right lighting for our new tank to keep SPS and LPS Coral?

[CT Clownfish]

Hi All,

Setting up our new tank tomorrow. Its a 220gallon. 72"X24"X30".
I would like to know if I picked the right lamps or bulbs for the tank. I'm installing 3-400watt Coralvue MH Electronic Ballasts, with 3-400watt Coralvue 20k bulbs. Will I be able to keep SPS and LPS Coral with these bulbs? I have been told I won't be able to keep clams.
While I'm at is my flow going to be right? I'm installing two Seio 2600 and two Seio 1500. I also have a lifereef skimmer. The person who gave us the tank also gave us a Lifeguard filter system with the tank, not sure if I should us it. Any info would be gtreat. Thank You.

 

[SnowManSnow]

Your at about 5.5w/G IMO you will be a little skimpy to keep a lot of SPS corals. You should be ok with digita and so forth, but many will need more light power. As far as LPS you should be ok. You won't have enough wattage to keep clams for very long


B

 

[Anonymous]

I'm going to take the other side and say that lighting is absolutely fine for lps/sps corals. Can't really go for a WPG rule with halides since you'll have 3 really bright areas, right under the bulbs, and even if you went the entire 30 inches deep you'd be hard pressed not to have enough light to keep most corals.

 

[CT Clownfish]

How much more light do I need to keep everything? I'm at 1200 watts now I maybe able to fit another 400watt into the canopy.

 

[CT Clownfish]

I'm going to have a 6"-7" live sand bed so that cuts the 30" down to around 24".

 

[Anonymous]

I think you could keep most anything with those lamps. Maybe the more light demanding corals will need to be mounted higher in the tank. Especially with your DSB.

Louey

 

[Rob Top]

My 220 has 2 400w on either side of a 250w. I have had 2 derasa growing well for the past yesr. between 1/2 and 3/4 inch new shell growth. As Louey said placement is key. My clams are directly under the 400's on either side of the tank

 

[CiXeL]

you can grow anything you want except some finicky rare experimental stuff

 

[CT Clownfish]

Rob Top I was told I could not keep the clams because of the 20k bulbs, something about they only do well under 10k bulbs?

 

[Mihai]

Anything works in the upper half under those lamps. Lower half is good for LPS and softies (again, any) or some low light SPS (e.g., Montipora IME).

M.

 

[cjsrch]

about 20k bulbs . they looks best in a 1:1 or 1:2 with 20k and 10k ^^

i hope you have a lot of fans in that hood

and i wasnt gonna post anyhting but since i had a question i decided to post that. are you serius about brain injury or is that a joke

 

[CT Clownfish]

Four 4" smart fans.

And yes I do have a brain injury. Took 950volts into my hands exited top of my head. have a great deal of memory and other problems from the shock. Changed my life forever.

 

[cjsrch]

id return the fans since they will be on when ever lights are on. save some cash get some colputerfans. and an ac adapter. for the same price you would of had alot of fans

and wow im guessing that you used to work as an electrician right ?
anyways im sure you heard this already but rio pumps suck if you wanna avoid any more shocks dont use them. i got zaped by mine the otherday. it didnt trip the gfi until i touched it for a sec

any chance that you have picts of your canopy? and tank?