iball1804 Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I have a 5.5 gallon tank measuring 16Lx10Hx8W. I also have an 11" Coralife T5 fixture. With a total of 12w, will this be enough for most corals? P.S. The tank will actually have less than 5.5 gallon because of an internal overflow system. ~ 3w per gallon) Thanks in advance! Link to comment
Trogdor447 Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I have a 5.5 gallon tank measuring 16Lx10Hx8W. I also have an 11" Coralife T5 fixture. With a total of 12w, will this be enough for most corals? P.S. The tank will actually have less than 5.5 gallon because of an internal overflow system. ~ 3w per gallon) Thanks in advance! Watt Per Gallon - not as important in Salt water tanks - that Coralife T5 fixture should be plenty for all soft corals Link to comment
iball1804 Posted August 5, 2011 Author Share Posted August 5, 2011 Perfect. I'm actually getting a 2.5 gallon nano instead. Will this grow most SPS? Link to comment
burtbollinger Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 if you are asking questions like this, rethink starting off with SPS. Link to comment
Squared Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 the coral you wold be growing with that light would probaly end up being brown-and absolutly no way on any SPS. if you really want a reef, get a better light. Link to comment
cf21 Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 If you want SPS, a par38 bulb would work perfect for you. It would also look very clean with the right fixture. Link to comment
Euphyllia Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Perfect. I'm actually getting a 2.5 gallon nano instead. Will this grow most SPS? Smaller tanks are much more difficult to keep and the parameters swing often unless you do huge daily water changes. I would advise going with a 10g, at the very least. if you are asking questions like this, rethink starting off with SPS. +1. SPS are probably the worst choice for your tank as of now. If you are insistent on going with a 2.5g, you will need to do 50% daily water changes. Once the tank is established and you get more expience under your belt, you can then try beginner SPS. the coral you wold be growing with that light would probaly end up being brown-and absolutly no way on any SPS. if you really want a reef, get a better light. T5 isn't bad. Squared uses T5. It can grow SPS if you put them at the top. Squared knows all about that. If you want SPS, a par38 bulb would work perfect for you. It would also look very clean with the right fixture. +1 Link to comment
Squared Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 im pretty sure this is a normal output fixture, not high output. and no SPS with this light...not even atop. Link to comment
Euphyllia Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 im pretty sure this is a normal output fixture, not high output. and no SPS with this light...not even atop. It's Coralife. I would assume it's HO, since it's made for a reef. Link to comment
Squared Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 oh wait i just looked up the fixture...yes most softies will be fine with color under it, but really pretty ones maybe not. and it's not HO. i thought it was one bulb. Link to comment
Euphyllia Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 oh wait i just looked up the fixture...yes most softies will be fine with color under it, but really pretty ones maybe not. and it's not HO. Why not the really pretty ones? Link to comment
Squared Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 i had a 36w t5NO by cadlights (that's 3 times the amount of light of the coralife), it had actinic, but i couldn't keep my higher end paly's color as bright as PCs. they were on the bottom half of the tank, though. i actually still have it. so if you keep the more colorful ones up high, then yes...i guess. Link to comment
DC5 Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 i had a 36w t5NO by cadlights (that's 3 times the amount of light of the coralife), it had actinic, but i couldn't keep my higher end paly's color as bright as PCs. they were on the bottom half of the tank, though. i actually still have it. so if you keep the more colorful ones up high, then yes...i guess. Your little video game monkey is going to give me a seizure. Link to comment
herranton Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Your little video game monkey is going to give me a seizure. Read more of his posts, then you can have a headache too..... I'm just kidding ▓, your a decent monkey Link to comment
Euphyllia Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Your little video game monkey is going to give me a seizure. I kinda like it. It's not seizure-fast though. Read more of his posts, then you can have a headache too..... I'm just kidding ▓, your a decent monkey Hey! They's a rectangle! Link to comment
Euphyllia Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 That was a rectangle, FYI. Link to comment
Squared Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 You know what iball-for some reason i thought you were talking about an eclipse light. then i realized it was coralife. so i probaly confussed you. my brain works like that sometimes. so, ignoring what i said above- i say you can get almost any softie, but the bright and colorful palys and zoas might loose some of there brightness. and i woudn't try any SPS in this tank under that light, no matter how established the tank it. Link to comment
ThePhilosopher Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 IMO, a 5 gallon isn't a terrible first choice. My only fishkeeping experience before I went on to my saltwater (which hosts both LPS and soft corals) was 6 months setting up and maintaining a freshwater, low-light and planted 50 gallon tank with angelfish and rainbowfish. My lighting isn't terribly bright (approx. 18 watts between LEDs and powercompacts) but I've been able to keep a hammer coral, favites, mushrooms and zoas alive with bright and deep colours. I know my light's limits, so I'm not even thinking of adding SPS soon. +1 for the par38 bulb. I'm planning on ordering one soon for my 5 gallon eventually. Link to comment
iball1804 Posted August 6, 2011 Author Share Posted August 6, 2011 Alright alright guys don't kill me! I won't do SPS, do I do want some LPS. And I have been an aquarist for many years and have experienced a lot of things. My 16 gallon bowfront reef was successful, and I'm simply downgrading. On a side note, squared, your monkey gives me seizures already. Stay away!! Link to comment
iball1804 Posted August 8, 2011 Author Share Posted August 8, 2011 Alright got the 2.5 up and running. It's an AIO, and is running beautifully. New question: what corals would you recommend in this nano? I'm guessing mushrooms, zoanthids, GSP, Xenia, and MAYBE some euphyllia (hammer, torch, frogspawn). Would my lighting be enough to support this selections? Would you recommend ten all together? Link to comment
MVReef Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Alright got the 2.5 up and running. It's an AIO, and is running beautifully. New question: what corals would you recommend in this nano? I'm guessing mushrooms, zoanthids, GSP, Xenia, and MAYBE some euphyllia (hammer, torch, frogspawn). Would my lighting be enough to support this selections? Would you recommend ten all together? a few sharks Link to comment
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