reef lighting?

[sniper]

i have a 55 gal reef that i have just started recently and i put a 48" marine life bluecoral floresnt tube in it is that enough for a 55 gal?it's 40 w

 

[ak_reefer]

So you only have a single 48" bulb on your 55 gallon. Is it a No Flo Bubl about 40 watts or a VHO 110watts. I would have to say for any corals it is not enough light you definitly would need to upgrade. Some may say yes its enough for soft corals but I would say its not. Just my .02 .

 

[azonic]

I would think you could get away with only some shrooms, not much more. I've got a 38 tall with 70 watts of RO lights and thats all I can support right now. Although, the owner of the LFS i deal with told me that I could get a bubble coral under my lights? He said they require low lights and would do fine in mine if placed somewhere closer to the top of the tank...anyone have an opinion on this? Please answer the original posters question before mine, thanks

 

[sniper]

i'd relly would like to know how much i need or is (ideal) but would also like to stay with hagen floresnt bulbs just for the fact i can get em cheap i know cheap isn't the best way but for amount of heat they generate i like em

 

[azonic]

If you stick with regular floursecent bulbs you are limited to only shrooms, and maybe a few other light light corals. PC or VHO would be a good upgrade for you. I'm in the same boat as you, sticking with RO for now because they are cheap..but im saving up $500(canadian) for my power compacts in july

 

[wolffam]

Had the same thought process you have in the beginning. Was sold a 135 tank with 160 watts of light. Told that this would be enough for whatever I wanted. He took back the original 220 watt PC, says that it would be too costly to run these. he was kind enough to sell me an additional 60 watts with another ballast. Bringing total to 220 watts. I have been only able to keep fish alive, I have to pass on everything else until now. Installing tonight an additional 420 watts of light to existing system. Don't skimp on the lighting. Study the lighting requirements of everything you think you want and spend the money on the lighting in the beginning. I think you'll enjoy it more. HTH

 

[sniper]

i'm so not used to ur lingo yet ...sorry
where can i find vho ,pc lights at all the lfs i have been to are limited on there stuff

 

[efrank]

It depends. I think what most people say is to shoot for 4 watts per gallon. I personaly have
2 1/4 watts per gallon and keep leathers and toadstools with out a problem.

 

[sniper]

so if i go with 4 w per gal thats around 220 w think thats enough i dont like my lfs they aperintly don't know anything

 

[nm reef]

Sniper....this is a great place to gather info and learn about the stuff you'll need to develope a reef system. Glad to see you here asking questions...and welcome to the board!!
Sorry to say but you really need to consider a major lighting up-grade if you intend to build a reef. The foundation of any reef is filtration & lighting. Skimp on either and you may regret it later. There are numerous options...but before I go into that let me hook you up with a link that covers pretty much all the basics of developing a reef system. The first step to developing a reef is information and the link below has a ton.Check it out and keep asking questions...and let us all know how it goes...*_^
<a href="http://www.reefcorner.com/reef%20keeping_101.htm" target="_blank">reefkeeping 101</a>

 

[sniper]

thanks for the link proved to be most insightfull
all the questions i had are preety much answerd concerning lighting thanks again