Need help with my lighting situation

PizzaManFor20 · Dec 12, 2019

Hi all, this is my first post. I feel bad for not properly introducing myself and my tank on here. I will eventually get around to that. I have a 75G tank with the Current USA Marine Orbit IC PRO setup. https://current-usa.com/orbit-marine-ic-dual-led-pro-bt/ In the near future(about 3 or 4 months from now), I plan on buying a carpet anemone. I'm worried that this setup will not produce the right PAR values for the anemone. So, what are my options? I'd rather not sink a bunch of money into a light system again. I just bought this a couple months ago. I actually love it. So I'm wandering if I could just add another light source to the setup and achieve the correct PAR value for the anemone? Or would I just be better off selling this system and buying a better one?

Ron Reefman · Dec 12, 2019

I think most anemones and stony corals will struggle to survive below about 12" of water with that fixture. Their own graph shows PAR at below 150 at a depth of 12" or more. Most reefers want 100 to 150 PAR at the sand.

You could try to keep the anemone in shallow water on top of a rock structure. But keeping anemones in place is a difficult test of patience! You could also consider a small pendant fixture that could 'spotlight' more PAR to wherever the anemone ends up. Or try an anemone that is less light needy and less likely to move, like a Rock Flower Anemone.

PizzaManFor20 · Dec 12, 2019

Thanks for the response Ron. Are there any lights that you know of that I can add to this setup?

Ron Reefman · Dec 12, 2019

How big is the tank? Especially how deep?

Mars Aqua makes a very good black box led that has 2 channel dimming (manual). There are a few others. Ocean Revive has a basic light like the Aqua Medic that is much better looking and a bit more powerful. If you want to get into sunrise/sunset control (totally unnecessary as far as those in your tank are concerned), the fixtures get more expensive. If you want 6 channel color control (of some importance to those in your tank, but far from critical) it is also more expensive.

I use Reef Breeders Photon V2+ over my tank. They come in different sizes for different tanks. They are by far the least expensive of the fixtures available that do have sunrise/sunset AND 6 channel color control. They are also good looking and well made. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.