I don't know how this happened?
 

So I innocently start up a 55 gallon saltwater after a couple of years off. Fish only with some live rock, low lighting (around 185 watts) cuz I figured "I'm getting only fish". Then it started to happen, got a sump and overflow, skimmer, then saw some zoas and rics and figured, "well, they should be okay if I place high up in the tank?". Then started to think that maybe I should move my 2 perculas and 40 lbs of live rock from my 55 to my 66 gallon (you know, more room, right?).

So here I stand at the moment, bewildered and wondering what hit me. lol Do I need more lighting for the zoas and rics? Can I move over the sand, fish and rock into the bigger tank without a spike happening? Are those 10 extra gallons and 2" in width going to make a difference?

Someone maybe should just smack me on the side of the head, kay? lol

***SMACK***
just do what most of us do. keep the 55g and the bigger tank. then get a third..:lol:

What type of lighting do you have?

A 75 RR is $350 ~ can't afford that so was making do with what I had.

Lighting is two 65 watt PC and one 55 watt actinic T5.

Ive never used PC lights but IMO that will keep zoa's and rics alive, but there not going to have nice color. I doubt if you will get much growth either.

Just realize your hooked.. and get some MH lighting:mrgreen:

LOL it happens to all of us, it just means you're a true reefer. And ditto on Shelleys comment, go for the halides, you won't regret it :biggrin:

+1 on halides for tanks deeper than 16"... or would that be +2 :lol: with technicalities, of course :wink:

it would be pretty obvious quick if a lighting upgrade was needed.
I would try it, worst case maybe switch your actinic t5 to a 10 or 6700k one for better par.

Thats about bare minimum and by the sounds of it, you'll be upgrading soon anyways.

dont you just hate being a salt water crack head
 

maby we should start some kinda A-A thing for us poor adictid freaks :lol:
but to be honest you might aswell go get a 120 gallon and slowly pice it
together from difrent used places it will be cheaper in the long run to get the bigest your living space can hold i live in a mobile and im pressing my luck with a 120 :razz:
so welcome to the club man and wile were thinking along the same lines pass the pipe lol:mrgreen:

Halides have to be suspended though? Was looking at the thread on "Fish Need It" for lighting. $70 for a two bulb 54 watt T5 (then shipping costs). I see why you guys have big tanks, you need to have the space up top for lighting, right? lol Now if I moved everything to the 66 gallon, I'd have 2 more inches for lights. I could then use my single strip power compact lights and have room for the two bulb T5 light.