Best Lighting???

eilermt

New Member
I am starting a new aquarium (55gal) and I want to make my own lighting system. I have access to free T8 ballasts and can make my own fixture/housing. I plan on having (2) 10000k and (2) actinic 03 bulbs and moon lighting. I was told I needed a minimum of 260watts of lighting. What is important, watts or spectrum? Do I need to buy VHO or HO ballasts to get the wattage I was told?
Oh, I guess I should mention that I am creating a reef tank with fish, inverts, and corals. I have my live rock curing in the tank as we speak so I guess I have about a week or 2 to get this going.
 

watson3

Active Member
It all depends on what type of bulb you can put with that ballasts..Do not know that they make 10k for a T8 ballasts...Have you seen them somewhere
 

eilermt

New Member
Uhhhh, I don't know if I have or not. I thought I did but I have been so confused about this issue I might have been seeing things. What about wattages? Have I been mislead about needing 260 watts for my tank to thrive?
 
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