new tank needs better light..help

[cyn]

Any help you all can offer would be great. I am new to the hobby and am loving it so far. I have a 55 standard tank with cyclone skimmer, 2 660 powerheads(cross flow) and about 50lbs of live rock on top of 35lbs of baserock. 3 inches of combination crushed coral and argonite sand. Livestock includes a brittle star, mandrin gobie, turbo snail, several mushrooms that are growing like weeds,and several feather dusters that came with the rock. I am planning to obtain a bubble tip and cinnamon clown in the near future, but am hesitant to do so untill I get better lights. Currently my SG is running 1.023 and the nitrates are 20ppm. Everything else is negative. I would like to persue some other corals too, but need some guidance.

 

[mlm]

What kind of lighting do you have now? I have the same tank size with 3 48 inch vho tubes and it works great.

 

[cyn]

I know already that I do not have enough light, right now all I have is 2 18" 15w powerglow bulbs. I am looking to refit the tank with a custom hood so I can get more lights on the darn thing. I spent all day yesterday looking in stores south of Houston without any luck. I am curious to know how much light I need. Everything that is currently in the tank seems satisfied, I even saw a baby brittle star this morning. Oh, I increased on powerhead to one that does 300gph for better circulation yesterday too.
[ December 11, 2001: Message edited by: cyn ]