First time saltwater

[w_hartyjr]

This is my first attempt at a saltwater aquarium.
I have a 55 gallon,penguin 400 and a penguin 350(hang on back filters),4 bulb t8 lighting with 2 420 actnic lights and 2 5050 bulbs,2 penguin 30 power heads,40 lbs of live sand and about 60 lbs of live rock.
I was wondering if this is enough lighting to raise zoas and other polyps,maybe even some other types of corals.
Any information would be greatfull

 

[w_hartyjr]

This is my first attempt at a saltwater aquarium.
I have a 55 gallon,penguin 400 and a penguin 350(hang on back filters),4 bulb t8 lighting with 2 420 actnic lights and 2 5050 bulbs,2 penguin 30 power heads,40 lbs of live sand and about 60 lbs of live rock.
I was wondering if this is enough lighting to raise zoas and other polyps,maybe even some other types of corals.
NOW WE HAVE 1 CLOWN FISH AND 4 DAMSELS,SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF SNAILS.FOUR SMALL SERPENT STARS AND 2 SMALL RED LEG HERMIT CRABS.FOUR DIFFERENT KINDS OF CORAL(THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ZOAS AND ONE TORCH CORAL)ALL OF THESE ARE FRAGS.
IT HAS BEEN UP AND RUNNING FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS WITH ALL WATER PARAMETERS ALWAYS TESTING GREAT.
Any information would be greatfull

 

[KrisDeitz]

?? im lost. Your asking if you can keep zoas yet you have some??


If they are opening then you should be ok.

 

[ff337]

I would say that is plenty. In my experience, soft corals will grow in just about anything.

 

[ichthyoid]

w_hartyjr;707733 wrote: This is my first attempt at a saltwater aquarium.
I have a 55 gallon,penguin 400 and a penguin 350(hang on back filters),4 bulb t8 lighting with 2 420 actnic lights and 2 5050 bulbs,2 penguin 30 power heads,40 lbs of live sand and about 60 lbs of live rock.
I was wondering if this is enough lighting to raise zoas and other polyps,maybe even some other types of corals.
NOW WE HAVE 1 CLOWN FISH AND 4 DAMSELS,SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF SNAILS.FOUR SMALL SERPENT STARS AND 2 SMALL RED LEG HERMIT CRABS.FOUR DIFFERENT KINDS OF CORAL(THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ZOAS AND ONE TORCH CORAL)ALL OF THESE ARE FRAGS.
IT HAS BEEN UP AND RUNNING FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS WITH ALL WATER PARAMETERS ALWAYS TESTING GREAT.
Any information would be greatfull

Did your tank go through a nitrogen cycle (do you know what that is) ? What kind do you have, and where did you get the live sand and live rock?

 

[w_hartyjr]

ammonia and nitrogen levels spiked about 3 weeks in.rock is fiji that was purchased at local pet store that had been in there tank for several months,sand is caribbean bought at petco(hope it was good enough)

Edit: true.fish stores say they will be fine with the lighting that i have,but it seems like the more reading i do the more confused i become.the tank is about 18 inches deep.

Edit: sorry,all zoas seem to opening great.last sunday i started to feed phytoplankton on a twice per week schedule

 

[gnashty]

I think you will be fine with some zoas, mushrooms and other softies but anything demanding more light will mean upgrade...

 

[ichthyoid]

I agree with gnashty^. Sounds like you are off to a good start.

FWIW-

The most important advice I was ever given-

"the most important thing you will ever put into an aquarium is patience"

If you need anything else, just speak up. Lots of experience here.

Welcome to the ARC!

 

[davidinga]

Sounds like your doin fine so far

 

[chemically_balanced]

You really don't need to feed phytoplankton. Most softies enjoy dirty water from my experience. You just don't want to over do it though. Without a skimmer pulling nutrience out of your tank I wouldn't be adding anything to your tank. If you are good about water chnages you should be good. Again most softies will grow under low lighting and dirty water and in fact most really enjoy it. Just make sure your PH is in a good zone. If you are working on just keeping softies I would try some pulsing Xenia. Those corals were always a good indicator of your water quality. If they aren't pulsing something changed. Just beware they can grow fast in the right conditions, but make for a great moving reef.