How's my lighting?

[duff0712]

Hello!

My tank has been running for just over a month now and I wanted to ask about my lighting and what you think.

I eventually want Zoas, Shrooms and hopefully Acans.

My tank is a 37g (30 x 13 x 23) and I currently have two fixtures on top:
FluvalSEA LED 25W (On 5ish hours)
Aquatic Life 30" T5 w/ ATI Blue Plus and Coral Plus T5HO (on 8.5ish hours, turn on before LEDs and stay on after LEDs turn off)

PAR: Rough estimates seem to be about 70~ at the sandbed and 160~ at the highest point in my rock. Most of my rockwork is around 90-110.

I like the look of the lights for the most part, I just wish the moonlights were stronger (more varied) on the LED.

Things seem to be good so far. I just wanted some second opinions.

Thanks!

 

[saltyphish]

Shrooms and zoas should be good. I ran one of those Current Orbit marine lights (Very weak imo) on my 29G Biocube and had both with no problems. I did not get good growth though and colors on some zoas did seem to be affected a little bit. I'm not sure about the acans. I have read a lot of posts stating for best colors keep in low light but some may require stronger lighting.

 

[duff0712]

Shrooms and zoas should be good. I ran one of those Current Orbit marine lights (Very weak imo) on my 29G Biocube and had both with no problems. I did not get good growth though and colors on some zoas did seem to be affected a little bit. I'm not sure about the acans. I have read a lot of posts stating for best colors keep in low light but some may require stronger lighting.

Thanks for the info. I will just make sure to keep an eye on the Zoas and shrooms. Might try an inexpensive acan near the top and see how it goes

 

[guy fawkes]

I have that exact set up. It's working Ok. My tank is deep so I'm gonna have to upgrade. I kept acropora in my 30 gallon with only the fluval lights.

Imo you will be fine

 

[guy fawkes]

 

[duff0712]

I have that exact set up. It's working Ok. My tank is deep so I'm gonna have to upgrade. I kept acropora in my 30 gallon with only the fluval lights.

Imo you will be fine

Thanks! Makes me feel better haha. Your tank is super blue! I wish mine got super blue at least for a hour or two a day. I have to turn off all my lights in the room and only have the led on moonlight to get the coral to super Flores.

 

[Dtackett]

that's a lot of blue lol

for the most part youre ok. zoas, shrooms and acans are all low to moderate light (generally speaking) but at some point youre going to find a piece of coral you just have to have that will need more light. at that point youll be upgrading. probably to a led setup, or a 4 bulb t5ho. but for what you want right now, youre fine.

 

[guy fawkes]

Don't those LED's have a blue setting? I use an actinic blue bulb. Also my lights were off in my house and both Blues were on. I use the bulb from 7-7 and whites on the led from 9-5 and then just the blues for a bit

 

[guy fawkes]

I agree that you will need to upgrade. I have kept hard to keep corals for a few months. That died because of a move. My tank is 100g. I would say my lights are barely keeping my large tank going. But with a pending strike and health issues I don't have the extra to spend until Christmas. Tanks has been running as is since July 15th

 

[guy fawkes]

.

That's during the day

 

[duff0712]

that's a lot of blue lol

for the most part youre ok. zoas, shrooms and acans are all low to moderate light (generally speaking) but at some point youre going to find a piece of coral you just have to have that will need more light. at that point youll be upgrading. probably to a led setup, or a 4 bulb t5ho. but for what you want right now, youre fine.

The only other coral I have been thinking about would be a scoly or brain. Since 30" fixtures aren't that common I was going to wait to upgrade lighting until I upgrade my tank. Finding lights for that length sucks. I'll just bite my teeth at that piece of coral that I will have to have, until I get a larger tank.

Don't those LED's have a blue setting? I use an actinic blue bulb. Also my lights were off in my house and both Blues were on. I use the bulb from 7-7 and whites on the led from 9-5 and then just the blues for a bit

They do have a blue setting. It is just very dim. If I have the T5s on as well they drown out the blue LED setting. It pretty much needs to be dark in the room and no other light for the blue setting to really show. Which I can live with. I don't like the full blue look all the time, just wish it was easier for me to get that fluorescent look when I want to view it haha.

 

[Dtackett]

I use a 79 dollar blackbox led ebay fixture over my 29. it will grow anything and everything I want.

 

[duff0712]

I use a 79 dollar blackbox led ebay fixture over my 29. it will grow anything and everything I want.

I'll take a look into that thanks

 

[Dtackett]

this is the one I use. the price went up to 82. you can hang it, or build a simple bracket.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/165W-Dimmab...e-Fish-Lamp-/251495773757?hash=item3a8e50f63d
When I first set the tank up. this is only on about 50% each. its turned down to about 30% on each now.


this is my Duncan I got a month ago under that light at 30%


this is it a couple weeks ago. see the babies growing all around the base of each head? now most of them are much much bigger. great growth for an ebay light. granted this is a bad example, duncans are easy. but you can contact mike hermen on facebook if you have any doubts and see his sps tank that's ran on these.

 

[guy fawkes]

I'd love to see that info, but don't have facebook

 

[Dtackett]

here on here too. SB reef lights. look him up. hes doing a 800 gallon system with an updated version of these lights, then putting his new signature lights on in a bit when they come in.

 

[guy fawkes]

Thx!

 

[duff0712]

I use a 79 dollar blackbox led ebay fixture over my 29. it will grow anything and everything I want.

I think I will actually be getting this. Looks pretty cool and will help my deep blue woes and still have a good white setting for daytime. Prob won't be till next month tho. The only problem I forsee having is I don't have much space above the tank to place it. Def can't hang it. Might be able to do a bracket if I can get it short enough.wonder If I can make some makeshift legs.