how hard is it??

[kuuipo73]

My mom has a 125Gal salt tank. While she loves her tank, she would like to add live coral, etc. but has been told she needs other lighting. I would like to purchase this lighting for her for Christmas perhaps, but at all the LFS that I have gone to, I keep getting different advice. What exactly will I need and about how much should I expect to spend? Right now she has no live coral (obviously), a fox face lo, a bleny, a yellow tang, a 13 stripe something or other, copper angel, watchman goby, clown fish, and some little blue with a yellow tail fish that you use to start the tank (They're cheap) and a black and white, and a yellow one (all the cheap whatever they are). So, what kind of advice can you give her and me? Is keeping this sort of coral and stuff alive a lot more work than just keeping a regular salt tank going?? She has had the tank for a couple years, but I do not want to get her the lights only to find out that it is too much work and highly involved. No stores around here really know much, so she would have little help other than this forum!!

Also, do you have any suggestions on something cool to add to her tank fishwise? My daughter and her do this tank together, and they are looking for something neat to add, but it seems all that they look at at the LFS they say cannot go with what they have. Any thoguhts would be great! THanks!

 

[OrionGirl]

That tank is packed--I wouldn't add another fish to it. That said, yes, converting it to a reef will be tough, simply because reef tanks tend to be lightly stocked to reduce the amount of waste in the tank. With that many fish in there, it's going to be hard to keep levels low enough to allow all but the most hardy of corals to survive.

Otherwise, Metal hallide are the lights I prefer for reef setups. The need good ventilation in the canopy to help control heat, but provide great light for the corals. You'll also need to consider changing filtration, and going with live rock, if it's not already there. The fish live may be of concern as well--not all fish are reef safe. Without knowing specifically what is in there, no way to even guess.

 

[kuuipo73]

Ok, we thought there was really not that many fish in there. It seems like you hardly ever even see a fish around there! Maybe just because they are all still pretty small, for now that is.

I guess that I will look for another gift idea. I do not want to get her something that will cause her just a big headache. She enjoys her tank already, maybe if she wants to we can set up a separate reef tank.

By the way she has 3 small damsels, 1 fox face lo, 1 bleny, 1 small yellow tang, 1 -13 stripe something or other, 1 copper angel, 1 watchman goby, and 1 clown fish. The damsels are what I couldn't remember.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Mako]

For a full-fledged reef tank on a 125, you'll certainly need to use Metal Halide, which will cost you most of your arms and legs--- but maybe worth it? Also note that halides will need circulation, etc and generate a lot of heat (and, well, a ton of beautiful light). The bulbs need to be replaced every 6mos to year, and are $60-100 each. They also consume insane amounts of electricity (their incredible ability to cram tons of wattage and light output in a very small area is unparalleled, almost overkill in some situations, though some will disagree with me on that last opinion). And for looks, you can't beat them. I guess I'm saying "if your wealthy and can afford it easily, do it".

Personally, if considering a 125 reef without the metal halides, I'd go with either VHO florescents or, better yet, Power Compacts----- but note that they will not punch the light down to the bottom half of the tank enough to grow most corals. I personally use PC's on my nanos, but that's because I know where to get quality bulbs dirt cheap, but they are only 20 watts each.


If you predetermine to set up a "deep reef" type tank, and put 4-6 of the 96watt PC's (I'd use two actinics and two 10,000K), you could set up a stunning tank with mushroom polyps, ricordea, star polyps, zooanthids, and various other lower-light corals. They should do fine in all levels of your tank with 400-600 watts. Note though that many of you're fish will look goofy in a deep reef with all the blue lighting--- but many fish look superb, especially the blue or purple colored ones.

 

[wastememphis]

Id go with T-5's rather than VHO's if you were in a budget. They are very bright, and do not cost alot. You could get 6-8bulbs over the tank and could grow any sps if you had the 52watt bulbs and the right spectrum.