frag tank lighting

[stoneroller]

I have a 20G frag/QT tank with a 65W PC actinic bulb. Will that be ok for healing up frags or should I get a 10K/actinic bulb?

[JimD]

umm, What kind of frags? Typicly, I would never recommend pc lighting for anything, their usefull spectrum dissolves around three to four months. But if youre gonna use them, youll need some 10k, more 10k than actinics.

[stoneroller]

Good point, GSP and zoas/palys. 3 to 4 months? that's a lot less than "advertised"

[Ram_Puppy]

my understanding was PC's lasted for 6 months.

Stone,

what is your price range if you decide the PC's isn't the way to go?

there is a really nifty 70 watt JBJ halide that would probably do great... I think they all it the viper, and it comes w/ a clamp mount arm, so you can run open top w/ no heat issues.

[erikharrison]

Here's a link to the viper http://www.oceanreeflections.com/lighting.aspx

[Ram_Puppy]

ahh, thank you... btw, erik is now my assistant. :)

get me some coffee!

[JimD]

Pc's begin to lose usefull spectrum at the 3-4 month point, at 6-7 months, theyre pretty much useless for a reef environment. Im not saying this because its something Ive read but because its what I experienced when I was just getting back into salt and thought Id try and save money by going with Pc's, man was I wrong!

[stoneroller]

I hear ya Jim. But, what's in those BioCubes and other nano all in ones? Seems folks are growing out corals in those. T5s? PCs?

Ram, Erik, I wasn't planning on spending $$ for a new lighting system, I was planning to just replace the PC bulbs if I had to. I have nearly 60 frags healing up.

[Ram_Puppy]

The smallest T-5s are i beleiev 22" accross... probably to long for your 20.

[Ram_Puppy]

Stoney,

replacing your PC's may be the best answer short order, but in the long run, you will eventually, and none to soon i expect, end up paying more replacing those bulbs than if you updated to a new light source.

[stoneroller]

It's 24 inches across so they could fit. but hellolights has 65w PC bulbs on sale, ends tomorrow. not sure if I am going to keep this tank set up, in the long run. thus the question

[JimD]

"I hear ya Jim. But, what's in those BioCubes and other nano all in ones? Seems folks are growing out corals in those. T5s? PCs?"
Those tanks are not designed to be used as a reef tank, theyre designed basicly for the convenience of the hobbyist who wants to get into an aquarium without having to buy a lot of extra equipment and are very limited in what they can successfuly house. When I see the word "coral" I immediately think sps, a tank like that would be no wheres near what youd need to allow that type of coral to "thrive". Most of the smaller bio-cubes are using lower wattage pc's if Im not mistaken, ok for mushrooms, some lps and possibly certain species of zoas although still not ideal. No matter what you decide to do, Pc's will most likely not be the best choice, (although some people will argue that to the death, lol), a much better option would be T-5's, a brighter, more long lasting/efficient light source that can and will grow some sps and most all zoas... Good luck!

[BIGBIRD123]

"I hear ya Jim. But, what's in those BioCubes and other nano all in ones? Seems folks are growing out corals in those. T5s? PCs?"
Those tanks are not designed to be used as a reef tank, theyre designed basicly for the convenience of the hobbyist who wants to get into an aquarium without having to buy a lot of extra equipment and are very limited in what they can successfuly house. When I see the word "coral" I immediately think sps, a tank like that would be no wheres near what youd need to allow that type of coral to "thrive". Most of the smaller bio-cubes are using lower wattage pc's if Im not mistaken, ok for mushrooms, some lps and possibly certain species of zoas although still not ideal. No matter what you decide to do, Pc's will most likely not be the best choice, (although some people will argue that to the death, lol), a much better option would be T-5's, a brighter, more long lasting/efficient light source that can and will grow some sps and most all zoas... Good luck!

I agree with Jim, not cause he's "Older" than me but because of his knowledge and my experience. I wouldn't put anything less than T5's on a frag tank. There are some pretty reasonable 70w MH out there and I have one and it works great.

Steve

[jrnannery]

Ok, time to hear from a detractor...I have a 29 gallon BioCube, yes, it has PCs, and I am growing zoas, shrooms, palys, and SPS, yes SPS coral in my tank. I have upgraded through nanotuners.com to a 144 watt PC setup, and it is plenty bright.

I do agree, however, that MH would be the best way to go. I wish there was a setup that did not alter the stock look of my Biocube, yet allow me to run a MH bulb of significant wattage.

[Jeff]

hey jrnannery, do you still have that frag of sps you got from me?

[Jeff]

you can grow frags under any light you want, it is just mow many bulbs you will need and how often you need to replace it.

[junkstang]

A 96w POWER QUAD ON A 20L TANK SHOULD GIVE YOU A GOOD 6 MONTHS BEFORE REPL. THEM.