Does my nem need more light

[saleen385]

got this 11days ago

it's been doing this since day 3,

Why?
I have 12k 250w MH lights.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[zesty]

have you fed it?

 

[saleen385]

yes fed it 3 times since I got it a small piece of shrimp

 

[zesty]

Good that it's eating. It looks like you have good enough light. Nems are little buggers to begin with; they will change, move, inflate, deflate, split, don't split but grow huge and all of the above for little to no reason at all.

Just keep watching, he could be happier if you throw some carbon on your tank. Otherwise, I'd say from that picture, looks healthy. Mine will stretch up from time to time like so.

 

[Reefahholic]

Too me it appears he's unable to get the light he needs due to his location in the rocks. When they reach like that, it's because they are wanting more light.

 

[Tahoe61]

How old are your metal halide bulbs?
How far away from the light is the rock structure?

 

[saleen385]

How old are your metal halide bulbs?
How far away from the light is the rock structure?

Bulbs are about a year(time for replacement)
rock is about 18" away from the bulbs

 

[Tahoe61]

Yeah you need to replace those. Try to go with a 14k or 20k if possible.

 

[saleen385]

Yeah you need to replace those. Try to go with a 14k or 20k if possible.

Why would you recommend 14k or 20k bulbs?
I was under the impression that the 10k bulbs give better coral growth.

Thanks

 

[saleen385]

Got this nem on 5/30 it is 7/12




after getting new 10k bulbs what do you think?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[mochaclownlover]

looks much happier

 

[Trex]

What size tank?
How many MHs?
What brand?

 

[saleen385]

What size tank?
How many MHs?
What brand?

tank is 180g
3 250w MH
hamilton

 

[Trex]

How old are the lamps?
That should be enough light, though next time you switch out the lamps you could try some Radiums, I have had good success with them with S. haddonis, which are sandbed dwelling, and require a bit more light than an E. quadricolor.

Do you have any supplemental lights?

 

[saleen385]

How old are the lamps?
That should be enough light, though next time you switch out the lamps you could try some Radiums, I have had good success with them with S. haddonis, which are sandbed dwelling, and require a bit more light than an E. quadricolor.

Do you have any supplemental lights?

Trex, when you say lamps do you mean the ballast? if that is what you mean 2 are about 7yrs. 1 is less than a year.
there are 2 actinics but they are over a year old. I am going to switch them out for some blue LEDs

Jim

 

[Trex]

Sorry, meant the actually Hamilton bulbs.

 

[saleen385]

Sorry, meant the actually Hamilton bulbs.

bulbs are less than 2 weeks old

jim

 

[saleen385]

I only have the lights on for 5hrs. Is that not long enough?

Jim

 

[Eckolancer]

I only have the lights on for 5hrs. Is that not long enough?

Jim

That might be the issue. You might try upping that to 8-12 hours.

 

[saleen385]

now that the nem is been in the tank for almost 2 months I've decided to get a pair of gold stripe maroon clowns. any advice on the best way to buy them?
live aquaria has the ORA captive bred in stock so I was thinking of getting them from there.

thanks,
Jim