LIGHTING FOR A SALTWATER TANK

7 posts

Discuss all topics related to saltwater / reef tanks.


linyc382
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:43 am

LIGHTING FOR A SALTWATER TANK

by linyc382

HOW LONG SHOULD MY LIGHT BE ON FOR IN A SALT WATER TANK? I DO NOT HAVE THAT MANY FISH YET JUST STARTER FISH IN A 75 GALLON TANK WITH ABOUT 37 POUNDS OF ROCK.


newbie916
 
Posts: 375
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:12 pm

by newbie916

What kind of lighting are you using. I have MH's on both of my tanks with actinics. I run my actinics 10 hrs per day and my MH's 8 hrs per day. Are you planning to have corals later? The fish don't really care what kind or how long the lighting is on. However, you do want the system to get used to the photoperiod.


fihsboy
 
Posts: 1837
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm

by fihsboy

yup....MH 8ish hours. If you have any other lights run them the rest. of your desired photo period.


linyc382
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:43 am

by linyc382

I AM ALL NEW AT THIS WHOLE FISH TANK THING. I WOULD LIKE CORAL BUT LIKE I SAID I REALLY DO NOT NO WHAT I AM DOING HERE. I HAVE ONE LIGHT WITH TWO BULBS IN IT BUT THIS SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT/NEED FROM THE ANSWERS I AM GETTING FROM PEOPLE.
SHOULD I HAVE A DIFFERENT COLOR LIGHT FOR DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DAY??
I CHECK MY LEVELS IF NOT EVERYDAY BUT EVERY TWO DAYS AND THEY ARE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE EACH TIME UNLESS THE NITRATE IS UP TO THE NUMBER 20 BUT THEN IT WILL GO DOWN TO ZERO.


blueshoes2208
 
Posts: 1077
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:01 pm

by blueshoes2208

lol i still cant get my coralife digital timer right so I MANUALLY turn on the timer in the morning and MANUALLY turn it off at night........ something wrong with that picture?


newbie916
 
Posts: 375
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:12 pm

by newbie916

How many watt's do you have on your lighting. You could always go with non-photosynthetic corals. The lighting systems aren't cheap. They'll usually run $600-$1000 and the MH bulbs are $50-100 each, which need to be changed every 9 months. However, it takes the hobby to a whole new level.

It's weird that your water is reading 20ppm nitrates and dropping to zero. You may want to buy a new test kit. The only way to drop nitrates is water changes and having macro algae that will consume them. Try starting out with some zoanthids. They are very hardy and not too expensive, unless you get to the rare ones. A toadstool or leather is also a good hardy starter coral.


puffedupseagull
 
Posts: 623
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:38 am

by puffedupseagull

8Hours max with Halides or you get glass algae bad. Its easy to remove with scrapper but will shit you to tears

LIGHTING FOR A SALTWATER TANK

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