Will this be enough lighting?

[tlk]

I want to buy a 4x65w PC light ((2) 10,000K Premium-Daylight & (2) Ultra-Actinic ). I also have a 110w pc which I would continue to run. Will that be enough to handle most soft and hard corals?

 

[reefnut]

IMO, you would be ok on soft corals but not sps.

 

[tlk]

bump...does everyone else generally agree? Soft corals ok but no hard corals?

 

[dattong]

leathers, green star and fox coral would be ok under that lighting.

 

[jim672]

tlk,
I agree with ReefNut that most soft corals would be okay under your proposed lighting.
If you want to keep SPS coral and/or clams most agree that you need Metal Halide lamps for best results.
Jim

 

[tlk]

Thanks, i am going to go with that lighting for the time being. I think it will be better to start off with the soft corals anyway and really learn how to care for them. I will look into hard corals in a year or so.

 

[reefnut]

tlk, IMO there are some soft reefs that are absolutely beautiful.
One thing, it would be cheaper now to get the lighting you want then it would be to settle now and buy again latter. Trust me, that's what I did. Went from 55g NO lighting (I tried to shove enough NO lights over the tank to handle softies ) to 55g with VHO lighting to 125g with MH/VHO lighting. After two years and a lot of wasted cash I have finally got the tank I want. Just a though...
Good luck...

 

[jim672]

Right there with you ReefNut!! I did exactly the same thing on my tank.
Jim

 

[cincyreefer]

you are definitely ok with some soft corals, but you should also have enough lighting for MANY stony corals. Lobo Brains are a stony coral that I have always found to be pretty hardy, and do well under PC. Mine did great for two years with just 2 vho bulbs and a 110 watt PC in my 75 gallon. I was also able to keep a scolymia, bubble, frogspawn, and a branching flowerpot without any problems.

 

[reefnut]

Maybe LPS's but not SPS's...

 

[tlk]

Valid point Reef Nut. And I would agree with you except that I let the tank go to hell when I was traveling for work and it crashed big-time. Just getting back into it again, and the wife is getting grumpy with how much I have already spent. So to keep the peace, I am going with the 4x65 PC and will go from there. Thanks for sharing your insight!