Lighting Question

[term_paint]

I have a 55 bow front. I am running two mag ballast 175 mogul base bulbs over it and i am getting no coral growth. My question is i have the change to buy two 250w hqi pendants and ice cap electronic ballast for a good price. Do you think that this would help or does it even make sense...I dont want to spend the money if it is not an improvement. Or is this just to bright for that size tank?? Please help

 

[jead85]

I would imagine that you have some other issues. what are your water parameters? frequency of waterchanges?

 

[term_paint]

My water is pretty good. I just additionally added a 40 gallon sump to get the water volumne up. I do also drip kalk. The only thing that i have never been able to get as low as everyone talks is the nitrates. I am currently running 40 but i do water changes all the time. And additionally i am skimming some real dark green junk. I have a very small load. I have a royal gramma, valentinni puffer, diamond goby. six line. Some snails not a lot...I was always thinking it was the light which i thought should be brighter.

 

[lilrobb]

Well, those 'trates come from somewhere.
My guess is you overfeed and/or don't have very much biological filtration...

 

[brianjfinn]

LilRobb;603845 wrote: Well, those 'trates come from somewhere.
My guess is you overfeed and/or don't have very much biological filtration...

+1

2x 250w lights would be pretty bright, but I don't think it's the lighting that's causing your coral to not grow. I imagine it's the nitrates. You probably have phosphate issues, too, if your nitrates are that high.

 

[jead85]

and what do you consider not growing?

 

[brianjfinn]

jead85;603851 wrote: and what do you consider not growing?

That's a good point, too.