New MHs VHOs no new growth

[texasranchers]

After all the hype on MHs and VHOs, I am wondering if we should go back to where we were before.

We have had our new lights since 2-18-04. We reduced the lights to acclimate corals, etc. We built the canopy to hang the MHs 7" from the bottom of the light bulbs to the top of the tank. We have 2 cooling fans inside canopy. MHs are 250w/10k white and 250w/20k blue with 2-48",110w,super actinic VHOs sitting on top of a 55 gal tank, 48"X12.5"X21".
2 power heads, protein skimmer, and HOT filtration for circulation.

Is this too much wattage, heat, k's? No new growth and some of our leathers and corals look like they have taken a beating.

You won't hurt my feelings..Just tell me what you think.

[alexwolf]

whats the tank temp? How many MH's?

[texasranchers]

2 MHs In the morning it is around 72-74...by afternoon the temp rises with the lights coming on. I open the front of canopy, focus a floor fan on the inside of canopy, plus we have the ceiling fan on in the Aquaria room.

[Tim Marvin]

I had far less problems running VHO and PC's. I am currently running 250w DE halides. I bought 2 new XM's 10 that fired half the time. I went and bought a new dual HQI/PFO Pulse ballast that was supposed to fire them every time because the IceCaps didn't. Well I hooked it all up and the bulbs wouldn't fire! I went and bought 2 megachromes from Roger at aquatek and they fired right up! Very nice bulbs also, much brighter than the XM's(when they did fire) I was very reluctant to buy more bulbs, but glad I did now. I guess I'll just go back to the AB's if not VHO.

[alexwolf]

what temp does it get to?

[texasranchers]

It sometimes get to high 70's with just the (2)4.5" fans on and canopy door opened. If the door is closed it has gone over 80!

[Yancey]

Your tank temperature might be a little low at night. You should attempt to keep it fairly constant, my tank (albiet a small one) ranges from 78-82. And i believe most of the tanks on the boards run around this range. HTH

-Yancey

[texasranchers]

We have taken out the heater since it is getting warmer at night. But I am considering all suggestions.

[Jimnorris]

IMO I think you have a wonderful lighting system that will allow you to keep corals of all kinds! Now that the foundation is set there is so much more to coral growth! FOOD! Water movement to bring the food to the corals and water movement to remove the waste. CALCIUM the building block of coral GROWTH! What is yours? Calicum's best friends Alk, PH, SG, Magnesium and all the rest of the family. Also what else is in the tank --- like certian fish can cause corals not to grow. And certain corals can cause corals not to grow. There is much more!
Jim

[captexas]

Definately need to do some tests on water parameters. As Jim mentioned, there are several different things that can affect coral growth. I definately don't think it's the lighting. As far as your heater goes, it should have a built in thermostat that turns it off once the water gets to the desired setting. If yours doesn't have this, then you need to buy a better heater to help keep the temp from swinging so much.

[texasranchers]

Most of the corals came from one person who had them 1-2 years in same tank with the fish, Coral Beauty Angel, Clarkii Clownfish, Fancy serpent green Star(?), snails (asst). They were doing great with our strip lights.

Direct feed corals with Fritz Invertebrate Banquet and DT's for Clam. All direct feed with syringe.

We have added a T.crocea clam and a green carpet anemone(for Clarkii-his died before we picked him up in Feb.).

Calcium ranges between 450-500. I'm doing scheduled tank maintenance today. That is also when I do my tests. Before and after.