Lighting

[Whiskey]

Ok I am really bad at explaning myself so I will break up my questions into smaller peices and their right places.

I currentaly have a 30G fish only live rock tank,

I will be setting up a 50G tank that I would like to grow coral in. That is 4 feet long.

Lighting,

I really want to use 4 NO 40W bulbs 2 acetic and 2 full spectrum bulbs and set up a coral tank w/ easy to care for corals. Helpful people here have told me that this is not enough light for most corals. Although it will take me a while to save the money, would a 2x96W 50/50 power compact be better? If I am going to spend this much I want something good that will grow most everything when I feel I am ready. Please help..... What would you use in my place.....

Thanks,
Whiskey

[icereefer]

I started out with PCF's myself they were in my canopy for 2 month's and went to VHO's now I have a JBJ retrofit kit that just sit's in my closet doing nothing but collecting dust.
PCF's look good but VHo's have made a big differance in the growth of my corals. my next up grade will be in my 37 gal a 6500k mh 250 watt and 2 VHO, URI .03 actinics.
in my 37 gal Im running right now 2-75 watt hamilton 50/50's and 2-75watt URI .03 actinic's

[Angelscrx]

Icereefer you have a beautiful tank!

[MikeS]

Hey Ice....man, that tank is looking awesome! My compliments! :D

Mike

[FishinInTheDark]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46314&item=4304166482&rd=1

This is my night for posting links, I guess.

I have had one of these sitting on top of my planted FW tank (with different bulbs) for nearly a year, and it's a quality light at an excellent price. You may want more lighting later, but this isn't such a huge investment that it couldn't be replaced some day.

TC,

Conni

[Ghosty]

Hey Ice....man, that tank is looking awesome! My compliments! :D

Mike
Absolutely, looks awesome. Icereefer, do you have any more pics you can share, or a website gallery?...

[icereefer]

Hey Ice....man, that tank is looking awesome! My compliments! :D

Mike thanks mike.
remember I was having a problem with my ammonia and nitrates?
well Im still not sitting at 0 yet but , I started testing my water and the water at the LPS and I can't find any water that doesn't test lower then 0.6 on ammonia,so I did find some at one of the LPS that ran 0.1 and no nitrites, so I got some and mixed my salt a day later I tested my water again it was sitting at 1.2 on my ammonia :beatdown: well I think I got it figured out now it's my darn mixing bucket I bought a new one and have had nothing but problems every since,and I had problems about 7 years ago to and myself I thinks ,it's not a good thing to mix your salt water up in any rubbermade :beatdown: containers.
I went back to a tuffy container and know problems again?????

[cich1]

whiskey, i would just run the no flour. lights for now and save for good lighting, i have a 2x65 watt pc on my 29g tank, i haven't added the first coral yet and already wish i would have bought vho or t-5 lights, i'm sure i'll upgrade when funds allow me to then i'll have a $130 light in my closet gathering dust too.
Icereefer, beautiful tank, i hope to have something half as nice someday

[icereefer]

thanks chic1
"you will" there's a lot of good advice on this site and that's why I come on every minute I get, we all thrive to learn more here and you will find we all want to help each other get there.

[Whiskey]

Ok I bought this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46314&item=4304166482&rd=1
thank-you fishinthedark.... I think it will do well. It will arrive in a couple of weeks. The tank is transfered into the 50G now w/ about 2.5 inch deep substrate (araginite) and oceanic salt. I will start to make some of the live base rock and buy more for top because I like the look of stacked rock with coral on it.

What corals that are easy to care for and inexpensave would be best to start with? I would like something that grows and spreads quickally so I can see how they are doing. Do I need any ferts or anything for them???

Thanks,
Whiskey

[icereefer]

with those PCF's I'd stick to polyps,mushrooms,some soft corals like strawberry corals, chironephthya, devils hand, christmas tree coral.

[icereefer]

Hey Ice....man, that tank is looking awesome! My compliments! :D

Mike
Absolutely, looks awesome. Icereefer, do you have any more pics you can share, or a website gallery?... if you go to the gallery my 37 gal is in there just look up icereefers 37 gal reef and use the slide show