low light corals
- Thread starter Pierce09
- Start date
watts per gal. would depend on what was kept.
of course the standard is about 7 watts per gallon, though many corals don't need that much, some don't need any, and you should steer away from them. you could do a button polyp/colt coral/star polyp/mushroom anemone type set up with about 220w of VHO or PC.
of course the standard is about 7 watts per gallon, though many corals don't need that much, some don't need any, and you should steer away from them. you could do a button polyp/colt coral/star polyp/mushroom anemone type set up with about 220w of VHO or PC.
Pierce, sorry to tell you this, you've almost covered the full spectrum of lighting with those three choices.
Anemones- High Lightage requirements.
Mushroom anemones- Low to mid lighting requirements.
Give us the dimensions on the tank, however, if your going with the Anemones, (not the mushroom's) I believe your going to be looking at MH or mutliple VHO to achieve their requirements.
Fwiw, I have my mushrooms 1 foot under the water under 2-65watt smartlites (1/2 10,000K, other 1/2 actinic) and they're thriving. This would not be considered a lot of lighting though, the tank is 75 gallon Show.
Anemones- High Lightage requirements.
Mushroom anemones- Low to mid lighting requirements.
Give us the dimensions on the tank, however, if your going with the Anemones, (not the mushroom's) I believe your going to be looking at MH or mutliple VHO to achieve their requirements.
Fwiw, I have my mushrooms 1 foot under the water under 2-65watt smartlites (1/2 10,000K, other 1/2 actinic) and they're thriving. This would not be considered a lot of lighting though, the tank is 75 gallon Show.
it's a 55 gal tank, 4' long I would like to get 1 175 watt MH and set it offset of the center, but I'm not sure about what color to get or what "kind" i've seen 3 different types. I'm very instreated in the icecap MH ballast, but the PFO is so much cheaper that i'll prolly get that setup. after that I figured 2 96w PC from custom sealife, 1 actinic the other a 50/50.
Do the ballast not put off to much heat. I kinda figured, if I would just save for a little longer I could get a much better quailty ballast with the icecap. I see that sort of stuff in these froums all the time, to go ahead and buy the best the first time. I alos don't plan to have very many corals at all. Very few in fact. thanks for the advice....
i got two 175w on a tank smaller than yours, no not too much heat.
PFO is a quality ballast.
i have heard that to get your money out of those electronic ballasts they will likely be at least several years old before they pay for themselves.
don't know how true that is anymore or if ever. just one of the many things i have been told.
it is difficult to discern your lighting needs when you ask what will do for low light corals, and then list a variety that are not. then state your thinking of a single PFO but won't consider two because they don't meet your standards, followed by your statement that you aren't gonna keep many corals.
i hope that doesn't sound like a grillin'
it certainly isn't meant as one, just need you to stick to a plan.
PFO is a quality ballast.
i have heard that to get your money out of those electronic ballasts they will likely be at least several years old before they pay for themselves.
don't know how true that is anymore or if ever. just one of the many things i have been told.
it is difficult to discern your lighting needs when you ask what will do for low light corals, and then list a variety that are not. then state your thinking of a single PFO but won't consider two because they don't meet your standards, followed by your statement that you aren't gonna keep many corals.
i hope that doesn't sound like a grillin'
it certainly isn't meant as one, just need you to stick to a plan.
I would definately go with 2 175MH.
With the 175MH you can place a number of different corals in your tank with the exception of high light SPS.
A good rule of thumb for MH is that 1 bulb per 2ft x 2ft area.
I would also supplement the MH's with 2x 96w actinic PC's.
This setup worls well on my 75 AGA.
With the 175MH you can place a number of different corals in your tank with the exception of high light SPS.
A good rule of thumb for MH is that 1 bulb per 2ft x 2ft area.
I would also supplement the MH's with 2x 96w actinic PC's.
This setup worls well on my 75 AGA.
Sponsor Reefs
We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.
Click here to sponsor $10:
