Which lighting combination would you choose?

[tangman99]

As I mentioned in a previous post, I need to replace my two 48" 40 watt bulbs as they are over a year old. I have a 90 gallon fish only and the bulbs that were included were an actinic white and a regular GE bulb. I have asked several LFS' what they would recommend and have been given the following recommendations so I am totally confused as I have yet to get the same answer from any two sources. Which do you think is the correct choice and why?
2 actinic white lights.
1 actinic white light and 1 actinic blue light
1 actinic white and 1 50/50 daylight/blue
1 10K and one 50/50
2 50/50 Daylight/Blue
1 10K and one actinic blue
2 Power Glos
Tank specs: 90 Gallon tank, Crushed Coral substrate, manufactured rock (purplish and orangish in color), eight fish (blue damsel, humma humma trigger, Niger trigger, coral beauty, yellow tang, dogface puffer and two percula clowns. I will probably keep this a fish only tank as I have had to treat it with copper once, but may want to add some mushroom corals at some point.
Thanks for any advice.

 

[option720]

With your tank i would say you should put two 96 watt power compacts in there. Right now you are at less than one watt per gallon. In my opinion that is underlighting your fish. for little more (100 dollars you could have over two watts per gallon and your tank would look a ton better and you will have better luck with those mushroom coral. if you want the site to purchase the power compacts at cheap, just email me.
Option720@yahoo.com

 

[mr . salty]

In a fish only setup with NO LIVE ROCK,the lighting you have is really good enough.Although it would look better with more,it is not needed.I would go with one Daylight(around 10k) and one 50/50...WHY;You want the bulbs to be as bright as possible.That is why I suggest the daylight bulb at 10k or lower(less blue) Then the 50/50 will give you added daylight,plus a little blue.The blue,although not as bright as the daylight bulbs,will bring out the colors of the fish and rock...
[ August 06, 2001: Message edited by: MR . SALTY ]

 

[option720]

Mr. Salty
What about the mushroom coral that they want to keep? Don't you think more than 80 watts in a 90 gallon tank is needed?

 

[tangman99]

I'm not really sure about the mushroom coral but mentioned it because I thought you could keep this type with low lighting. I don't think I can have coral at all though because I have had copper in my tank.
I am planning on keeping the 48" 40 watt lights for now and if I upgrade, it will be at a much later time. I would attempt a smaller reef tank first as I know nothing about it yet (obviously).
Thanks Mr. Salty for the recommendation and I appreciate it in the previous post. I have just had so many others while looking in the stores over the weekend that I became confused and thought I would run the gauntlet and see what everyone thought.
Thanks again.

 

[nm reef]

I'm more or less with Mr. Salty on this.......on my 55 fowlr/ls....I use 1x40 watt 10k bulb which lights up the tank quite well......I also use 2x15 watt blue actinic bulbs for bringing out the colors of the fish....this combination works well for me and the lr is actually doing well.......a few feather dusters......plus there are even spots of pink coraline starting to appear on the glass.............