So I'm very new to this. I inherited a 72 gallon bow front and lighting and set my tank up about a year a go. I battled what I think was diatoms and seemed to have cured it with a diionizer filter. I've had a few dead fish here and there but it's been pretty stable for like six months. So I've started to add some coral. Some purple mushrooms and a new leather. The mushrooms seem pretty big but nothing seems to be thriving. Looking for some advise as to where to start to investigate. Lighting? Water parameters seem to be in check. Water flow. Ugh. Not sure. Any help would be great.
Newbie !!!
- Thread starter Syrandy 36
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Zero Nitrates
I love chalices
Welcome!
You might look into high quality lighting and high quality water flow.
You might look into high quality lighting and high quality water flow.
Ok set up. To 110 power filters. No sump skimmer etc. to power heads one is 1150 gph the other is much smaller. Don't the the stats. Water chemistry seems fine. No ammonia , nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, calcium is 420 ppm. Lighting is one 4 door compact fluorescent white and blue. The other is fluorescent. Compact fluorescent is 110 watts. The other single bulb is 40 watts. I have 4 fish and live rock. Do a 30% water change every 3 weeks. Salinity is 1.22. Whatcha think?
Ok. So what would some examples of high quality light and water flow?
McAllyn
Well-Known Member
Is that specific gravity a typo? You should be at 1.025, 1.22 is quite high.
A 72 bow front would work well with a 4 bulb 48" T5 or 2 LED fixtures. Don't have to go crazy, just depends on your budget and what corals you'd like to grow.
72g needs around 1500gph to get to 20x turnover, which would put you in the midrange for most corals. Softies can do less, SPS need more.
Mac
A 72 bow front would work well with a 4 bulb 48" T5 or 2 LED fixtures. Don't have to go crazy, just depends on your budget and what corals you'd like to grow.
72g needs around 1500gph to get to 20x turnover, which would put you in the midrange for most corals. Softies can do less, SPS need more.
Mac
McAllyn
Well-Known Member
T5 is the high output fluorescent fixtures. Prices range from "what a bargain" to "wow, that's more than a couple car payments"... just like everything in the saltwater game. Bulbs tend to last around a year.
Personally, I'm moving my tanks from T5 to LED. I like the shimmer, controllability, and not replacing bulbs. No complaints about growth or colour with my T5s though.
Mac
Personally, I'm moving my tanks from T5 to LED. I like the shimmer, controllability, and not replacing bulbs. No complaints about growth or colour with my T5s though.
Mac
reefwatcher
Well-Known Member
I have LEDs ever grow Chinese over my 60 gal cube with a jbj 1600 wave maker and a jeabo wp 40 with new controller push about 3400 gal wave maker.Eshopps 100 sump and reef octopus NB 110 skimmer 1250 return pump.
For all I know I could have t5's. There is 2 hoods. One has what I believe is a compact floresent ( it's u shaped and bright white and blue) the other is a single bulb more yellowish in color. I prolly got a bargain basement set up and need to upgrade. Thanks for all the help
Tab28
Valuable Member
T5 will connect at both ends. Like a normal florescent light fixture. Compacts connect on one end and are generally a u shape. Since it connects on one end the bulb will curve back to the point of connection. T5 are straight. Your filter and water movement should be upgraded. Your lighting should as well if you would like to keep other corals other than softies and lower light lps. It can be done without breaking the bank. Just research led lighting can be expensive t5 is much cheaper. A diy can be installed for less than $100.
If the tank has a stand with enough room for a sump that would be a better filter system and help increase your water movement. If it is not a predrilled tank you can install a hob overflow to get water from tank into the sump.
If the tank has a stand with enough room for a sump that would be a better filter system and help increase your water movement. If it is not a predrilled tank you can install a hob overflow to get water from tank into the sump.
