Coral lighting question *title changed* - Aquarium Advice

quixand · 11-12-2006, 03:14 PM

Hey guys quick question.

I have a 30 gallon tall tank with approx 40lbs of live rock.
A couple turbo snails, 2 percula clowns, 1 yellow fin damsel, and a blue linkia seastar. I want to get the clowns some soft corals, but I currently am only running one single 10k fluorescent bulb.

My buddy suggest at a minimum upgrading to compact fluorescent unit for the anemones.

I want to keep the heat output to a minimum, and want to DIY it to save cash. Thoughts and or solutions appreciated.

Thanks

Hara · 11-12-2006, 03:20 PM

You have no alternative but to upgrade your lighting if you want an anemone. You will need a minimum of about 120-150 watts to successfully keep anything that a clownfish would think about hosting. Understand too, that it is a crap shoot getting a clown and anemone to form a relationship. It doesnt always happen and it is not required for the fish's happiness.

T-5 lighting would be do able, as would a MH pendant, as well as the mentioned CF.

quixand · 11-12-2006, 03:49 PM

Any recommendations for a DIY'er for CF? I'm guessing that would be my cheapest solution?

Hara · 11-12-2006, 04:36 PM

http://www.hellolights.com/retligsys.html

I have had good luck with hellolights.com, the above is a link to their retrofit kits.

StripesTheEel · 11-12-2006, 09:38 PM

You dont need anemones, especially if you want corals later down the track.

I have a happy ocellaris gang that moves everywhere around the tank, compared to someone elses who stay in one spot (where the anemone is)

**melosu58** · 11-12-2006, 10:35 PM

As Lisa said you might do all that for your anenome and the clown might ignore him. It happened to me as my clowns ignored my BTA and hosted a bubble coral and pagoda Cop coral. There is no guarantee.

quixand · 11-13-2006, 12:02 AM

What kind of lighting would I need to keep corals?

Hara · 11-13-2006, 12:09 AM

approximately 4 wpg is the general rule to cover most corals.

quixand · 11-13-2006, 12:42 AM

CF, VHO?

So that puts me needing roughly 120 watts on a 30 gallon tanks?

Ouch.

quixand · 11-13-2006, 01:00 PM

Would I be better served doing AH Supply's 2x 96w CF DIY kit?

http://www.ahsupply.com/96watt.htm

It would give me moderate to high light output for corals, my only fear is weather or not I could rig it into a 24" hood.

I would probably go with one 12000k and one actinic if it all worked.

Sound good?

11-12-2006, 03:14 PM	#1
quixand Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 152	Coral lighting question title changed Hey guys quick question. I have a 30 gallon tall tank with approx 40lbs of live rock. A couple turbo snails, 2 percula clowns, 1 yellow fin damsel, and a blue linkia seastar. I want to get the clowns some soft corals, but I currently am only running one single 10k fluorescent bulb. My buddy suggest at a minimum upgrading to compact fluorescent unit for the anemones. I want to keep the heat output to a minimum, and want to DIY it to save cash. Thoughts and or solutions appreciated. Thanks

11-12-2006, 03:20 PM	#2
Hara Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6,867 Images: 33	You have no alternative but to upgrade your lighting if you want an anemone. You will need a minimum of about 120-150 watts to successfully keep anything that a clownfish would think about hosting. Understand too, that it is a crap shoot getting a clown and anemone to form a relationship. It doesnt always happen and it is not required for the fish's happiness. T-5 lighting would be do able, as would a MH pendant, as well as the mentioned CF. __________________ ~~~~~Hara~~~~~~ View My Tanks Visit FantasyReef.com's Databases!

11-12-2006, 04:36 PM	#4
Hara Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6,867 Images: 33	http://www.hellolights.com/retligsys.html I have had good luck with hellolights.com, the above is a link to their retrofit kits. __________________ ~~~~~Hara~~~~~~ View My Tanks Visit FantasyReef.com's Databases!

11-12-2006, 09:38 PM	#5
StripesTheEel Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 882 Images: 23	You dont need anemones, especially if you want corals later down the track. I have a happy ocellaris gang that moves everywhere around the tank, compared to someone elses who stay in one spot (where the anemone is) __________________ Matt Fight fish illiteracy..teach them to read the forums

11-13-2006, 12:09 AM	#8
Hara Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6,867 Images: 33	approximately 4 wpg is the general rule to cover most corals. __________________ ~~~~~Hara~~~~~~ View My Tanks Visit FantasyReef.com's Databases!

11-12-2006, 03:49 PM	#3
quixand Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 152	Any recommendations for a DIY'er for CF? I'm guessing that would be my cheapest solution?

11-13-2006, 12:02 AM	#7
quixand Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 152	What kind of lighting would I need to keep corals?

11-13-2006, 12:42 AM	#9
quixand Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 152	CF, VHO? So that puts me needing roughly 120 watts on a 30 gallon tanks? Ouch.

11-13-2006, 01:00 PM	#10
quixand Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 152	Would I be better served doing AH Supply's 2x 96w CF DIY kit? http://www.ahsupply.com/96watt.htm It would give me moderate to high light output for corals, my only fear is weather or not I could rig it into a 24" hood. I would probably go with one 12000k and one actinic if it all worked. Sound good?

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