Getting Back into the Hobby. Lighting Question. - Aquarium Advice

sghill · 01-19-2006, 07:20 PM

I used to have a bunch of [acronym:18108ea248="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:18108ea248] and [acronym:18108ea248="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:18108ea248] tanks, but moving and a couple kids later I found my self out of a hobby. My kids are older and I have more time now. So I'd like to start up an old love.

Here's what I have.

Start with 30 Gallon Long Tank
CPR Bak Pak
Berlin Protein Skimmer (Can't Remember Model used to be on my 100gal)
Eheim Pro Canister (Can't remember Model but has 2 compartments)
150+lbs of Base rock (used to be live)

What I would like to keep.

Anemones
Polyps
Mushrooms
couple of False Perculas
Fridmani Pseudochromis
Cleaning Crew

With all that in mind I'd like to know what type of lighting would be appropriate. I have 4 - 36" Flourecent Strips T-12. From what I've read that would be 120watts of lighting, about 4 watts per [acronym:18108ea248="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:18108ea248]. Is that enough to keep the stuff I have happy. My math might be wrong still doing a lot of research.

I was considering replacing the Flourecent Strips with [acronym:18108ea248="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:18108ea248] strips maybe 2 96watt [acronym:18108ea248="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:18108ea248]. That would get me up to 6 watts per [acronym:18108ea248="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:18108ea248].

What type of bulbs would be best for the stuff I have listed above.

50/50
Actinic
10,000k
20,000k

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advace.

Regards,

Stan

Scottm · 01-20-2006, 12:53 AM

Your lighting great for polyps and mushrooms. Iffy for an anenome, I would get the [acronym:b55f0be74b="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:b55f0be74b]'s even then though I don't have any experience with anenomes to know whether that would be enough light for one. However, The [acronym:b55f0be74b="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:b55f0be74b]'s are always going to be a better option since they have superior water penetrating capabilities and are more intense, you will like them better too, they really make the colors in your tank pop, better still are [acronym:b55f0be74b="Very high output fluorescent"]VHO[/acronym:b55f0be74b]'s and they are cheaper to replace the bulbs and most people seem to think [acronym:b55f0be74b="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:b55f0be74b] is the best, though I have seen some truly awe inspiring T-5 setups. I would use some of that base rock and get some small pieces of REALLY nice [acronym:b55f0be74b="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:b55f0be74b] to seed it.

01-19-2006, 07:20 PM	#1
sghill Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 4	Getting Back into the Hobby. Lighting Question. I used to have a bunch of [acronym:18108ea248="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:18108ea248] and [acronym:18108ea248="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:18108ea248] tanks, but moving and a couple kids later I found my self out of a hobby. My kids are older and I have more time now. So I'd like to start up an old love. Here's what I have. Start with 30 Gallon Long Tank CPR Bak Pak Berlin Protein Skimmer (Can't Remember Model used to be on my 100gal) Eheim Pro Canister (Can't remember Model but has 2 compartments) 150+lbs of Base rock (used to be live) What I would like to keep. Anemones Polyps Mushrooms couple of False Perculas Fridmani Pseudochromis Cleaning Crew With all that in mind I'd like to know what type of lighting would be appropriate. I have 4 - 36" Flourecent Strips T-12. From what I've read that would be 120watts of lighting, about 4 watts per [acronym:18108ea248="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:18108ea248]. Is that enough to keep the stuff I have happy. My math might be wrong still doing a lot of research. I was considering replacing the Flourecent Strips with [acronym:18108ea248="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:18108ea248] strips maybe 2 96watt [acronym:18108ea248="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:18108ea248]. That would get me up to 6 watts per [acronym:18108ea248="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:18108ea248]. What type of bulbs would be best for the stuff I have listed above. 50/50 Actinic 10,000k 20,000k Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advace. Regards, Stan

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01-20-2006, 12:53 AM	#2
Scottm Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: BFE North carolina Posts: 452	Your lighting great for polyps and mushrooms. Iffy for an anenome, I would get the [acronym:b55f0be74b="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:b55f0be74b]'s even then though I don't have any experience with anenomes to know whether that would be enough light for one. However, The [acronym:b55f0be74b="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:b55f0be74b]'s are always going to be a better option since they have superior water penetrating capabilities and are more intense, you will like them better too, they really make the colors in your tank pop, better still are [acronym:b55f0be74b="Very high output fluorescent"]VHO[/acronym:b55f0be74b]'s and they are cheaper to replace the bulbs and most people seem to think [acronym:b55f0be74b="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:b55f0be74b] is the best, though I have seen some truly awe inspiring T-5 setups. I would use some of that base rock and get some small pieces of REALLY nice [acronym:b55f0be74b="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:b55f0be74b] to seed it.