Reef Bulb
Sunday, November 14th, 2010
 |
 4 x 55w Aquarium Power Compact Bulbs Actinic Reef US $19.99 |
 4x 24W High Output HO T5 Bulb AquariumReef Plant US $17.99 |
 2x 18 watt UV Sterilizer Bulbs Reef Pond Odyssea Jebo US $19.99 |
 FOUR 65W Aquarium compact PC bulb ST Reef Fish Plant US $22.99 |
 PHOENIX 250 W Watt HQI 14K Metal Halide Reef Coral Bulb US $49.99 |
 400W 14000K METAL HALIDE AQUARIUM REEF BULBS LAMPS US $23.99 |
 175W 20000K METAL HALIDE AQUARIUM REEF BULBS LAMPS US $23.99 |
 250W 14000K METAL HALIDE AQUARIUM REEF BULBS LAMPS US $23.99 |
 175W 14000K METAL HALIDE AQUARIUM REEF BULBS LAMPS US $23.99 |
 Zoo Med 48 Inch Reef Sun Flourescent Bulb T8 STD Outp US $11.80 |
 Zoo Med 24 Inch Reef Sun Flourescent Bulb T8 STD Outp US $12.88 |
 Zoo Med 36 Inch Reef Sun Flourescent Bulb T8 STD Out US $11.46 |
 Zoo Med Reef Sun 50 50 Bulb 24 Inch US $11.89 |
 Zoo Med Reef Sun 50 50 Bulb 36 Inch US $11.89 |
 Zoo Med Reef Sun 50 50 Bulb 48 Inch US $13.89 |
 4x 39W High Output HO T5 Bulb Aquarium Reef 10000K Day US $19.99 |
 Aquarium LED Light Bulb Reef White Marine 27w 9x3w US $102.73 |
 150W 20K HQI Metal Halide Bulb Lamp Reef US $12.99 |
What is best "plant-like" life can I add to fish-only w/ live rock aquarium for color & texture? Mushrooms?
I have years of experience with freshwater but I am just starting to cycle a fowlr 75 gallon tank with live rock (no fish yet). The live rock is showing great life but I would love to have more color and texture.
I am not ready for a reef tank. I like to take things in baby steps! Lots less stress. Also, the hood/lighting on my tank is the regular one bulb that comes with freshwater tanks and I am thinking about changing the lighting. I would appreciate suggestions and if known the cost expectations...
Thanks so much!
Oops! I realize that fowlr means "fish-only & live rock". I was not sure if it is a commonly used term - forgive me if I am redundant in my original post...
"Mushrooms" are a coral look-alike (actually called a corallomorphallian) that have photosynthetic algae in their cells. So if you want to keep these, it would be best to change that light over your tank. I've had good success keeping them with double tube high output compact fluorescents and they are easy to keep once you've found the tank level (lights & current) that suits them best. Riccordia are about the same. With better lighting your live rock will develop more color as well - you'll be able to see sponges, macroalgaes, and coralline algae that aren't growing that well now.
You can also add color with other inverts - shrimp for reds, emerald (mithrax) crabs for green or red, hermit crabs (blue-legged and scarlet), and with a 75 gallon, you cold keep a sea star - there are green and yellow serpent stars, blue, orange, and purple linikia stars, red and white tile stars, etc. that won't need better lighting at this point, but will require feeding since you don't have fish yet.
I'd start with a lighting upgrade - it will make what you already have look better without anything upsetting the tank cycling - and it will make what you get in the future look even better! A double tube compact will run $100-$200+ for a 48" model depending on the features you get with it (moonlight LEDs, metal halide combo, etc.). Inverts should start around $7 for some of the crabs up to $80+ for large live rock pieces with mushroom colonies.
Here are some links to lighting systems & inverts:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/product/categoryInfo.web?options.passInCategoryKey=22943
http://www.marinedepotlive.com/inverts.html
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/product/categoryInfo.web?options.passInCategoryKey=23207
Rickets Reef - 90 Gallon Build #8 The Lights