Stupid Coral Question

[dixaisy930]

I have sort of a stupid coral question...I'm sure the answer is obvious, but I can't seem to come across it.

I really like hammer corals, frog spawn, etc., but I'm concerned about their sweeper tentacles. Would my fish be at risk of getting stung? I'd especially worry about my little guys (neon and clown gobies). Obviously people have fish with these sorts of corals, I'm just wondering if it's the size of tank that might make a difference, or the size of the fish. My tank is only 29 gallon....and do these type of corals have a minimum tank size?

 

[Mr Miagi]

The coral themselves dont have a limited tank volume, but their tentacles will extend with the flow of water, so it might be smart to place them "down stream", rather than "up stream" from other corals. Most fish will not go near them if they are affected. They should be fine.

 

[SkiFletch]

I wouldnt worry. Fish are not a dim-witted as we make them out to be, they know to stay away from coral sweepers. I dont know if I've ever heard of a coral like a frogspawn, torch, etc trapping and consuming a live fish.

 

[dixaisy930]

Ok, thanks.

Ok, now a stupid hardware question.

In pictures that I've seen on retail websites, it looks like PC fixtures with legs are not being used with any kind of cover on top of the tank. Isn't this dangerous? Water getting into the lighting? It also looks like the legs go on the edge of the tank, so you wouldn't be able to use any kind of cover with this. On one site, it says

"Attach optional Mounting Legs or Adjustable Mounting Legs to Aqualight fixture for convenient aquarium access. Strip lights are to be used over a glass canopy. Adjustable mounting legs not recommended for use with a hood enclosure or for aquariums using a glass canopy."

I'm confused....

I lied, I have two stupid hardware questions.... if I was to use the coralife Aqualife 30" 1x65W light with my current hood (an All-Glass Delux hood - it has a 4 inchx30" strip of clear plastic where the current light fixture goes), would that be a big enough space for the light to get through, or does the entire aquarium need to be "open" to get enough light in?

What if I just got the 24" Aqualife 1x65W light? I obviously couldn't use the legs with this one, but could I just put it where I have my current light fixture (just sitting on top of the clear strip of the hood)? Same watts, but is the tank getting the same light? Or will the sides of the tank be getting less light?

Ohhhh....my brain hurts.....

 

[Mr Miagi]

In pictures that I've seen on retail websites, it looks like PC fixtures with legs are not being used with any kind of cover on top of the tank. Isn't this dangerous? Water getting into the lighting? It also looks like the legs go on the edge of the tank, so you wouldn't be able to use any kind of cover with this. On one site, it says

"Attach optional Mounting Legs or Adjustable Mounting Legs to Aqualight fixture for convenient aquarium access. Strip lights are to be used over a glass canopy. Adjustable mounting legs not recommended for use with a hood enclosure or for aquariums using a glass canopy."

You can just have a PC fixture in a hood, even with a lid of any form. Glass lids do reduce light, quite significantly. Especially if you dont keep them clean. Even if you didnt have glass lids, some fish require protection from jumping, so even if you used some form of mesh, the light will be reduced. Id say just use glass lids. Id rather have lids than none, even if it meant reduced lighting.

In your qoute I believe they are talking about two different types of stands. If youve got a hood, your not going to be able to use the legs anyway.

I lied, I have two stupid hardware questions.... if I was to use the coralife Aqualife 30" 1x65W light with my current hood (an All-Glass Delux hood - it has a 4 inchx30" strip of clear plastic where the current light fixture goes), would that be a big enough space for the light to get through, or does the entire aquarium need to be "open" to get enough light in?

What if I just got the 24" Aqualife 1x65W light? I obviously couldn't use the legs with this one, but could I just put it where I have my current light fixture (just sitting on top of the clear strip of the hood)? Same watts, but is the tank getting the same light? Or will the sides of the tank be getting less light?

How longs your tank? I have a 3ft MH unit, with a single 150W in the center. I get annoyed at the shadows left at either end of my tank. Id get the longer version, just to avoid any shadows, with less light, depending on your tank length.

As said, many use a light with lids, it aint going to be a huge problem.

 

[dixaisy930]

My tank is 30" long ( I believe...it's a standard 29 US gallon tank)

 

[SkiFletch]

Anyway you can take pics for us? I'm finding it hard to wrap my brain around your descriptions of what you have

 

[dixaisy930]

Ok, visual aides....Please ignore the salt creep, and the algae on the glass...

 

[SkiFletch]

Ah yes, the standard all-glass and/or perfecto hood. In a nutshell, forgive me if I sound hars but those things stink. Had one, first thing I did with my tank was ditch it. Those canopies gum up with salt creep and algae, and provide little room for lighting and keeping corals. One suggestion I'd have is an over-tank fixture with legs, remove the glass top and then decide if you have jumping fish or want to keep jumpers. Open-top is pretty common in the reef world unless jumpers are in the tank, or the owner has some burning desire for a canopy (guilty as charged ). If you have jumpers, it can be a simple application of putting egg-crate over the top of the tank resting on that little plastic lip.

 

[dixaisy930]

I had a feeling you'd say ditch it.....

Ok, would any of these be considered jumpers - clown goby, neon goby, sixline wrasse, clownfish?

Isn't there alot of evaporation? Especially in Colorado, since it's so dry here?

 

[SkiFletch]

sixlines have been known to carpet surf

To give you an idea of evaporation, my tank is 45g with a 15g sump. Typically here in the winter the ambient room temp is an average of 66f and humidity is around 30% in the room where the tank is (15-20% in the rest of the house). When I ran open-topped I typically experienced a 1/2g per day evaporation. Dunno if you consider that high but also remember yours will be less as your tank footprint is smaller than mine.

 

[dixaisy930]

Well, I don't want to take any chances. I adore that little fish.

How do you feel about the All-Glass Versatops?

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, I don't want to take any chances. I adore that little fish.

How do you feel about the All-Glass Versatops?

not sure if I've ever seen one. got a link and/or pic?

 

[SkiFletch]

Ok, scratch that, just googled it. Thats the standard all-glass top which is OK, problem being its tough to get the legs to fit on the sides and you'd need to remove the hinge as it would potentially block a lot of light. And then if you tried to sit the fixture directly on the glass you'd run the risk of overheating with no place for the heat to go. Not a good idea in the summer. Still no match for egg-crate.

 

[dixaisy930]

Egg crate doesn't block too much light?

lol, where do I even get egg crate?