Type of Lighting

C

cantari

AC Members
Oct 19, 2006
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I've had numerous saltwater tanks, but I am just now getting into corals and anemomes. I want to turn my 25 gallon into an anenome tank with a few clownfish. I was looking at the 2x65 watt power compacts, and was curious as to which lights I need for my tank: actinic blue, 10k white, 50.50 - half blue half white, or 6500 k plant growth bulbs?

Also, am I able to put corals together with the anenomes or should I usually separate the two? Also what anenomes do well with the clownfish? I already have about 40 pounds of live rock in the tank, and its been set up for about 6 months now. I currently have a red knob sea star in the tank right now, and know I will move that into a different tank once I put in the corals/anenomes.

Thanks.
 
Actually, most clowns won't host in an anemone and many anemones in most cases will only die in captivity and IMO (in my opinion) should be left in the ocean. The reason why the clowns won't host is becuase almost all clowns available are either tank raised or tank bred and becuase of that, they have never eve seen an anemone. There actually just as likely to host in most soft (and some LPS) corals as they are to host in an anemone.
 
Most people prefer to use either one actinic bulb and one 10k bulb or 50-50 bulbs for thier marine tanks, however, it has been said that corals will grow with pretty much any spectrum of light.

A 2x65 watt power compact will give you a wide array of corals that you can keep in your tank. The majority of softys and the lower light LPS and SPS should do well in with that lighting.
 
Thanks

Thank you, I was leaning towards the 50.50 light, just wanted some clarification on what each bulb is best for. So do you recommend that I just do some soft corals instead of anenomes since the clownfish are just as likely to host in them? Are they easier to take care of than the anenomes?

Also, can I get some specific types of corals/anenomes that work well with clownfish? Thanks
 
I'd go for xenia it grows fast and they are just as likely to take to it as they will be anything. I've found that they really aren't all that picky. It might be better to give you a list of what to avoid. Fungia, cupcorals, and any other lps species that looks a lot like an anem but, has a bony plate. They'll beat it to death. I wouldn't attempt an anem until you have a lot of practice with sps and lps species. If you give them exactly the right conditions they'll reward you with 1000's of years of good health ;). If you look in the s.w. articles section there is an artice about various anem species.
hth
Max
 
For an anemone in that size tank, I would go with a BTA. For lighting, I would use the 10k and the antic blue. If your tank has been set up for 6 months, it may be safe to add an anemone.

I have ocellaris and tomato colwns in my tanks (3 tanks). All of my clowns are tank raised and host in a BTA(bulb tip anemone). The BTA are easy to take care of as long as you get a healthy one. They will move if they are not happy, but once they settle in mine don't move unless they are getting ready to split. They will sometimes go into hiding when they split.

Here is a couple of pictures of mine. They are not up to date and the anemones are larger now.

eea26cec.jpg


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ef63a020.jpg


This anemone got around 12 inches then split about 3 months ago.

HTH
Dorothy
 
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