How many watts should my lighting have to successfully keep a reef tank?

[hallzy]

I'm looking to upgrade the lighting in my aquarium (finally!). I only have a 29 gallon tank. I found a T5 light fixture that can power 4 24w lights. I plan on putting in 2 24w 12000k lights, and 2 24w blue actinic lights. Would this be sufficient for keeping coral and anemone?

 

[wangotango]

Yes.
Look into ATI lamps, and instead of using two actinics I would use two ATI Blue Plus.

 

[hallzy]

Cool thanks! I went ahead and ordered those lights. It was a pretty killer deal I thought. I paid $73 and that includes shipping! Its brand new in the box, 96 watt (but from what I'm hearing T5 HO lights put our more than the wattage leads on), it came with the legs, has built in blue LED "moonlights", has 3 different power cords so each set of lights can be set up on timers, and even came with the 2 12000k and 2 blue actinic lights! So thats why I am going with the blue actinic, because it came with them! lol
I have never heard of ATI Blue Plus lights, what is the difference? I will look into them tho! Thanks again!

 

[jstdv8]

one of the real upgrades in T-5's is the individual reflectors. you get 30% more output (supposedly) from just haveing a fixtures with individual reflectors vs 1 flat reflector that jsut goes behind all the bulbs

 

[qwerty97]

 

[nycbob]

$73 for a t5 fixture doesnt sound like a very good one at all. what brand is this? even with good bulbs like ati, it wont produce the light output most sps, clams or anemones need.

 

[hallzy]

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/3293241
$73 for a t5 fixture doesnt sound like a very good one at all. what brand is this? even with good bulbs like ati, it wont produce the light output most sps, clams or anemones need.
Not really sure of the brand. Its a 96 watt T5HO light though, what could be bad about it?

 

[thelameball2]

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[donny d]

anemones need a lot of light i kept one,with a t5ho fixture ofonly 48wts.i would go for 5watts per gallon minimum.after awhile the anemone lost the green color,i switched to metal halide lighting .the anemone is bigger then ever.