Happy Easter (lighting question)

[sprinklerman500]

Hello my fish info friends.I have a new tank cycling for about 10 days know with a clean up crew and some live rock.Im getting some very nice rock today with alot of pollips and corilline as well as some more goodies. My guestion is that all i have is regular floresent lights that came with it and was wanting to know if I can chang the bulbs to support the pollips and other goodies. Im hoping i dont have to buy new lights already seeing how its already hit my pocket pretty heavy this week.All info is good info .Thanks Chris

 

[brisco15]

Your best is to upgrade in my opinion.To go out and spend 45 to 50 on special strip bulbs is a waste of money you might as well invest that into a new light system.I'd say t5 as my first choice then PC-power compact as my second.Good luck!Do you need to buy it today on easter probably not but in the near future like a week specially if your planning on adding more coral. Look on here for people selling fixtures. what size tank btw?

 

[brianjfinn]

First, if your tank has been cycling for only 10 days, it is way too early to add any livestock. Anything you put in will have a very high chance of dying, and you mentioned it's already hit your pocket book pretty hard. You should probably wait at least another 10 days and start testing for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

Regarding the lights, it's best to upgrade as light fixtures can only run the bulbs they are designed for. Do you know what type of florescents you are running? If they're stock, they are probably too weak to do much, unless they are compact florescents.

What size tank do you have? This will also help in the light recommendation.

 

[sprinklerman500]

Thanks for the input,my tank is 60 gallons and has 2 18 inch boulbs,not sure if thay are compact?Thanks for the input. Chris

 

[brianjfinn]

They probably are not compact fluorescents. I'll be back in a moment with some links to lighting research. There are many options and all really depend on what inhabitants you intend to keep.

 

[brianjfinn]

Here are a couple threads that may be helpful

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37449&highlight=lighting">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37449&highlight=lighting</a>

[IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=39787&highlight=lighting">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=39787&highlight=lighting</a>

Basically, your options are fluorescents, compact fluorescents, t5, metal halides, or LEDs. Your best bet for reef aquariums are t5s and metal halides. These will give out enough output to be able to grow more lighting-sensitive corals. Also, the above list is basically in order of price, from least expensive to most expensive. LEDs are cool, but not yet practical. I personally prefer the metal halides because of the "shimmer" effect you get, just like the sun going through water at the ocean. When I first started, I went the cheap route and got compact fluorescents. At the time, I was only keeping the easier soft corals. As I grew in the hobby and decided I wanted to keep more difficult corals, I had to upgrade to the metal halides.

For beginners, compact fluorescents are great, but you will probably end up having to replace those lights in the future, so the question comes down to:
"Do I want to save money now and spend more later, or do I want to spend more money now and have more options in the future, without upgrading?"

As far as t5s and metal halides go, you'll get pretty much the same performance from both (although many differ on this subject, so this is just my opinion) and they cost about the same, so it's kind of a toss-up.

Hope this helps. Also, do some searches on this site and on Google as well. There's a lot of information out there.

 

[sprinklerman500]

Wow,now that was was some good info.Thank you very much.My main concern is can these pollips that i just got make it off the floresents untill i get some t5s?Man i got some great rock with all kinds of life ,I didnt want to take the A1 stuff that had corals already on them cause i know i cant keep them yet.Thanks Chris

 

[brianjfinn]

The polyps might be OK, but they definitely won't thrive. They'll need more light since they are photosynthetic. Let's get back to your tank cycling. You mentioned it's only cycled for 10 days. If that's right, I'd be a little worried for the inhabitants. It usually takes about two weeks to fully cycle, and I like to let my cycle for about a month before I add any livestock. You'll probably be getting an algae bloom pretty soon, once the nitrates build up. Do you have a decent test kit to test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate?

By the way, if I misunderstood and you already know all this, I apologize. Just want to make sure your experience is the best it can be!

 

[sprinklerman500]

All input is good seeing how im new to salt!Ive had fresh tanks for years and just got salty.The only inhabitants are live rock,live sand,hermits and snails.The rock was a must buy today only and all the goodies already on them,so im trying to keep as much alive as possible seeing how its already there.I do have a test kit and the amonia and nitrate are almost 0,hard to tell if theres any cause the colors are not at the next level but not quite the 0 reading! I did add the turbo start and Seachem Stabilty.I had a burst of alge about 3 days ago and cleaned it?Was not sure to leave it or not.Thanks so much for your input and cant wait to here back.TY Chris

 

[cr500_af]

Remember that when you add LR to your system, you will probably have a "mini-cycle" (if your tank was already cycled, which yours isn't). In your case, it will drag your cycle out a bit longer with the die-off from the new rock being transported. If you kept it underwater and at a decent temp from its previous home to yours, you may not experience this. If it was wrapped in wet material (like live rock is when it is shipped) be prepared for it.

 

[sprinklerman500]

sprinklerman500;491922 wrote: All input is good seeing how I'm new to salt!Ive had fresh tanks for years and just got salty.The only inhabitants are live rock,live sand,hermits and snails.The rock was a must buy today only and all the goodies already on them,so I'm trying to keep as much alive as possible seeing how its already there.I do have a test kit and the ammonia and nitrate are almost 0,hard to tell if there's any cause the colors are not at the next level but not quite the 0 reading! I did add the turbo start and Seachem Stability.I had a burst of algae about 3 days ago and cleaned it?Was not sure to leave it or not.Thanks so much for your input and cant wait to here back.TY Chris

There is also 3 or 4 different kinds of stuff growing on this kick but rock that he told me but cant remember.