Lighting

[tsteves]

have a 48 gal bow front aquarium. The aquarium came with a light hood that has 2 - 18" 15 watt 20,000 kelvin high intensity purified super daylight lamps for deep water aquarium.
I was told I needed more powerful lighting for the corals and reef that I want. All I have is carpet anenomes rock anenomes mushrooms, featherdusters, lettuce nudibranch, devils finger.
I made a light box and put in 2 - 65 watt flourex bulbs. the box say that each of those light provide 6,825 brightness lumens of light output (outdoor security lighting from home depot.
Will this lighting work, or should I spend the moneyfor lighting??
If so, what do I get????

 

[bang guy]

I believe it will work, but....
I use those same bulbs for various experiments and projects around the refugium. On average they are on;y really bright for about 6 months and seem to totally crap out at one year. They put out an awefully lot of heat to put in an enclosed space.
They are BUTT ugly in terms of aethetics IMO. A couple Actinics would probably improve the looks a lot though.
The price is right, which is why I use them. They work great for Mushroom grow-out or Phytoplankton cultures.
Do you have space to add an Actinic bulb or two?