Lighting For All Corals and clams?

[threex]

Quick question for lighting up my 10 gallon for corals and clams......Would i be able to use a 150 watt grow light (for plants)with a high pressure sodium bulb on top of my tank spaced over a glass lid? Are mh and hps bulbs for growing plants the same types of lighting used for salt tanks? I'd hate to drop another $100 for lighting if i can use what i already have.

 

[threex]

Here's what im talking about..

 

[the claw]

Does it give a K rating on the bulb. If I remember right they are less that 6 K which is generally too warm for reef tanks. In other words, the light is in the wrong spectrum for optimal coral growth. Great for algae though. I may be way off base.

 

[threex]

Nah no k rating, the bulb reads 150(watt)/55(for the ballast)med(base). It doesnt have any blue spectrum to it, strictly a natural sun color

 

[y2says]

I wouldn't do it. On a delicate hobby like this, it's better not to shortcut. Save some money and spend the extra cash and do it right the first time. It's tough shortcutting and finding that you'll have to spend more money just to get it right. Plus, clams and corals aren't cheap either.

 

[bdhough]

Not sure about doing clams under that BUT if you can get the right color spectrum bulb then yes you can use it. Grow bulbs are to low a spectrum. Your tank will inevitably break out in algae growth from a low spectrum.

 

[threex]

Thanx for the help felllllas

 

[jonthefb]

check around on theinternet cause there are some halide bubls that are interchangeable with HPS ballasts....if this were the cast ehn youd jsut have to find a comprabale MH bulb that was the spectrum you wanted!
good luck
jon