Lighting Question

[jw1977]

I just bought a 46 gallon bowfront and am now looking for lights. The LFS recommended compact flourescents saying that the only bad thing is you can't grow hard coral. Will these be fine? They're $250. How much more to step up to Metal Halide. Also, is T5 a step up from this. My LFS acted like they're the same thing. they find it odd that I wouldn't just want the compact flourescents. I have a canopy, will i need a fan for any light i choose.
Thanks

 

[fishygurl]

Originally Posted by jw1977
I just bought a 46 gallon bowfront and am now looking for lights. The LFS recommended compact flourescents saying that the only bad thing is you can't grow hard coral. Will these be fine? They're $250. How much more to step up to Metal Halide. Also, is T5 a step up from this. My LFS acted like they're the same thing. they find it odd that I wouldn't just want the compact flourescents. I have a canopy, will i need a fan for any light i choose.
Thanks
How many watts are these pc's?
T-5's imo are better than pc's
and metal halides imo are better than T-5's
But it also depends on the wattage. The Pc's i have over my 72 can hardly keep any corals just the extremely easy ones that dont need like very good light. But for my 125 i am getting metal halides so i can have all the corals, clams, etc i want!
I have heard you can keep everything with T-5's too but you would have to get someone else to help you.

 

[jw1977]

I believe the Pc's are 192 watts.

 

[ray28576]

IMO, you shouldn't purchase those lights. For about $150.00 more you can get a 24" 280watt with 4 lunar lights. (1-150w HQI, 2-65w)
Outer Orbit HQI/Compact Fluorescent $386.69
Send me your email address and I'll tell you where since I can't say on here.

 

[dragonzim]

Dont bother with the power compacts. You will be much better off with T5's with individual reflectors like a TEK or Aquatinics fixture or going to Metal Halides.