birds nest

Mindsgoneawol · 06-13-2007, 04:42 PM

do the birds nest and the rest of the small polyp stony corals require MH lights? or could i get away with t-5ho's??

my tank is:

29 gallon tank
wetdry up to 75 gallon
protien skimmer (not sure make)
t-5ho 48watt total (current Nova Extreme)
40 lbs of live sand
7 lbs of live rock (adding when i can stuff is expensive)
2 false percs
1 bicolor blenny
2 turbos
2 brownleg hermits
? snails . (hermits keep eating them so i moved them out execept
the brownlegs)
1 mystery crab that was attached to a turbo i bought for another tank

jph · 06-13-2007, 04:53 PM

they will do just fine under t5HO.
but i'm not sure if 48W will be enough to keep it happy.

mine's sitting under 8x54W t5's

and it is looking very happy.

J.

hng · 06-19-2007, 12:01 PM

The birdsnest will be OK under those lights but you may not get the intense colors that you would normally see under strong lights. You could get around that by placing it higher in the tank. As far as other sps are concerned, birdsnest are pretty forgiving, depending on the species you may or may not have enough light. You can experiment with conditions to find out. In general, I wouldn't recommend acropora or clams or anemones with the amount of light you have. montipora would do well though. Are you using bioballs with your wet dry?

crvz · 06-19-2007, 12:15 PM

I'd agree with hng (so wise!). The BN is pretty hardy, and I've had great success growing mine with T5 bulbs (though a few more than yourself, as I have six 39 watt bulbs). If you want to get your proverbial feet wet, try either that or a monti cap, which is the second hardiest and fastest growing thing I've got.

Here's a shot of my birdsnest under T5s.

Mindsgoneawol · 06-19-2007, 01:25 PM

i do have bioballs in my wet dry.. hopefully will be removing them soon.. i am trying to save up for some live rock and live rubble.. (rubble for the wetdry) still also thinking about going back to a refuge.. since my water was soo much cleaner when i had that instead of the wetdry

i mainly bought these lights for anemones. i want to get a rbta and a gbta. i have 2 of these fixtures.. guess i could put it on 20L's and go that route. coral is something i am almost ready to try.. i saw someones thread about the birds nest.. peaked my interest.. i thought about Gorgonian's too. kinds looking for something i can frag and hopefully not kill in the process.. and that i don't have to feed daily.. (trying to keep my hands out of the tank)

Mindsgoneawol · 06-19-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvz

I'd agree with hng (so wise!). The BN is pretty hardy, and I've had great success growing mine with T5 bulbs (though a few more than yourself, as I have six 39 watt bulbs). If you want to get your proverbial feet wet, try either that or a monti cap, which is the second hardiest and fastest growing thing I've got.

Here's a shot of my birdsnest under T5s.

Montipora Capricornis? is this what your refering to?? if so i may try this. i see they have branch types and have a good varity of color.. will have to do some reading.. thanx for the suggestion!!!

crvz · 06-19-2007, 04:53 PM

The branching montipora are often Montipora digitata, which I've had less success with. The M. capricornis are the plating/whirling types, which is what I'm referring to.

Reef-Keeper · 06-19-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvz

The branching montipora are often Montipora digitata, which I've had less success with. The M. capricornis are the plating/whirling types, which is what I'm referring to.

IME, the M. Capricornus will not have the the dramatic colors without intense light. you could go with an orange Cap. and it will do ok, but the ones like the purple rim, or the different polyp colors will not thrive under the amount of light you have.

i am assuming that you have 1 48w T5ho bulb ??

hng · 06-19-2007, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindsgoneawol

Montipora Capricornis? is this what your refering to?? if so i may try this. i see they have branch types and have a good varity of color.. will have to do some reading.. thanx for the suggestion!!!

That pic that Chris posted is of a mature birdsnest colony.

crvz · 06-19-2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reef-Keeper

i am assuming that you have 1 48w T5ho bulb ??

I was assuming it would be two 24 watt bulbs, but I may be wrong.

Reef-Keeper · 06-19-2007, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvz

I was assuming it would be two 24 watt bulbs, but I may be wrong.

you are probably right. i have so little exp. with T5's that i dont even know what wattages they come in. lol

but, either way ... same result IMO.

Mindsgoneawol · 06-20-2007, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reef-Keeper

IME, the M. Capricornus will not have the the dramatic colors without intense light. you could go with an orange Cap. and it will do ok, but the ones like the purple rim, or the different polyp colors will not thrive under the amount of light you have.

i am assuming that you have 1 48w T5ho bulb ??

2 24 watt.. 1 white 1 blue..

bummer about the coral.. i guess i am going to have to break down and buy a chiller and start on building a hood for more lights.. i like the fixture .. bright light.. and clear light unlike the pc's... i really don't want to go with mh lights.. if possible.. can some one post or pm a list of what parts i need for a retro kit.

crvz · 06-20-2007, 07:42 AM

End caps w/ standoffs, ballasts w/wiring (most come with it), bulbs, and reflectors. I'd seek out www.reefgeek.com, I've been very pleased with their service and products.

hng · 06-20-2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindsgoneawol

2 24 watt.. 1 white 1 blue..

bummer about the coral.. i guess i am going to have to break down and buy a chiller and start on building a hood for more lights.. i like the fixture .. bright light.. and clear light unlike the pc's... i really don't want to go with mh lights.. if possible.. can some one post or pm a list of what parts i need for a retro kit.

Hold on, don't go changing everything yet. you can significantly increase the amount of PAR by changing just the bulb. Right now, you have an actinic and a daylight from what you described. You could place 2 ATI Aquablue Special bulbs into your fixture and that will still give a bluish white light but with much more PAR. That would probably be plenty of light for easy SPS like birdsnest and montipora and still give you good fluorescent colors. If you needed even more light, you could use a daylight bulb such as the GE 6500K, Geisemann 6000K, or UVL Aquasun (but the color won't be as blue).

I'm with Chris on using reefgeek - I buy all of my lighting stuff from them. Excellent service.

Mindsgoneawol · 06-20-2007, 01:42 PM

thank you guys.. i am making my list now...going to have to do some budgeting to get this stuff.. lol.. i haven't even finished the stand yet.. atleast i am on vacation next week.. i need to start on a hood anyway.. i bought a diamond goby and hes quite the jumper.. i got him just before i put the fixture on the tank not thinking.. hes sitting in my 10 gallon .. on the bright side hes only about 2 1/2 inches or so.. think i have some time..

i am on the bulbs.. 24W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent work? haven't figured out the actually wattage yet.. sps, clams, anenomes are what i am after.. although some of the soft coral is on my list also..

660 Electronic Ballast gives me 440 watts to play with.. but i don't want too much light and well.. since the electric co is doubling rates.. i don't want to get too wastefull.. you think 3 54watt would be a good start or would i need more?