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Lighting?? HELP!!

post #1 of 4
12/29/11 at 9:52pm
Thread Starter 
I recently started a saltwater tank. I bought a basic tank from walmart with a basic hood setup. It only has 2 oblong bulbs that are not very bright and also look very yellow to me. I want to get a new hood that can support different lighting. I have a clown fish currently, and in the future (once I get to know my tank and am confident in maintaing it) i would like to consider adding an anemone. I do not want to change my lighting twice so I figured while investing in lighting, I might as well get lighting that supports an anemone. I also think that the fish look better under the different lighting (blueish hue or clear, not yellow....). Problem is I don't know what that lighting is called. Incandecent? Flourecent? LED? I have no idea. Please help!
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post #2 of 4
12/29/11 at 9:58pm

Welcome to the forums!

 

Since your tank isn't that large and you're wanting an anemone, which requires higher lighting, I'd look into a LED fixture. A really good PAR38 bulb or possibly two PAR38 bulbs would work really well too.

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post #3 of 4
1/3/12 at 4:44pm

I may be a little behind the times, because when I upgraded my lighting I hadn't even heard of LED lights being good enough for anemones.

 

Having said that, I think you are right in saying that you should get the best lighting you can now--it saves money in the long run since you don't want to buy a new fixture again later on.  I did that.  I first bought a compact fluerescent for my bubble tipped anemone.  It did fine under that for a couple of years, although I think stronger light is recommended.

 

Then I upgraded again and got a metal halide light.  It was and is superior, and I am still using it.  My anemone split a couple of years ago and I still have both of them.  I still have the same old clowns I've always had.  Also, by having metal halide, you have  alot of different options for corals and such as you gain experience. 

 

That's just my opinions, and someone else will have to chime in about the LEDs.  For all I know, metal halide may be totally obsolete by now!

 

Good luck!  I really love my clowns and anemone, and even though everyone says you don't have to have both, I really think they benefit from each other.

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post #4 of 4
1/3/12 at 4:49pm

First of all, how big is the tank?

 

Lets not even talk about keeping anemones yet.

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