how much light for hammers in a 75gal

[tzenda]

how much light do i need to keep hammer corals alive in a 75gal tank(watts)

and how much flow

i am curently setting up our tank and would like some friendly advice

and are they fairly easy to take care of(the hammers that is)

i have 2x65 50/50 pc right now, i know i need more
i would like to stay away from MH right now but.....
and i have about 900 gph split between a few pumps right now and a HOT fuge

 

[Len]

I think if you doubled our lights, you're in decent shape for hammer corals. They don't require intense lighting and are relatively easy to care for. Provide enough current to make their tentacles sway consistently, preferably in random or osciallating directions. Like light, hammer corals need only moderate flow.

 

[Anonymous]

you could bite the bullet and get used MH lights.
my biggest mistake was trying to cheap out on lights by going NO, then VHO, and finally MH.
i shoulda just got MH in the beginning and saved money.

 

[Oceans Ferevh]

Maybe he's worried about the monthly electrical bill. That's the reason why I havn't done it yet and am considering retrofit VHO's.

 

[Anonymous]

I have had good results with power compact flour. lights. They are cheaper all the way around and don't generate the heat of halide. I would say all but the most difficult SPS and clams could be kept. I typically use a shallow tank which helps with the light as well. A 40 or 50 gallon breeder is the perfect reef tank, IMHO. They are low and wide, this makes it easy to aquascape and light.
Andy

 

[Anonymous]

I kept a frogspawn happily in my 75 with 440W's of VHO with great success. I would think that a hammer would have done just as well.

I agree with the others that MH is where you'll end up. A couple of 250 watters on a 75G would be da bomb.

Louey

 

[tzenda]

i am more woried with the heat of MH or more corectly how to get rid of it. i have found some 175w MH ballast for $60 but would still need the bulb.

i think i will double my PC lights for now, and when i want to attain higher levels of light i can still add MH.

what should my calcium levels be for hammers?

 

[Anonymous]

400-450 PPM is a good target level for calcium.

The only cooling I have on my 75 is a clip on fan that blows into the hood. Temps hardly ever get above 83 - 84 and everything is fine. I have 2X175W MH 10K ushio's and 2X110W VH0 Actinics. My SPS are growing right out of the top of the tank.

Louey

 

[tzenda]

will adding kalkswater alone get me those calcium levels?

 

[Tackett]

what critters do you have? If you dont have a high calcium demand, regular water changes should keep it fairly high. If you have a high demand though, Go with a two part calcium alkalinity suppliment.

 

[Tackett]

I dont think that Kalk will raise your calcium level, just maintains it. Watch out with Kalk too, because Ive been told it can produce phosphates

 

[Tackett]

kalkwasser btw.

 

[SnowManSnow]

B-Ionic is a GREAT 2part additive for calcium and alk at the same time That's what I use, and recommend.

B.

 

[Tackett]

btw louey dude I stole something of yours for my signature..hope you dont mind. All in good fun

 

[Anonymous]

I dont think that Kalk will raise your calcium level, just maintains it. Watch out with Kalk too, because Ive been told it can produce phosphates

:lol: Tackett, don't believe everything you hear!

(From Julian Sprung's website; I found many other references online as well)

Kalkwasser is to be mixed with freshwater to make a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide for maintaining calcium level and high pH in reef aquarium. It also precipitates phosphate and enhances protein skimming.

Kalk precipitates phosphate out of the water you mix it with, if it's present and in no way produces it! That's part of the guck that settles out during the mixing process.

 

[Anonymous]

I kept Hammer, torch and frogspawn under 440 watts VHO in a 110 tall. I dosed seachem reef builder and reef calcium. Had nice growth and they looked nice.

 

[Tackett]

I dont think that Kalk will raise your calcium level, just maintains it. Watch out with Kalk too, because Ive been told it can produce phosphates

:lol: Tackett, don't believe everything you hear!

(From Julian Sprung's website; I found many other references online as well)

Kalkwasser is to be mixed with freshwater to make a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide for maintaining calcium level and high pH in reef aquarium. It also precipitates phosphate and enhances protein skimming.

Kalk precipitates phosphate out of the water you mix it with, if it's present and in no way produces it! That's part of the guck that settles out during the mixing process.

Well, when I was told, I thought it mighty strange and due to my lack of confidence in my reef keeping abilities and knowledge, I didnt argue the point. And I trusted the opnion of the person saying it. I didnt mean to imply that it could produce Phosphate I just wanted to make him aware of what I had heard and my experience with it. (so now I can start to rule out that my algae bloom was produced by the Kalk top offs.) It makes me feel good however, to know that I was actually somewhat in the realm of "right for once" on something. Need to stop second guessing myself.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, when I was told, I thought it mighty strange and due to my lack of confidence in my reef keeping abilities and knowledge, I didnt argue the point. And I trusted the opnion of the person saying it. I didnt mean to imply that it could produce Phosphate I just wanted to make him aware of what I had heard and my experience with it. (so now I can start to rule out that my algae bloom was produced by the Kalk top offs.) It makes me feel good however, to know that I was actually somewhat in the realm of "right for once" on something. Need to stop second guessing myself.

I didn't mean that as a slam of any sort Tackett, only pointing it out!

 

[Tackett]

no no, I did not take it as one in the least bit. I am glad you told me Thanks a bunch.

 

[Anonymous]

no no, I did not take it as one in the least bit. I am glad you told me Thanks a bunch.

:wink: