Anemone and Power Compacts (4x96W)

[phdezra]

I have the option to buy 4 x 96W for my new 135H tank (72x18x24). This would be a total of 384W; about 3 W per gallon. Does anyone think an anemone would do well in this environment? (Assume water params are good, etc.)

[BlAcK_PeRcUlA]

bta would probably do the best

[melev]

I think that wouldn't be enough light for such a deep tank. But if you plan on putting light demanding creatures up high and low light creatures low.... it would work.

[phdezra]

...if you plan on putting light demanding creatures up high and low light creatures low.... it would work.

What about an anemone? Would he move into a good position, or be miserable? (I'm planning this up front and want to avoid MHs, yet am considering an anemone if the lighting is sufficient.

[CaptainCoral]

My green bubble tip Is quite happy under very similar lighting.

I have 4 55 watt 2 white, 2 blue on my 55 AGA.

It initially hid under a rock for a couple of days. Then it slowly moved to where it was happy (still near the bottom)

Also, I think Melev has a good point. That should be your starting point for your light options.

[melev]

The tank is too tall for those lights, imo. 24", even if you have a DSB, you still have 20" of water, plus the lights aren't on the surface of the water, so they will be 4" minimum above, if not 6".

If and when I get a taller tank, I'd get 150w or 175w MH for a tank that deep. 250w maximum! But with a couple of 175w bulbs and two PCs, you'd have sufficient for any creature you wanted to keep.

It totally sucks to set up a new tank and find out you don't have enough light for the item you desire.

I have 3 x 55w on my 29g, and the depth is maybe 12" and my BTA is happy. 5.68 wpg (if that matters)

An anemone can definitely move to where it is happy, but the current lighting you suggested seems way too weak for that depth, unless the BTA hiked to a spot near the top.

[CaptainCoral]

I do stand corrected. :)

[phdezra]

If and when I get a taller tank, I'd get 150w or 175w MH for a tank that deep. 250w maximum! But with a couple of 175w bulbs and two PCs, you'd have sufficient for any creature you wanted to keep.

True, but MHs produce HEAT and that would become a bigger issue, IMHO, if you cannot regulate the temperature within a safe zone. Or do you plan on getting a Chiller?

I realized I could do 520 watts via PCs for my 135H tank, which would push the watts per gallon to roughly 4 wpg. Still not as 'bright' as MH, but plenty sufficient for many light loving creatures. I do NOT plan on keeping SPS, softies, tridacnas, etc.

I think a BTA would do quite well with that sort of light setup?

[melev]

Yes, it would then. If you are never going to go with SPS, LPS, or clams, you'd be okay.

I'm not trying to bankrupt you, I promise. But I do know that I want a little bit of every part of the ocean, and light is a major factor.

If you are running a sump on this tank, you'll be able to reduce heat issues by 4 degrees, ime. Put a fan over it, and you can bring down/keep it down.

[CHUCKFU]

I have a 100 gal tank thats 2 feet deep. I use 33" long power compacts not sure about the wattage but my anemone moved to the mid section of my tank under a little shade. Here are some pics. My light set up cost about $300 bucks. Not sure if its the best but its been working for me.
<img src="http://www.sunsetsd.com/Support%20files/tank1.jpg">
<img src="http://www.sunsetsd.com/Support%20files/tank2.jpg">
<img src="http://www.sunsetsd.com/Support%20files/tank3.jpg">

[phdezra]

Interestingly enough, my copy of Dr. Shimek's book "Host Sea Anemone Secrets" arrived tonight from Amazon.com. Although I did not read the whole thing tonight, I flipped through it very quickly. In one section he makes the point that unlike corals who rely predominantly on light, the anemone does NOT need as bright light implied by some people. Instead, proper water quality is a more important issue. I recall he also wrote that some anemone do NOT like bright light. Ergo, too much light can be bad. But if you're keeping softies...!

I think my lighting setup should be enough for any anemone apart from a Carpet perhaps.

[melev]

Good. Glad you got the book. I did say this above:

Yes, it would then. If you are never going to go with SPS, LPS, or clams, you'd be okay.

;)

[Konadog]

phdezra, I have a 100 gal tank with the same depth as yours and I run that exact lighting setup. I have a rose that split after 3 weeks and is doing great. I do agree about the water quality being a bigger issue.

http://mysite.verizon.net/res1fl57/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/splitrose.jpg

[lllosingit]

Just wanted to add my .02 I have a 125 72x18x22 and run 3x175w Mh with 2x95w 03 actinics.
I do not have a problem with heat,as far as that goes I keep my house at 72-74 in the winter and my heater still comes on with lights on.
In the summer the house temp is kept at 74-78 and the temp seldom rises above 80 and when it does a small fan in the canopy can be turned on to cool things down.

[phdezra]

lllosingit: Just wanted to add my .02 I have a 125 72x18x22 and run 3x175w Mh with 2x95w 03 actinics.

Interesting. A few questions for you:

1. How high off the tank are your lights? (Are they retro in the canpopy, or suspended in an ABS hood?)
2. I assume you have a sump; how many gallons is the sump and do you have a fan blowing across it?
3. Anything else you can add would be appreciated. :)

Thanks.

[lllosingit]

Originally posted by phdezra
lllosingit:

Interesting. A few questions for you:

1. How high off the tank are your lights? (Are they retro in the canpopy, or suspended in an ABS hood?)
They are in a hood with an open back.
The 3x175 Mh are about 10 above the water and the 2x95w VHO are mounted towards the top front of the hood so that they are just below and in front of the MH, That way they are still below the reflectors.
Originally posted by phdezra
lllosingit:
2. I assume you have a sump; how many gallons is the sump and do you have a fan blowing across it?
I had a 30 gallon rubbermaid sump inside the stand until about three weeks ago, Now I have a 90 gallon sump in the basement and having trouble keeping the temp up at 80.
Originally posted by phdezra
lllosingit:
3. Anything else you can add would be appreciated. :)?
The only thing I can add is, 175w Mh do not put off very much heat and I think very little transfers to the water. The majority of the heat rolls out the back and if needed a small fan can keep it cool

[traveller7]

I have multiple parent BTA colonies under MH's, PC's, and VHO's.

Watt for watt the specimens under the halides keep much more of the Pink/Red Rose coloration. Under the PC's and VHO's they tend to get brown/green on the oral disk with the exception of a URI VHO system using 2x03 and 2xDaylight under which they look like the MH only specimens.

Either way you asked the question and you are on the low end for lighting imho. If you do choose to add an anemone, go with a BTA clone to increase your chances of success.

btw: forget the watt per gallon rule, it does not take depth, distance, color of the water, etc, etc, into consideration. If you want to "reef" by the rule then just put 4-100watt incandesant light bulbs over your tank and save some money.

[melev]

Originally posted by traveller7
If you want to "reef" by the rule then just put 4-100watt incandesant light bulbs over your tank and save some money.

LOL! But that's only 2.96 wpg!!! :(

[traveller7]

Originally posted by melev
LOL! But that's only 2.96 wpg!!! :(

By golly you're right, quick buy some 7wt night lights to get over 3wpg! Then leave them on longer for greater saturation!

[Konadog]

And all that time I thought it was gallons per watt :lolspin: :hmm5: :lolspin:

[phdezra]

then just put 4-100watt incandesant light bulbs over your tank and save some money.

ROFL :rollface:

I was merely stating the old benchmark. My 37g reef has 4 x 75W VHOs and 1x 150W MH. For a total of, yes that silly benchmark again, 12 wpg. Of course, this is mixing Apples and Oranges in terms of diff't types of lighting, but you get the point.

My goal in the new 135g tank is a bit diff't. I'm not after softies, SPS, Tridacnids, etc. If I wanted those guys, I would put them in my 'true' reef tank. An anemone is the MOST I would want in the new setup, with perhaps som Star polyps or other easy corals, and the lighting is quite sufficient for a BTA. Water quality is the bigger issue as I am sure you know.:rolleyes:

[traveller7]

Originally posted by phdezra
........... and the lighting is quite sufficient for a BTA.....

I surely would not argue with that, as I have some under similar lighting now, although I would not advise paying for those fancy roses because IME they lose quite a bit of the high dollar coloration under lower intensity lighting. Other then that they are still dividing 3-4 times per year and looking great.

Good luck with your new system and you can always add more lights.

[CHUCKFU]

It sounds like most of you all have good lights! All you need to do is put your corals that need more light up top closer to the light!! hahaha stop arguing over what kind of light you need . This whole thread was about anemones that dont require much light to begin with!! :strooper:

[CBOYFAN2020]

my purple tipped condy is under 80w in a 55g and doing great. Look at other peoples tanks who have anenomes and their lighting setup. Then make your decision because opinions about lights vary dramatically.