Lighting question for Aggressive Fish setup (1 Viewer)

[boudster]

OK...I have a dilemna. I am setting up a 110G agressive tank decorated purely with bleached coral skeletons. I know that it's hard to keep the coral skeletons clean, so I wan't to use as little lighting as possible to avoid algae. I am also running a refugium underneath the tank to help keep algae to a minimum. What I would like to do is simply run 2 NO 40W bulbs (1 actinic blue, 1 10K) for a few hours during the night when I am home to enjoy the tank. My two main questions are is this enough lighting for the fish and do you think this will keep algae off the coral skeletons. It's not like the fish will be in the dark all day....the house gets plenty of light through the windows. Just want to make sure the fish aren't going to get depressed or something.

 

[dobber99]

Lights

Hook-up a UV filter. That will solve most of your algae problems, even with high nitrates and phosphates. I had an 80 gallon hex fish only and no refugium. I also had bleached coral skeletons, and had problems with algae. I hooked-up an 18 watt UV filter and the algae disapeared. For the size tank you have, you will probably need higher wattage. This will also help with any bacteria or organisims which can attack your livestock .

 

[Guest]

I would do 4 40w NO's. 2 will not be bright enough IMO, to really enjoy the fish.

 

[Guest]

T-5, they are friggen bright! 1 actinic and 1 10K will do it. I saw some that come as a throw away strip light for under $30 each (60") Check out Fish world I think it is. They have some on their FO tanks. The place on bellair near HWY 6.

 

[Guest]

I think regardless of how little light you provide algae will want to colonize the surface of the skeletons. You may be able to slow it down more but you'll still be fighting the battle.

Two ways to solve the problem:
Two sets of Coral skeletons one being cleaned why the other is in the tank.
or
Chunk the skeletons and put in 50lbs of LR.