Adam's 35 Gallon - Journal

[adam98150]

I've ordered the Koralias, but i need some more advice.

Would a Double-ended, Halide Lamp (250W), for example the Arcadia Marine 250W, fit in a standard Halide Fixture from a local DIY store? Like this one: [URL="http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/250W-METAL-HALIDE-HQ...p3286.m14.l1318"]http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/250W-METAL-HALIDE-HQ...p3286.m14.l1318[/URL]

Also, what colour spectrum would you recommend? 14,000K or 20,000K? Judging by SkiFletch's advice, i'm guessing 14,000K?

 

[Crazy fishes]

Indeed you can use ordinary halide units from DIY shop. You have to change the bulb/lamp to an aquarium lamp but it works fine and is A LOT cheaper. When it comes to temperature (or colour) of the bulb then that depends. 10K gives the best growth but the corals produce less pigments so colours are not as vibrant. 20K gives vibrant colouration to corals but the growth is not as good. 14K is a compromise between the two. I think as a rule of thumb that about sums things up. Go with the 10K to establish the tank and then change to the 20K later once established or alternatively stick with the 14K and get the medium ground results having both growth and colour.

Hope this helps

Regards

 

[adam98150]

Indeed you can use ordinary halide units from DIY shop. You have to change the bulb/lamp to an aquarium lamp but it works fine and is A LOT cheaper. When it comes to temperature (or colour) of the bulb then that depends. 10K gives the best growth but the corals produce less pigments so colours are not as vibrant. 20K gives vibrant colouration to corals but the growth is not as good. 14K is a compromise between the two. I think as a rule of thumb that about sums things up. Go with the 10K to establish the tank and then change to the 20K later once established or alternatively stick with the 14K and get the medium ground results having both growth and colour.

Hope this helps

Regards

Thank you, Crazy Fishes. I'd like to have a balance between the two, so i think i will go with the 14,000K. Will the Double-ended Arcadia Lamp fit in a standard halide fixture?

 

[SkiFletch]

Man I leave for the weekend and everyone goes nuts in this thread

For the record, I'm not a big fan of using maxijets for flowrate for a multitude of reasons. Yes they're cheaper to buy, but they use MUCH more electricity per unit of flow created AND impart a lot of waste heat in the water to do so. In the winter that's not so bad but in the summer, you'll struggle to keep the tank cold.

Skimmers remove dissolved organic compounds. The reason I don't always reccomend them especially in smaller tanks is that waterchanges are easier. Skimmers are expensive tempermental beasts, especially HOB models. If a new aquarist really just wants to keep some basic softies in a smaller tank, the extra cost and hassle is probably too much for them. If/when they decide to go to more delicate stony corals or a larger tank, then I'd reccomend a skimmer

And lastly, the suggestion of using the halides and 39watt suppliments mentioned earlier will work just fine for that size tank

 

[adam98150]

Thank you, SkiFletch, i'll just leave the Skimmer for now, i may have to invest in one further down the line.

My pumps arrived today, very prompt delivery.

I have not tested them, may have to do that later.

I have a very slim chance of obtaining the 250W Halide with the twin 39W lamps, so i am just going to go for a simple, single, standard low bay Halide fixture. I just can't seem to find a single-ended, reef specific, 250W Halide bulb. Anyone help me out?

Edit: Found one! I am about to order the 250W low bay Halide fixture, along with a 14,000K E40 lamp.