upgrade lighting?

[dirk_brijs]

would i need new lighting?
Would I benefit switching to halide or not?
My tank is L79"XH24"XW21"
currently I have 2 T8 TL lights 40W and one blue light TL and quit some day light from outside reaches my tank.
stock list
- 5 leatherToadstool
- 1 green goniopora
- 2 clams
- 1 green hammer coral
- several mushrooms brown and green
- green zoas
- 2 magnifica anemones
- 7 feather dusters
- 1 red cauliflower coral
I believe most of my corals are doing quit ok but maybe could do better with different light?
can you guys tell me what the advatgaes are or disadvantages of going to higher lighting?

 

[dirk_brijs]

did some check on my fluorescent light
my lighting currently is then
2X 36W T8 956 12000K silver light?
what does that all mean?

 

[dingus890]

Originally Posted by dirk_brijs
http:///forum/post/3209473
did some check on my fluorescent light
my lighting currently is then
2X 36W T8 956 12000K silver light?
what does that all mean?
So you have 72 watts in total for you tank.12000k just means which spetrum the light is in. 20000k is a deep blue color.And 10000k is more of a yellow color. You are in between there.
And by the dimensions you gave, your tank is around 172.36 gallons.
So with your tank size and lights your corals are only getting about 0.41 watts per gallon. The soft corals you listed need atleast 2-3 watts per gallon.
Magnifica anemones and Tridacna Clams need VERY strong lighting.5-6 watts per gallon.
I would highly suggest if you can, to upgrade your lighting for the corals

Hope this helps

 

[wangotango]

Watts/gallon for lighting is a useless measurement, and I'm surprised things like the clams and anemones are doing fine with so little light.
If you didn't want to worry about restrictions, then three 250w or 175w metal halides with good reflectors would work well. You could also add VHO or T5ho for actinic supplimentation.
If you wanted to go the T5ho route then eight 60" bulbs with individual reflectors would well too.
As far as advantages and disadvantages go, the only real disadvantage is that you will need to acclimate things to the new lighting, but at least they will have the quality of lighting they need to grow and survive.
-Justin