light advice

[hunterdaddy]

I have a 55 gallon that is cycling right now. I need to know what is the best way to go for lights without having to break my checkbook. I want fish and coralline algae and some low light corals like shrooms and the like. I dont know all the abbrevaitions so if you bother to answer this post please spell it out. Thanks for your help guys. Good site

 

[hondo]

PC's are the most economical and you can keep all soft corals and LPS (large polyp stonies), and even a few SPS (small polyp stonies) that don't need excessive light. Do you have a canopy on your tank? if so then just order a retrofit kit from any of the online places. If not you'll need a strip light to fit a plastic hood. What type and size of lights depends on your tank dimensions but your probably looking for a 4 light PC set up running two true 03 actinic bulbs and two daylight 10,000k bulbs. Keep in mind though even a cheep retro fit system will cost you so be ready for the sticker shock, this is a very expensive hobby.