BubblesandSqueak
2500 Club Member
You may not get enough light from that for SPS if you go that route. And as a FYI..Your linckia may not make it that long. they just never do well. 6 months?
I have MANY questions
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Yesevil123
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Would i be able to hang it on one side so I can hang the second one that i get on the other side. But just keep the coralife light there until I do get it
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Sure - the important thing is to get the coral and anemone under appropriate lighting and right now that is the nicrew.
Uncle99
10K Club member
I would just go with the one Nicrew 150, it’s very intense and would easily, be better than the other.
It’s simple, 6 different intensity levels for blue and white, then, in the middle, an M (mode) button to turn on blue only, white only, or a mix.
I use a simple wall timer to turn it on at 10:00 am, off at 9:00pm.
Simple easy light, grows anything.
When ready, add a second but use a lower intensity setting on both at first.
It’s simple, 6 different intensity levels for blue and white, then, in the middle, an M (mode) button to turn on blue only, white only, or a mix.
I use a simple wall timer to turn it on at 10:00 am, off at 9:00pm.
Simple easy light, grows anything.
When ready, add a second but use a lower intensity setting on both at first.
See what I mean by different opinions? If you want to set your lights all over again later then by all means forget about Par for now. Why not just do it once? That said you do need to have rock in before you do it . Cycling a tank is another mine field. I have an article explaining in detail the fishless cycle if your interested. A bit of work but will do if you are sure you want to do it. Not off the top of my head. I learn from experienced people
Someone said something about your light not being strong enough. I would agree depending on what you want to have as far as coral. I have a tank full of soft coral, and My light looks very much like yours. However If I gave you my chart some coral need over 400 your light wont do for them I will show you nice stuff that will be good for you as far as difficulty. If your light is like mine you only have three light spectrums. White red, and blue. You can create a pattern close to what a day would be like. You don't
need 100% white all the time
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Please don't take this the wrong way, as it is not directed at you individually (at all). It is directed at the entire community.
This person is new and struggling to get her head wrapped around all of this but is very excited to be part of the hobby.
There has been an endless supply of opinions, most of them further complicating the situation instead of keeping it basic and getting her system going with what she has.
People are not looking at the actual situation and instead telling her to buy things because what she has already purchased is garbage , or there is better or that suggesting things that are wholly unneeded at this stage in her reefing experience.
None of it is bad advice, it is just being given without consideration for the OPs actual dilemma.
The entire premise from this community should be in context to what she needs to do to get what she already purchased up and running.
She is on very limited budget and just needs to get headed in the right direction. She can build on it as she learns over time and need arises.
The last thing on God's green earth that she needs to do is spend money on a PAR meter or a pile of Hanna Checkers or other advanced equipment. She doesn't need N or P or 2-part dosing, Carbon Dosing or amino acids. All of that crap can wait for many months. If she sticks with the hobby then many of those things will become self evident and part of the natural progression of learning.
She has the basic test kits that she needs and a light that will be suitable at its default settings to grow coral. She doesn't need to tweak PAR or anything else.
So, please, everyone -- let's just focus on helping her with what she has. Step by step.
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Get it setup and show is some photos. Dead center of the tank will be fine. It is where you will eventually be putting your rock and coral. When (if) you end up with a second light, we can space them evenly. But don't worry about it for now.
Firstly I did not say to buy a PAR meter I said to rent one which last time I looked was cheap. However as the thread went on it became evident that her existing light was not up to the task of raising complicated coral, I said as you did what she has is good enough for now. I don't dose Yet there are a lot of people that do. I hope you agree that her cycling should be done properly ie the big three Ammonia Nitrates Nitrites. The tank size was not even mentioned so yes she needs a lot of basic guidance. NO one has mentioned power heads or filtration yet. When it got there I was going to suggest the cheapest path I know. The tank I posted a picture of is a 40 with What I said looks very similar to mine, and I said I suggest the coral I have as great beginner stuff. I run my tank with a canister filter no sump. I am not aware of a cheaper way than that. So yes I agree in n the beginning nothing was clear and we all including myself jumped to conclusions. Your also correct that if we bicker she will disappear which I have seen before
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The young lady is learning, but frustrated, and getting a lot of mixed advice.
My thoughts on the uselessness of a PAR meter in general aside - let's not miss the forest for the trees.
A PAR meter, or learning to use one, or what one is or even what it does or the numbers means -- is the absolute last thing on the planet that she needs to learn about. It offers zero relevance to getting her livestock moved. The nicrew fixture that she has, and just about any other sold to grow coral in 18" deep tank will 100% work for the coral she has on its default settings.
She has numerous threads. She has what she needs to get started. Let's just help her get it setup in the simplest way possible while she learns how it all works and fits together.
She has had a few rough starts already -- many due to similar advice. So let's make it work this time.
She did say it was a 55 gallon
I may have just missed it, but how old is your tank?
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Yesevil123
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I absolutely love the ocean and all the marine life that it contains. Ive always had an interest in saltwater tanks. As soon as I had my own place I got a tank. I dont think i will ever give up on the hobby. But anyways, I want to do this the right way but in budget like you said. I just want high end in budget supplies that will actually work the way they're suppose to and still last as long as it should.
Pod_01
Valuable Member
FWIW I never used Par meter, corals will generally tell you if there is too much light, they go white.
For the light going by post 24, select intensity 4 and pick mix mode. Run the light for 10 hours.
Follow post 28 for light placement.
Once you observe corals for month or so you can increase or decrease the intensity.
As for wavemakter, it should run all the time. Once you fill the tank set it on random or constant flow and make sure water is moving, later on you can play with patterns etc…
I set up my Red Sea reefer 250 this way. I put salt water in, some new rocks and moved my inhabitants and established rock from 10 gal to the new tank. All was good no need to be worried about cycling.
BeanAnimal is correct, there is lot of good advice, but that can be confusing.
Good luck,
For the light going by post 24, select intensity 4 and pick mix mode. Run the light for 10 hours.
Follow post 28 for light placement.
Once you observe corals for month or so you can increase or decrease the intensity.
As for wavemakter, it should run all the time. Once you fill the tank set it on random or constant flow and make sure water is moving, later on you can play with patterns etc…
Once all set up (salt water, light, flow, temperature ) you can move the inhabitants to the new tank. Since you have live rock there is no need for cycling.
I set up my Red Sea reefer 250 this way. I put salt water in, some new rocks and moved my inhabitants and established rock from 10 gal to the new tank. All was good no need to be worried about cycling.
BeanAnimal is correct, there is lot of good advice, but that can be confusing.
Good luck,
You are not reading what I said . Please read this all the way through. I suggested it BEFORE I knew the situation. She did not offer any information about tank size light manufacturer or anything else. It was a question about here light and not being tech savvy. As to your par meter prejudice in my 90 I found that the par varies huge because of the rock. Again I was dealing with very little information when I made my first suggestions. Yes I assumed, and now I absolutly agree with what you are saying. And again nothing has come up yet about circulation or filtration. Do you notice she has quit responding as I said so maybe you should take some responsibility and quit trying to control everything said. She should know what is ahead as to expense to make good decision's
This was where I was heading slowly. I have what I believe what you have. Notice the item at the back it is called a skimmer I believe it is necessary others don't like I said treat everything like a smorgasbord. Look up canister filters the cheapest option for you for filtration I have a Flugal also on
e small power head those coral started as about 6 notice three different colors. Please keep going we all want to help just a difference of opinion
Suggest to do the ammonia Nitrate and Nitrite readings at the very least. Again that is just your experience. I suggested Bulk Reef Supply videos not have her accept one persons opinion. Mine included
Good if you have not figured out your light yet maybe I can help since mine looks close to being the same. Don't be afraid to try you cannot wreck it you would just have to start over. As to flow the tank of mine has low flow. I happen to like Sicce. And what is called a skimmer mine is eshopps but octo probably makes a good one as well. I think one is necessary others don't some just use a skimmer and nothing else. I also use a Fluval canister filter which you can add multiple media to. You would have to price them I can only tell you in Canadian funds .
Coral in my opinion will tell you about all sorts of problems fish seem to tolerate more. That being said I always do any changes one at a time and make sure there are no problems that way if there is a problem you probably know what caused it. I also think light intensity or par is critical for sps which she should not need. As to light like I said making what is close to a lighting schedule like a real day is nice. Should have 4 or 5 choices or slots to fill. Mine gives intensity in percent
You also use the generic term corals. She should do research to understand all the different types and the ones that wont survive. Way back my son and I made a lot of mistakes and cost a lot of money . Using the if they turn white method. Just was ignorant of everything, and trying to tell the lady not to make the same ones. Just because you did not use a par meter does not mean its the way to go. You must be aware of the dozens of people that think they are indispensable
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