Anemone Experts: Lights for BTA

[fish farmer]

Hi!

Please excuse the redundancy of this post for some, but did a search and didn't quite get the answers I was looking for... Anyway, would like to ask the anemone "experts" out there for advice.

I have a 55gal. FOWLR, 6" DSB, 50# LR. Dimensions of tank are 48"x21"x12" and would like to get an anemone for my P. biaculatus. Question is: what lighting should I buy first? Presently only have 2 40w NO and desperately need to upgrade as cost-effective as possible. Don't really want to go the MH route if possible.

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

TIA!

 

[Chucker]

Before going any further, I'd have to ask why you want to avoid MH.

 

[Anemone]

Well, you could probably get by with a 2 x 96 watt PC set up. My personal choice, however, would be an IceCap 660 with 3-4 VHO bulbs (at 110 watts per bulb, I think for the 46.5" bulbs). IME, E. quads do very well under VHO lighting.

Kevin

 

[whusband]

i have the same size tank as you and have a BTA who has been growing and doing well. he is a host for my maroon clown.

i use this PC system from JBJ:

PL-JC3-41 VERSAILLES 55W*4 2 6500K DAYLIGHT/2 7100K BLUE 220 WATTS 47"

this system seems to be enough light for my tank

[ April 16, 2002: Message edited by: huz ]</p>

 

[danmhippo]

I'd go with 2x96WPC and maybe another 2 VHO.

BTW, Kevin, your E. quad is fantastic!

 

[Anemone]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by danmhippo:
<strong>I'd go with 2x96WPC and maybe another 2 VHO.

BTW, Kevin, your E. quad is fantastic!</strong><hr></blockquote>

Thanks - first or second? Wouldn't be surprised if the second one split within a month or two - it was large enough. What lighting do you have it/them under?

Kevin

 

[danmhippo]

The first is under 250W MH and has almost doubled the size with regular feeding. Second is great at another tank lit with 4 VHO's. Both are hungry little fella there!

 

[fish farmer]

Thanks for the great suggestions guys!

Chucker-
Can't afford MH or increase in power bill. Calif. power bills are still pretty outrageous. I heard PC's use less power than even NO's. True or false?

Thanks again. I appreciate it.

 

[NoriMuncher]

I have a BTA in a 55. Did OK for a few months under my 6 X 40W NO but turned brown. I upgraded to 6 X 55W PC, but it's still brown (though a lighter shade), though healthy and growing.

 

[SeaMac]

I agree with Anemone...VHOs are great. Get an IceCap 660 with 4 VHOs (2 white, 2 actinic). This is the exact setup I'm using on my 75g and my green BTA has split five times in the last 6 months.

Chris

 

[Anonymous]

I would suggest 4 110 watt VHOs-2 50/50 and 2 actinic.

I had 2 96 watt PCs and my BTA split twice. After switching to the VHOs she split four more times.

I would still suggest getting two 150 watt HQIs. Run them for 10 hours instead of twelve and the electric usage for the day will be about the same as 4 110 watt VHOs for 12 hours. Either way you choose,you are going to need a fan or two for cooling.

 

[Anonymous]

To add another comment to the list. I have anemones under 8 55 watt JBJ PC's in a 75g tank. One original BTA and 4 clones. They can do well under pc's as long as you feed them as well!