My fish are my babies