live rock and lighting

cichlidfort · 11-01-2005, 05:06 PM

I am am getting a 55 gallon saltwater tank and I am soon going to order 45 pounds of live rock. What kind of lighting will I need to maintain it? Like how many watts?

***Reefland*** · 11-01-2005, 05:07 PM

Liverock doesn't really require lighting; the coralline algae and other photosythetic life does. If you are not adding any corals to this tank then you can get away with just about whatever you want. I do however like to suggest that even FOWLR tanks incorporate some PC or VHO lighting just to help bring out the vibrant colors in marine fish.

cichlidfort · 11-02-2005, 02:08 PM

well I was getting some lights that could support some of the corals and other photosythetic life. I was just wondering if these lights could work for a 55.

I would get two 24 inch single bulbs that have 1-65 watts so it would be total of 130 watts. I know its not a lot but I am 16 and don't have all the money in the world. But are these lights good enough to maintain coraline algae and some photosythetic life and possibly some corals?

jagsy · 11-02-2005, 03:09 PM

that would be a good like just for liverock. but as said above, if you are going to add some nice corals VHO is the minimum i would suggest, pcs will do just fine for fish only with live rock--happy reefing mate

**The R/C Man** · 11-03-2005, 12:56 PM

That lighting would work for just fish but you will need a lot more to keep corals. Unfortunately, lighting is a large expense. With that said it is of great importance and therefore required. Maybe you can ask the folks for help..

***Reefland*** · 11-03-2005, 07:38 PM

If those are only 24" you would have to have 2 fixtures to cover the length of the tank. If you did this I don't see any reason why you could add some Corallimorpharians (mushrooms).

cichlidfort · 11-04-2005, 02:44 PM

Thats what I said. I would be getting two of these 24 inch lights. So I could keep some of the more hardy mushrooms?

**The R/C Man** · 11-04-2005, 03:04 PM

As an example, I started out with 130watts of PC's over my tank (which is only 25 gallons) and ended up having to add a 250watt MH in order to keep all the corals I wanted.....

Don't go cheap to begin with because you will end up having to spend twice as much in the long run having to upgrade.....

cichlidfort · 11-04-2005, 05:45 PM

I am not interested in keeping all the corals I want. I am only 16 and don't have the time to maintain corals even if I wanted too. I just wanted to know if these lights could maintain the liverock.

***Reefland*** · 11-04-2005, 06:26 PM

They will be fine for liverock.

**The R/C Man** · 11-05-2005, 11:18 AM

Oh! Yap what Scott said..

CSeaSee · 11-06-2005, 11:35 AM

I used to have 130W of PC over my 55 gal, and I had a lot of success keeping mushrooms. That's about all, though. I did have a beautiful flower (rock) anemone that did well for a long time, but eventually declined for reasons unknown. So, I say, go for some 'shrooms!

cichlidfort · 11-06-2005, 01:58 PM

yeah I will do that.
Thanks a lot guys

11-01-2005, 05:06 PM	#1
cichlidfort Citizen Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Orlando Posts: 144	live rock and lighting I am am getting a 55 gallon saltwater tank and I am soon going to order 45 pounds of live rock. What kind of lighting will I need to maintain it? Like how many watts? __________________ "A mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open."

11-01-2005, 05:07 PM	#2
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 12,998	Liverock doesn't really require lighting; the coralline algae and other photosythetic life does. If you are not adding any corals to this tank then you can get away with just about whatever you want. I do however like to suggest that even FOWLR tanks incorporate some PC or VHO lighting just to help bring out the vibrant colors in marine fish. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

11-02-2005, 02:08 PM	#3
cichlidfort Citizen Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Orlando Posts: 144	well I was getting some lights that could support some of the corals and other photosythetic life. I was just wondering if these lights could work for a 55. I would get two 24 inch single bulbs that have 1-65 watts so it would be total of 130 watts. I know its not a lot but I am 16 and don't have all the money in the world. But are these lights good enough to maintain coraline algae and some photosythetic life and possibly some corals? __________________ "A mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open."

11-03-2005, 12:56 PM	#5
The R/C Man Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 690	That lighting would work for just fish but you will need a lot more to keep corals. Unfortunately, lighting is a large expense. With that said it is of great importance and therefore required. Maybe you can ask the folks for help.. __________________ Greg 25 gallon reef with 20 gallon sump/fuge 375 gallon reef with 100 gallon sump/fuge: under construction Over time science has shown that the simplest answers are usually the correct ones.......

11-03-2005, 07:38 PM	#6
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 12,998	If those are only 24" you would have to have 2 fixtures to cover the length of the tank. If you did this I don't see any reason why you could add some Corallimorpharians (mushrooms). __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

11-02-2005, 03:09 PM	#4
jagsy New in Town Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Jacksonville Posts: 2	that would be a good like just for liverock. but as said above, if you are going to add some nice corals VHO is the minimum i would suggest, pcs will do just fine for fish only with live rock--happy reefing mate

11-04-2005, 02:44 PM	#7
cichlidfort Citizen Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Orlando Posts: 144	Thats what I said. I would be getting two of these 24 inch lights. So I could keep some of the more hardy mushrooms? __________________ "A mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open."

11-04-2005, 03:04 PM	#8
The R/C Man Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 690	As an example, I started out with 130watts of PC's over my tank (which is only 25 gallons) and ended up having to add a 250watt MH in order to keep all the corals I wanted..... Don't go cheap to begin with because you will end up having to spend twice as much in the long run having to upgrade..... __________________ Greg 25 gallon reef with 20 gallon sump/fuge 375 gallon reef with 100 gallon sump/fuge: under construction Over time science has shown that the simplest answers are usually the correct ones.......

11-04-2005, 05:45 PM	#9
cichlidfort Citizen Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Orlando Posts: 144	I am not interested in keeping all the corals I want. I am only 16 and don't have the time to maintain corals even if I wanted too. I just wanted to know if these lights could maintain the liverock. __________________ "A mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open."

11-04-2005, 06:26 PM	#10
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 12,998	They will be fine for liverock. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

11-05-2005, 11:18 AM	#11
The R/C Man Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 690	Oh! Yap what Scott said.. __________________ Greg 25 gallon reef with 20 gallon sump/fuge 375 gallon reef with 100 gallon sump/fuge: under construction Over time science has shown that the simplest answers are usually the correct ones.......

11-06-2005, 11:35 AM	#12
CSeaSee Mayor Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 663	I used to have 130W of PC over my 55 gal, and I had a lot of success keeping mushrooms. That's about all, though. I did have a beautiful flower (rock) anemone that did well for a long time, but eventually declined for reasons unknown. So, I say, go for some 'shrooms! __________________ Carl Just tell your wife that having a tank teaches you all sorts of new DIY skills...which will save lots of money around the house...so you can buy more stuff for your tank...so you can learn more skills...

11-06-2005, 01:58 PM	#13
cichlidfort Citizen Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Orlando Posts: 144	yeah I will do that. Thanks a lot guys __________________ "A mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open."

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