I need some advice.

[coyoteman0]

I have been readin your message board for some time now, and have been in the hobby on and off for 6 years, most recently 2 years. And have times changed.
I have a 55 gallon aquarium with a 30 gallon sump, some live rock, some home made live rock and now 2 big star polyps and two frags that are doing really well and a third growing onto another rock now. Currently I have 4 40 watt FL - 2 regular 03's one blue moon and a 10K

I am switching to a MH hood and really hae two questions. Is 2 175watt 12,000K MH and 2 VHO 110watt Actinics too much ?

And secondly how should I switch over from the lights I have now to the MH - If I just switch it on will it do any harm to the polyps I have ? How long should I run them, I am wanted Coraline to grow really fast as I am adding some more Home Made Rock verry soon and want it to cover quickly. Thanks for any suggestions and help -

 

[Lunchbucket]

about anyone on here will tell you that you can NEVER have too much light. if i had it my way i would have 2 400w 65k MH's and 2 VHO actinics on my 55gal. really you could have stronger lights if you want.

from what i have heard you have to aclimate you corals. starting w/ a few hours on/day. ask around i am not for sure on the switch over method

later
good luck
Lunchbucket

 

[suckair]

If you want coraline to cover your rocks the high power lights will prevent this. In my systems where the MH light hits the rock very little purple coraline grows. I do have some green and some gray coraline.. but no purple can't take the bright light. When I am diving I also notice that all the purple coraline is under the rocks not on top of it, But the corals will love it


Fire up those MH lamps and smoke it down!

Thanks
#reefs suckair

 

[KenH]

Your proposed lighting will be fine for Soft and LPS corals and moderate light clams. It will definitely not be too much for the tank. The lighting you have chosen will have a pretty strong blue tint with the 12K's and actinics. Since the 12K's are already pretty blue, depending on the effect you are looking for you might consider going with white VHOs instead of actinics or 10Ks MH with actinics, which is what I would do. They are more reliable and will increase your light intensity over the 12K's.

If you are thinking about SPS and high light type clams you might want to consider more lighting as you are on the lower end of the scale for them, but it is not needed if soft and LPS corals are what you are aiming for. If you don't need them, the larger lamps will definitely increase any tank heating or power bill problems you might have. Two 400W lamps on a 55 gallon tank is pretty aggressive.

For acclimation, I would run the actinic for your full lighting time and run the MH starting for a couple of hours a day and increase an hour every other day or so until you reach your full lighting period. Better yet, run one MH for a couple of hours and then the other one each day. That lowers the overall intensity over having both on at the same time and you can probably run a longer photoperiod to start with. Soft corals like polyps are pretty good about letting your know if you are giving them too much light as they will start to retract when they have had enough. SPS are more difficult since they can be damaged before you know you are damaging them.

Good luck with your setup,

--- Ken

 

[danmhippo]

You are probably right. Some coralline do adapt to MH lights. However, I do have a mat of pick encrusting sponge growing in my tank. Looks very much like coralline but I know its not because when I touch it, its a soft almost slimy feel to it. The sponge grows very well under MH

 

[coyoteman0]

Ok, I am not arguing about the fact the coraline grows better in dark, but I have seen several of my friends tanks and some others running about the same maybe a little more than what I am running and they have a light purple or dark pink (I have always supposed it was coraline) that covers everything in sight w/ their lights - That is what I want = Am I wrong in thinking it is coraline.

Oh, I went with 2 10K 2VHO Actinics and then I am going to add 2 40 watt actinics as well.
I am not looking at keeping any clams or the high light requiring corals for some time - I have never kept a lot of coral before so I am going with the easier stuff first and gradually getting into the rest as I understand them more - I was always a live rock (When Florida Rock was still around) and Fish person - But with the rock you find now I want to do corals for something to look at. Thanks for the advice .