Soft Corals

M

mr.cichlid

AC Members
Aug 28, 2008
373
0
0
Phoenix, AZ
I just bought 15w 10K lighting for my 55g sw tank. Could someone please guide me on what soft corals i can introduce in my tank? I have got abt 30lbs of live rock, hob skimmer, power head, canister filter, live sand.
 
Umm dont think you'll be able to keep any corals alive with that lighting, for softies you need around 3-4 wpg(watts per gallon) and get rid of that can filter wont be good in the long run
 
Just for reference, I've got 4x65w compact fluorescent over my 55. I've been growing zoas, mushrooms, tree/leather corals, and some LPS like hammer, frogspawn and candycanes. that light level would be a good starting place for the easy corals.

As far as the canister, it can be useful to run chemical media like activated carbon, but if you just need the flow, I'd replace it with another powerhead.
 
the guy at petco told me yesterday that with two 15w lights i could have some soft corals in my tank. hmmm may be not. I really like to have soft corals in my tank but i guess the light fixture is gonna put a big hole in my pocket if i go in that path. I dont know if the standard fixtures can handle lights with high watts.
 
mr.cichlid said:
I dont know if the standard fixtures can handle lights with high watts.
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It's the fixture (the ballast) that determines the wattage the bulb receives. Changing the bulb alone to one with a higher wattage rating isn't going to help.
 
mr.cichlid said:
the guy at petco told me yesterday that with two 15w lights i could have some soft corals in my tank. hmmm may be not. I really like to have soft corals in my tank but i guess the light fixture is gonna put a big hole in my pocket if i go in that path. I dont know if the standard fixtures can handle lights with high watts.
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[FONT=&quot]To get you on the correct path the gang here is trying to advise you to step up the lighting. Unless petco has some major lighting sale, you may want to look elsewhere. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]You often find Craig List to be handy if you have one for local listings like myself. The hoods that are out there are pretty spendy. Nice but spendy. So many folks will end up building there own lighting system. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Anyone here recommend any sites to buy parts from? I don’t online shop since all my stuff is bought locally. I think maybe some members here can help you find the parts you need.

Look at Marine Depot lighting section to get a grasp on all your options out there. The watts a gallon rule is just a guideline to there is more to it than than. Tank depth plays a role and placement of corals. Soft corals are great for starting out to learn the hobby.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Here is some suggestions:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~CU01006~idCategory~FILTFIPCFE~category~48_Inch_Fixtures-Power_Compact-Light_Fixtures-Lighting-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Very low budget but covers you for softies…but its just barely sufficient and if you want to upgrade to better corals in the future you will have to buy a new set up or GUTT this one and incorporate it in a canopy you build.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Suggested and gives you room to get a variety of things[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~category~48_inch_Current_USA_6x54W_Nova_Extreme_Pro_T5HO_3_10k_3_460nm_Actinics_48in_Units~vendor~Current_USA~SearchStr~pro~action~view~idProduct~CU01081~idCategory~FILTFIT58U.html[/FONT]
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These are only examples I grabbed off the web but as you can see these lights get very spendy as you improve. Heck it’s the reason I went the route of building a wood canopy in the first place.
The cost of making a wood canopy and fitting it with two MH moguls was far less than buying a light fixture that could come close to its quality of light intensity.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]But do check out Marine Depot lights to see whats out there …
Power Compacts can only do so much… on a tank that size you really should go T5HO and if you want to go metal halides even better =p [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Facts About Petco:
I know a person at Petco.. Salt water Dept. manager and also member of a local reef club here in Seattle. I can tell you in certainty that when Petco hires they don’t have any formal training for fish area when it comes to Salt. They take people who say they have a background…but you know that isn’t good for a customer. Only reason I trust this one person at Petco is she knows salt very well from her own experiences and learning from other stores “salt water focused”. Heck I’ve seen her shopping for corals in the same stores I go to 30 miles away.[/FONT]
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So if you need salt water advise… AQ community has a great group here and friendly bunch to help with what they can. PM me if you like I can send you to a place with a huge resource of info on every spectrum of marine aquariums. Its very overwhelming library but its pretty darn good. Out of respect here I will not put the link on a public thread. Just rude you know.[/FONT]
 
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