I need help in starting my reef aquarium

Okay, so i took the plunge in building up a reef aquarium out of my 135g fowlr tank. My tank is 135 with about 200 lbs of lr and 60lbs of sand. Dimension is 72 x 18 x 24. I just purchased a 72" aquaticlife aqualight pro ho t5. This is the only light i found within my budget a of now. Currently i am only testing amonia, nitrites, nitrates, ph and salinity for i only have fish only.
These ar the questions i need answers to:
1. Of the lights i bought, what types of corals can i keep? Anybody knows a good article i can read about starting the hobby?

Is this a good enough light to start the reef?
2. What else do i have to test for before starting the transition?
So far these are the what i can thinknof to ask. If anybody has any info, advise, share with me i would greatly appreciate it. I am pretty new to this hobby. Thank you very much.

 

1. Im not familiar with that particular light system but if you can tell me how many bulbs and the total watts of the light we can help you choose appropriate corals.

2. As for test kits, I would get an alkalinity test kit and a calcium test kit to start off.

How long has your tank been set up as a fowlr? How deep is your sand bed? 60lbs of sand doesn't sound like alot for a 135G. Sounds like you have enough rock though.

p.s. welcome to 3reef (WE LOVE PICTURES!) hint hint.......

 

The lighting dezcription is this: the AquaticLife 72" T5 HO 8 Lamp Fixture w/ Lunar Lights combines 420/460 nm Actinic lamps, 700+ nm (10K daylight) lamps and 6 Lunar lights in one streamlined unit—controlled by a built in digital timer. The AquaticLife 72" T5 HO 8 Lamp Fixture is for reef aquariums. All 8 lamps are 39w each. I am guessing it wont be enough lighting.
As for the tank, it's been up for a good 8 months now and the sand bed is 120 lbs not 60. I remembered i put 3 40lbs bags and they are over 2" deep. I don't have sand under the aquascape for i have gobies that keeps on digging.
As for the lighting i also have an option for the coralife aqualight pro mh. That i know is better than the one i jut purchased.

 

Just an update:
i have changed my order for the lighting. Instead of purchasing the t5 ho set i i stead bought a 72" coralife aqualight pro mh. Specs are 3x 150 watts mh, 4 x 96 watts actinics and 4 led for moonlight. So, will this fixturebe a good one for a reef tank? What kind of corals can i keep? Thanks

 

You can keep LPS and softies. But then again it depends on placement.

 

I would say you could keep softies, LPS and most SPS that don't demand intense light, as long as you keep the SPS higher up in your tank. good luck. Watch out with the MH lighting, you may have to invest in a chiller.

 

Yes i do have 1/4 hp aquaeuro chiller and an 18 watts uv lights.

 

ha, You're good to go then. Looks like a good light.

Welcome to 3reef.

 

watts per gallon BS goes out the window when you are using T5 HO lighting. they are at least twice as strong as CF light bulbs, and they last longer and are cheaper. 1 bulb per foot of tank will be plenty strong for softies and SPS even LPS. Maybe not Clams, IDK. so 1 bulb per foot on a 48 inch tank= 4 bulbs minimum. 6 bulbs would be even better but not necessarily required/

 

under MH lights, your going to be good to go on most corals IMHO


Other tests you may want to add if you already have a Nitrate kit
Phosphates
Magnesium
Calcium
Alkalinity/ DKH

Steve