Can't Get Any Better

[slingham64]

So after that killer deal we got on the 60 Gallon Saltwater..... Today we get even more. My roommates coworker gave us about 40 more pounds of live rock and a protein skimmer! So no more messing with the sump that flooded my kitchen, now we just have a simple hang over the back protein skimmer, and basically a chunk of coral reef right outta the ocean, all for going on $200 so far. So lucky!

[jweintraub]

Man, this whole thing just keeps on getting better for you! Must be a nice streak of luck!

[Chrona]

Make sure that protein skimmer is large enough for your tank, and you may still need additional filtration beyond what the lone protein skimmer + live rock can provide.

My tone is angry because I am jealous :P

[Lady Hobbs]

And so am I.

[slingham64]

Make sure that protein skimmer is large enough for your tank, and you may still need additional filtration beyond what the lone protein skimmer + live rock can provide.

My tone is angry because I am jealous :P

it was for a 180 gallon tank. plus we have a hang on the back filter hooked up.

[Chrona]

it was for a 180 gallon tank. plus we have a hang on the back filter hooked up.

Now I'm more jealous :rolleyes:

[slingham64]

I researched on my ballast a little and I'm gonna go with two 65w bulbs, one the blue one (name starts with an a but why kill it by trying to spell it) and one daylight. Priced it out online for $85 since we have the ballast already, gonna go to my LFS tomorrow an see if they'll be competitive with pricing.

[Chrona]

I researched on my ballast a little and I'm gonna go with two 65w bulbs, one the blue one (name starts with an a but why kill it by trying to spell it) and one daylight. Priced it out online for $85 since we have the ballast already, gonna go to my LFS tomorrow an see if they'll be competitive with pricing.

You are thinking of actinic bulbs. Try to go for a 10000k + actinic mix. Keep in mind that this amount of light won't grow any fancy corals or anything.

[CanadianFiero]

You are a very lucky person!:19:

[slingham64]

You are thinking of actinic bulbs. Try to go for a 10000k + actinic mix. Keep in mind that this amount of light won't grow any fancy corals or anything.

It won't?? I was under the impression it would well what would be my best bet then? My Ballast is:

Jalli CFR55W24
120 Volts, 60hz
PL55Wx1 Lampx2 PCS
BIAX Rapid Start

We want the Live Rock to come alive as best possible, so what do we do to accomplish this?

[Chrona]

It won't?? I was under the impression it would well what would be my best bet then? My Ballast is:

Jalli CFR55W24
120 Volts, 60hz
PL55Wx1 Lampx2 PCS
BIAX Rapid Start

We want the Live Rock to come alive as best possible, so what do we do to accomplish this?

Uh, no clue on the specs for those, but most sites recommend 5 watts per gallon for good growth on most low-medium requirement corals and higher (I've seen 10 watts/gallon) for the stony corals. Again this is for good growth, mushroom corals (the easiest) will grow (slowly) under 3 watts, but coloration will be pretty bad. I would ask reptileguy for some recommendations on lighting. Live rock will do fine under lower light, but all the corals only start coming out under higher light and trace/mineral supplements. Make sure you want to commit before continuing though.

[slingham64]

Uh, no clue on the specs for those, but most sites recommend 5 watts per gallon for good growth on most low-medium requirement corals and higher (I've seen 10 watts/gallon) for the stony corals. Again this is for good growth, mushroom corals (the easiest) will grow (slowly) under 3 watts, but coloration will be pretty bad. I would ask reptileguy for some recommendations on lighting. Live rock will do fine under lower light, but all the corals only start coming out under higher light and trace/mineral supplements. Make sure you want to commit before continuing though.

Commitement isn't an issue, we've been researching this slowly for the past few months, then this deal struck and we're kinda thrown into it, but still very for it.

We only have two chunks of coral in there, everything else is live rock. So are you saying that the coral won't grow as much, or the organisms on the live rock won't grow as much. The live rock isn't considered coral right? This is the only part of the saltwater aquarium I'm a little fuzzy on. We have mainly live rock and want whatever's going to grow on them to grow, I was under the impression that those two 65watt bulbs would take care of the live rock, but it sounds like maybe not?

[Chrona]

Yes, it takes care of the live rock, but only the microrganisms on it since it's barely over 2 watts per gallon. The corals all need more light and generally require better water conditions as well (which is fairly easy to provide given your equipment). They also require calcium/trace supplements, but reptileguy can probably clarify on that more than me

[slingham64]

Yes, it takes care of the live rock, but only the microrganisms on it since it's barely over 2 watts per gallon. The corals all need more light and generally require better water conditions as well (which is fairly easy to provide given your equipment). They also require calcium/trace supplements, but reptileguy can probably clarify on that more than me
Alright... I will send him a message and tell him to read this thread an see what he has to say. Thanks for the help Chrona, seems like you're always savin me lol.

[Fishguy2727]

You said you have two corals in there now, is that just coral skelatons or do you have live corals in addition to the live rock?

It really depends on the coral, but in general you will need a lot more lighting. Lighting for corals gets expensive real quick, so if you are not ready for that investment yet I would focus on what you currently have, then worry about corals later. I would do that even if you can afford the lighting, just take it slow and get this setup going great, then worry about moving up.

With the previously mentioned lighting you could try real low light things like mushrooms and put them high up on your live rock near the lights, then it will compensate for the overall lack of light.

For your current bulbs, are you using regular fluorescent lighting?

[slingham64]

You said you have two corals in there now, is that just coral skelatons or do you have live corals in addition to the live rock?

It really depends on the coral, but in general you will need a lot more lighting. Lighting for corals gets expensive real quick, so if you are not ready for that investment yet I would focus on what you currently have, then worry about corals later. I would do that even if you can afford the lighting, just take it slow and get this setup going great, then worry about moving up.

With the previously mentioned lighting you could try real low light things like mushrooms and put them high up on your live rock near the lights, then it will compensate for the overall lack of light.

For your current bulbs, are you using regular fluorescent lighting?

Right now all we have hooked up is an Aquaglo Flourescent, which has a built in ballast, it's not much, just what came with the tank.

We have the ballast I mentioned earlier in the garage, I was hoping it would be big enough to take care of the lighting, but it doesn't sound like it. Basically we're starting from scratch.

Does High Pressure Sodium work? Cause I have a 400 watt HPS Light & Ballast, not for the tank but I could use it on the tank if that's possible.

[Chrona]

Right now all we have hooked up is an Aquaglo Flourescent, which has a built in ballast, it's not much, just what came with the tank.

We have the ballast I mentioned earlier in the garage, I was hoping it would be big enough to take care of the lighting, but it doesn't sound like it. Basically we're starting from scratch.

Does High Pressure Sodium work? Cause I have a 400 watt HPS Light & Ballast, not for the tank but I could use it on the tank if that's possible.

High pressure sodium is reddish I believe. You need metal halide, with is more bluish and closer to the actinic/daylight mix from fluorescents. Metal halides are real expensive, and cause other issues, like heating up the tank, so you may just want to stick with compact fluorescents for now.

[slingham64]

High pressure sodium is reddish I believe. You need metal halide, with is more bluish and closer to the actinic/daylight mix from fluorescents. Metal halides are real expensive, and cause other issues, like heating up the tank, so you may just want to stick with compact fluorescents for now.

Yeah the HPS I have is more like a street light than anything. An it get's really hot. I wanna stick with the compact fluorescents, just doesn't sound like it's enough. I only have live rock, the coral I have is just two pieces out of like 50 pieces of live rock, so I'm not to concerned with that. So what's the lighting I need?

[Fishguy2727]

Whatever you can afford. I would go with decent compact fluorescent. I plan on starting a 10 soon and will start with a 28 watt 50/50 from Coralife.

[Chrona]

Whatever you can afford. I would go with decent compact fluorescent. I plan on starting a 10 soon and will start with a 28 watt 50/50 from Coralife.

I have that. Good fixture. Reflector a little cramped imo though and the bulbs are a PITA to find .:thumb:

[Fishguy2727]

I work at an LFS and get to go through the order books all the time and make special orders for myself at a really good discount, so I will be able to get the bulbs.

[slingham64]

I work at an LFS and get to go through the order books all the time and make special orders for myself at a really good discount, so I will be able to get the bulbs.

Hook it up!

[Chrona]

Hook it up!

lol. Since you'll need something like 4-6 bulbs, it may be worth the additional shipping cost ;)

[Fishguy2727]

4-6 bulbs for what? The Coralife fixtures come with bulbs, and the 28 watt one I am looking at only has one 50/50 bulb.

[Chrona]

4-6 bulbs for what? The Coralife fixtures come with bulbs, and the 28 watt one I am looking at only has one 50/50 bulb.

No slingham is getting a 4-6 bulb fixture, so he was asking for a discount or something ;)

[Fishguy2727]

Actually it seems that online is about equivalent to my discount usually. I pay 10% over what the owner has to pay.