Lighting help

[camfish]

Hey quick question. I am wanting to upgrade my lighting for my 30 gallon tank and in the far future I am going to keep corals in it. My tank isn't currently reef safe, so when it is, that is my plan. Well my question is this: I don't want to waste bulbs and electricity with some nice lighting and I hate my current lighting so is there any way that I can get a 1*65 now and later add another 1*65 to that so that I can keep corals? Will this like equal 2*65? If so, is that enough for moderate light corals?

 

[dragonzim]

That should be enough to support softies like mushrooms, xenia, leathers and stuff like that as well as some LPS as long as they are up high in the tank. No LPS in the lower part of the tank and no SPS, clams or anemones.

 

[camfish]

Sweet, sounds awesome. What if I get a 1*65 now and later get a 2*65, could I support high light corals?

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by camfish
http:///forum/post/2630795
Sweet, sounds awesome. What if I get a 1*65 now and later get a 2*65, could I support high light corals?
Are you talking about power compacts? I would suppose that you could get the 1x65 now and get some softies then get the 2x65 to support the higher light ones. But I would suggest using t-5s. It will probably be cheaper in the end considering that bulbs are less expensive and you have to change PCs three times as often.

 

[camfish]

I have never had corals before and I don't want to spend a ton of money on lighting and then figure out that I like FO better, you know? I will probably just start out with the 1*65, get a colt coral, and then if I love it, I will upgrade my lighting. If I upgrade, I will get some more advanced and more beautiful corals and maybe even an anemone, who knows? Thanks for your help, I do appreciate it.

 

[scsinet]

Power Compact? Pshaw!
Fishfreak is right. T5 is a current technology unlike yesterdays Power Compact, the lamps are cheaper, and have to be replaced much less often.
Does the tank have a canopy or a strip light? I would recommend you purchase or build a canopy, then install a T5 retro (2x24 would work well and provide far more light than a single 65w due to increased efficiency). Then, if you go to reef, add a second 2x24 retro and you're set to keep whatever you want.

 

[netimreefer]

fishfreak1242, and SCSInet are right pcs have quickly become a joke I would definetely take their advice and go with a T5 fixture or retrofit.