I'm in lighting distress - help!

[msteele]

My lfs told me that for a low to medium reef aquarium I could get away with a "regular" florourescent ballast with 2 flourescent bulbs - one 25W, one 30W blue spectrum bulb. Another fish shop told me that if I want a carpet anemone and 2 clown fish I "have to have" an actinic light fixture. An extra $300 and I should just get rid of the $150 I have already spent on my lights.

I have a 36" x 12" deep x 18" tall tank - 37 gallons. Just finished cycling. I was very excited to go out this morning and buy my first fish and anemone only to have my spirits crushed by the other store.

Who is right? What should I believe? Help!!!!!

 

[Aff]

Well technically you can get away with a low light reef tank with that lighting. But an anemone doesn't fall into the low light category. What would fall into this range would be mushrooms and some button polyps. As for the "actinic" light fixture I would assume they're talking about power compacts. Which are not bad lights if that's what they're talking about. What you'll wanna look for are either VHOs, power compacts or metal halide for lighting.

On the subject of the anemone tho. If the tank has fully cycled there's no reason not to add a couple of clownfish just make sure you either buy a mated pair or understand how to pair them off ( a lot of LFS will lie about pairing off clownfish in my experience ). But you really shouldn't add an anemone to a tank that is just cycled no matter what lighting you have. Since you're posting on the new reefkeepers forum you would be a lot better off starting with some mushrooms, soft corals, or easier LPS corals (such as hammers or frogspawns) to start off with. In most cases the clownfish will take up with something other than an anemone and quite honestly they don't need one in a tank to be happy.

 

[PeeJ]

Sounds like they are tryin to rip you off...300 bucks just for actinic lights?!?!? although i will submit that you need more than 55 watts of light for the anemone.....

 

[msteele]

Keep in mind that I live in Canada so prices are in Canadian dollars : )

What wattage would be sufficient for keeping anemones. I think I can get up to 75W (combined) with the same light fixture I've got if I just change the bulbs.

I don't mind spending the money for a new fixture - I'm just unimpressed with the place I got it since I told them what I wanted to do. If I can use what I've got I would be MUCH happier.

 

[Simon1]

I've been told that one needs at least 6 to 7 watts per gallon to maintain an anemone. Though I am not sure if this pertains to all anemone or not.

 

[Anonymous]

If cost is not an issue then get enough lighting that will give you at least 150 watts for your tank. Otherwise stick with livestock that thrives on low light. I know this is frustrating. Keep in mind that you will have to replace the bulbs every 6 months. This can get expensive.

 

[ChrisRD]

msteele,

Normal output fluorescent lights are definitely NOT what you want for a carpet anemone. Carpets have strong lighting needs.

Also, an anemone is NOT something to try your hand at as a newcomer. Most anemones have a poor survival record even under the care of experienced aquarists.

My advice is to skip the anemone and just get the clowns. They don't need an anemone to thrive. Another possibility is to seek a hardy coral as a surrogate host.

Check out my response in this thread as well.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

By the way, actinic lights are not necessary to keep any species, although they do make the tanks look more attractive to viewers. If the 2nd LFS meant you need more intensity with VHO or pc bulbs, then they were correct, but since they said actinic I would differ with that.

Chris's comments on the difficulty of anemonies is very true; if I were you I would try to accept the aquarium in a slightly different configuration from the way you are currently planning it. After you have been running it successfully for some time you might consider it.

Easier species are bubble-tipped and long-tentacled, but even those have high light requirements and need excellent husbandry.

 

[msteele]

Thanks for the info.
I think I'm going to get a PC set-up 2 x 96W for my 37G tank.
I still want to keep clownfish.

Any suggestions on # of clowns, what type and what I should get them to host in with this set-up. I know that clowns don't NEED something to host in for them to be happy, but I'll be happier if they have something to host in.

 

[ChrisRD]

I'd recommend the book "Clownfishes" by Joyce Wilkerson (check my sig). It's very cheap and goes into detail on the different clown species, their natural hosts and good/bad choices for surrogate hosts.

 

[Aff]

Basically you'll want 2 clowns of the same type max for a tank of that size. Well IMO that's all I'll ever try to put in any tank no matter the size. Some people have good luck mixing but I didn't and will never try again. But in a 37 you should only keep one pair. As for type it really depends on your preference. I've only kept ocellaris and maroon. With ocellaris you should buy either a mated pair or buy 2 very small ones at the same time. They should eventually pair off. With maroons it's better to buy a mated pair or just stick with one. You can't just take any 2 small ones and pair them off. They'll fight to the death. And don't listen to an LFS if they tell you that their tank raised and get along better cause that's not true. Sometimes you'll even see multiples in a tank at the LFS which they can get away with for a short time but if you take two of those and put them in a tank they'll fight. There is one exception to this rule and I've only seen it once or twice. You can sometimes find very small pairs of maroons for sale (not the usual large female/small male pair). There will only be 2 maroons in the tank and no fighting/fin damage (just make sure you watch them a long time before purchase).

As for a host, my occelaris never took up with anything. My maroons hosted in a frogspawn and actually love ricordia mushrooms. Ultimately tho there's no real way to say what a clown will choose to host in. All fish have their own '"taste" so what works for one won't work for all.

IMO tho for a 37 I'd go with either occelaris or true perculas. They're not as aggressive as other clowns can be.

Also I'll recommend the book "Clownfishes" also