vinhjamin8302, thanks for the offer. I just came back from a LFS. The guy gave me a deal for the CF light 4x65w for $250. Is that a good deal? Pls give me ur thoughts.
Soft Corals
- Thread starter mr.cichlid
- Start date
Eh CF are ok for shallow tanks less than 18" b/c they just dont penetrate as well as t5's, for deeper tanks t5 is the way to go/ metal halides...Im not sure but 55g are a little taller than 18" but i think you could be ok as long as your coral placement is right..Oh and with your CF fixture are the bulbs all next to each other or is two on each side butted end to end with each other..never had much experience with CF, strictly t5 for me...Good luck though and keep us posted
specifically, i bought coralife deluxe series -double linear strip-compact fluorescent fixture
2 65w true actinic 03 blue, 2 65 watt 10k daylight straight pin compact fluorescent lamps
That makes a total of 260 watts for a 55g tank (that makes 4.7w/g). Do you think this lighting would be enough for soft and hard corals...
the next thing would be to decide on the stock list of corals. Please help me get the right stock list in my 55g tank.
thanks
2 65w true actinic 03 blue, 2 65 watt 10k daylight straight pin compact fluorescent lamps
That makes a total of 260 watts for a 55g tank (that makes 4.7w/g). Do you think this lighting would be enough for soft and hard corals...
the next thing would be to decide on the stock list of corals. Please help me get the right stock list in my 55g tank.
thanks
I have no idea abt corals. I will greatly appreciate if you or someone could give me some possible combinations that would do good in my tank. Also, i was researching last night and encounter lunar leds. Do we need them? I guess they are night lights. I am currently just leaving the actinic light on for 24hrs with 10k light only turned in the day time. Pls advice.
Lunar light LEDs are not necessary, but a nice little option if you want them.
I wouldn't leave the actinic lights on 24 hours a day. More typically, they are used to simulate dawn and dusk, as well as to help balance out the strong white appearance of the daylight bulbs. Actinics also help bring out the colors of the corals. If you leave the actinics on 24 / 7 you'll burn through them more quickly and most likely encourage some unwanted algal growth. Many people have them come on 1 hour before the daylight bulbs and turn off 1 hour after the daylight bulbs. I run them for 2 hours before through 2 hours after the daylight cycle, which accomodates my schedule a little better for seeing the tank.
As far as coral suggestions go, there's so many... You might want to browse an online site like LiveAquaria.com to see what corals you like. I can list what I like and might put under those lights, but you might not like the same things. You can list the ones you find that you like, maybe even include links to them, then everyone can provide advice as to how well they might do in your tank.
I wouldn't leave the actinic lights on 24 hours a day. More typically, they are used to simulate dawn and dusk, as well as to help balance out the strong white appearance of the daylight bulbs. Actinics also help bring out the colors of the corals. If you leave the actinics on 24 / 7 you'll burn through them more quickly and most likely encourage some unwanted algal growth. Many people have them come on 1 hour before the daylight bulbs and turn off 1 hour after the daylight bulbs. I run them for 2 hours before through 2 hours after the daylight cycle, which accomodates my schedule a little better for seeing the tank.
As far as coral suggestions go, there's so many... You might want to browse an online site like LiveAquaria.com to see what corals you like. I can list what I like and might put under those lights, but you might not like the same things. You can list the ones you find that you like, maybe even include links to them, then everyone can provide advice as to how well they might do in your tank.
Here are some corals that caught my attention:
Zoanthids, suitable anemone, mushroom leather coral, polyp, hairy mushroom, candy cane coral, torch coral, leaf plate montipora coral...Any suggestions.
Zoanthids, suitable anemone, mushroom leather coral, polyp, hairy mushroom, candy cane coral, torch coral, leaf plate montipora coral...Any suggestions.
Guys,
I have changed my lighting on sw tank. I returned the coralife deluxe series -double linear strip that did not have moon lights with the one that has moon ligths. I also bought a 8 outlet power center. I am unable figure out how to program my lights using the power center. I have two blue (night lights), two yellow (day lights), and four non timer outlets. I have set the timer 12 hrs for day light and 12 hrs of night light but i am unable to figure out how to get the actinic light to shut off one hr after day light shuts off and just have the moon lights turn on. Is there way to achieve this automatically using power center? How do you guys do it???
Please help.
I have changed my lighting on sw tank. I returned the coralife deluxe series -double linear strip that did not have moon lights with the one that has moon ligths. I also bought a 8 outlet power center. I am unable figure out how to program my lights using the power center. I have two blue (night lights), two yellow (day lights), and four non timer outlets. I have set the timer 12 hrs for day light and 12 hrs of night light but i am unable to figure out how to get the actinic light to shut off one hr after day light shuts off and just have the moon lights turn on. Is there way to achieve this automatically using power center? How do you guys do it???
Please help.
[FONT="]I don’t remember how to use even my old light strip power timer thingamabobs. I had to reference that tiny guide that came with them. All I know is I had two die on me… =\ [/FONT]
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[FONT="]Im down to the ON/OFF switch now =) 8 hours on… that is it. [/FONT]
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[FONT="]Suggestions I had when I tried doing what you are attempting… Actinics fired up 30 min before and turned off 30 min after. I had my daylights set to 8 hour photoperiods.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Currently its on a 230pm to 1030pm photo period. I hated coming home to lights going off =).. so now I have the tank on a schedule I can view them on when I get home.[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]Im down to the ON/OFF switch now =) 8 hours on… that is it. [/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]Suggestions I had when I tried doing what you are attempting… Actinics fired up 30 min before and turned off 30 min after. I had my daylights set to 8 hour photoperiods.[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]Currently its on a 230pm to 1030pm photo period. I hated coming home to lights going off =).. so now I have the tank on a schedule I can view them on when I get home.[/FONT]
Thanks ToeJam. I have upgraded the power center to the next level. I am able to control day lights, actinic lights, and lunar lights via this power center. Lets see how this item works. I am starting with some soft corals. I don't want to do anemone as it may outgrow my tank and it leads other concerns too like stinging, agressive towards other corals. Just my thoughts. But i need to find a proper hosting coral for my clowns may after few weeks.
