Is my lighting sufficient?

[Mike&Pam]

I have a 90-gallon reef aquarium and have 2x96 watt Power Compacts. Some of the corals look great while others don't look so hot. This is the lighting that was recommended to me by the LFS when the tank was purchased. My question is, is it possible for me to have a flourishing and successful reef tank with this lighting? Or am I wasting my time with it and in desperate need of an upgrade?

All parameters are Ok, this is strictly a lighting question.

Mike

 

[scavdog]

What types of corals are you trying to keep? Soft corals will do better under the lighting you are providing. I wouldnt try sps.

 

[toptank]

I have to agree with the above statements. When I had my 90 gal I had 2 x 250s with PC as suppliments but then again I was raising SPSs.

Barry

 

[Mike&Pam]

I have an extra pc ballast that I was considering adding to supplement the lighting. It will only have on pc bulb since the other socket blew out. Therefore, this would contribute an extra 96 watts. Is this a good idea? Will it contribute to the well-being of corals? Of course I would have to monitor the temperature to make sure it doesn't get too hot in there.

 

[Ricpan]

Howdy,
To answer this question. Some corals will do fine with this light other won't. This is a fairly low light reef. Do a little research and fine out what the light requirements are for the corals you have. For now the corals that aren't doing well try placing them higher in your tank.

 

[Mike&Pam]

Sorry, just reviving this topic before I do something that shouldn't be done. Thanks everyone. I seem to be full of questions today!

 

[Gatortailale1]

You need to tell us what type or kind of corals you keep or want to keep.

 

[Mike&Pam]

I'm just trying to see if the extra bulb will help in general for keeping corals and their growth. There are many corals I want. It would take way too long to list them all. Sorry.

 

[Gatortailale1]

You can never duplicate the sun ... so yes more is always better. I have 4 96w and 2 55w over my 125. If you got it, run it.

Will be upgrading next spring to MH HQI system (I hope)

 

[dug5921]

gator:

what kind of corals do you have success with under you current lighting?? sps or softies?

 

[Anonymous]

Well I was in a similar situation and I finally just bit the bullet and put a MH fixture on there. Now I can keep whatever I want.

I kept one 96 Smartlamp fixture, and added a Custom Sealife 150W HQI fixture. Works great.
Jim

 

[Gatortailale1]

DUG:

[Note, I'm not the best speller, so forgive me.]

I have everything form leathers to SPS acrop. (Porites other acrop. are encrusting on rock where I attached and showing several new branches from both old branches and areas where they are encrusting.) I have 3 porites total, 2 from Dr. Mac that I got back at august Baltimore MACNA - They both have shown a 6+ areas of branching and are starting to encrust on rock where I attached with epoxy. Frogspawn and Anvil/anchor bubble are doing great. Also have open brain, sea whips, gargonians.

I put in a frag of purple tip acro. it is surviving but no signs of growth. Tips are still purple. I also am trying a frag of staghorn acro. It is holding its color, but I haven't noticed any growth other than a bit of encrusting on the rock it was attached to when I got it.

All SPS are 6-10 inches from top of water

I dose B-ionic and Kalk and in process of getting a calcium reactor.

 

[Mike&Pam]

JimM:

So what you are saying is you had one 96watt pc and added a metal halide to it and now everything seems to be fine? The reason I ask is I'm considering adding a metal halide to my pc's, that way I don't feel like my pc's are worthless anymore. Hopefully there is room because I have no idea how much space the mh would take.

 

[Gatortailale1]

If you want a smoking good halide system then add 2 PFO mini HQI pendants.

Then run row of blue act. PC; a row of day light PC and the 2 HQI. (first on blue - last off; 2nd on PC day light- 2nd off; last on first off - MH HQI

Example of PFO HQI mini pendants:

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant. mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PA&Product_Code=PFO-HQI250SYS&Category_Code=PFOp

This is what I'm going to upgrade to after christmas.

[ November 02, 2001: Message edited by: Gatortailale ]</p>

 

[Mike&amp;Pam]

Gator----

Will adding this system mean I have to get a chiller also? I am definitely considering this. The only thing is hopefully all of this lighting will fit under my canopy. I run two fans there now, which are kind of noisy but are required. So, so far I'm looking at a $700 upgrade and I don't know if I"ll need a chiller or not. The tank is in a well air conditioned room (my living room) but under that closed canopy I need fans for just my two pc's.