Lighting

[beatenback]

I'm about to set up a 75 gallon reef (not too much coral, we want lots of fish too) tank, and I'm not sure if the light I have is adequate. I don't have the brand name handy, but it uses 4 36 watt bulbs, 2 blue and 2 white. We were told they simulate moonlight and sunlight?? Will this be okay, or should I go after something bigger?

 

[bang guy]

Very few corals can survive with that lighting. A mushroom tank could be done though. They would also survive an overstocked tank better than other corals.
What coral were you most interested in keeping? You would have MUCH better luck with 4 96w bulbs

 

[beatenback]

Thanks for the reply. We're still researching, and haven't decided on coral types yet. Being beginners, we'll probably go with types that are relatively easy to keep. The light fixture that I purchased came with the 36 watt bulbs. Can I change out to a higher wattage without buying a new light fixture?

 

[bang guy]

You'll need new ballasts too for higher watt bulbs. Keep up the research. It may be viable to add more lighting to what you have. First determine what corals you want to keep. Keep in mind that you may change your mind down the road so leave room for an upgrade if possible.