What is the next step?

[Stephanie]

I recently purchased the aqualight advanced series 150W metal halide lamp along with a few other things to get set up for a nano reef tank. I have a 12g nano cube with stand and glass top. I had it set up once before and it did pretty well for a while but then I kind of let the tank go. Before I had a coralife compact flourescent 50/50 lamp and I kept it running for the past year or so with nothing in the tank but saltwater and rock. When I got the new light I cleaned the entire tank and set it up with new filtration media, substrate, and the live rock (which I'm guessing isn't live anymore.) So far the only thing I have added to the saltwater is stability, I'm on the fourth day. I want to make sure the water and everything is just right before I add any coral. What else should I purchase for the tank (I know I need some sort of testing kit for the water, but for now I'm just taking samples to my LFS for testing) and what are the next steps? I'm also wondering how long I need to leave the light on each day. I know 8 hours is the rule of thumb and a timer is the next thing on my purchase list. I have a friend (know it all friend) who says the metal halide should only be run for around 4 hours a day and that I also need a blue light for viewing coral. HELP!

 

[aquabull]

i suggest some actively populated live rock would be a good start. Also, start dosing and testing carbonate hardness, calcium and magnesium. The base rock will surely suck up a lot of it for a few months!

Oh yeah, your know it all friend may be on to something; if halides replicate the peak intensity of the sun, and we can assume you have no potential for cloud cover...shorter photoperiods are not out of the question (when supplemental lighting is used). Many moons ago at an Atlanta Reef Club meeting, Eric Borneman discussed taking readings of light absorption in corals on the reef. He expressed his surprise that not all corals even attempted to collect light energy during peak hours (11am-3pm)!
i am running six 54w t-5s over a 75g tank, but all tubes are only on for about four hours; increasing and decreasing to mimic sunrise/sunset.

 

[Stephanie]

Thanks, I will definitely get some new live rock. My friend basically explained the lighting situation the same way and it did make sense to me but I always like a second opinion :smile: Would you recommend that I get a second lamp for viewing during those off peak times, if so what kind (he suggested actinic blue bulbs)? I also have a moon light already in the tank.

 

[aquabull]

Yes on the supplemental blues. Maybe run the blues for two hours, then the halide with the blues for four hours, then the blues alone for the last two hours. Try not to leave the moonlight on all night, cyanobacteria really love that!