Will this be ok for now: Lighting

vpotts28

vpotts28

Active Member
I don't have a ton of $$ to out and buy a mh or a top of the line pc. But this is what I found. I was told I would be able to keep softies and some LPS. Will this be good for now for a 55g?
48" 260W (4-65 watt) Dual Strip Compact Fluorescent Light Fixture, comes with the following: 2x 65W CF 12000K bulb, 2x 65W CF Actinic Blue True 03 bulb, 4x Bluemoon Double LED Ballast Type: Internal Electronic Cooling Fan: 2 Built-In $99.00 There is not a manufacturer name.
Also will I be able to cover some of the top of the aquarium with some acrylic without melting it?
TIA
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
yea, you should be fine for a while. just find out the age of the lights and how easily it is to replace them.
 
vpotts28

vpotts28

Active Member
Originally Posted by renogaw
yea, you should be fine for a while. just find out the age of the lights and how easily it is to replace them.
The lights are brand new, they seem fairly easy to acquire
 
steve24

steve24

Active Member
yes, those lights will be fine for things like zoas, shrooms, leathers, candycanes, brains.
you wouldn`t be able to keep things like clams, sps (acros, montis), anemones ...
 
chilwil84

chilwil84

Active Member
if you could find a 4 bulb t5 fixture new or used that you can afford it would be better for you and cheaper in the long run. the bulbs are cheaper and last 2-3 times longer, they use less electric than comparable pc and if you really like having coral you will have more range in types of coral
 
vpotts28

vpotts28

Active Member
Originally Posted by steve24
yes, those lights will be fine for things like zoas, shrooms, leathers, candycanes, brains.
you wouldn`t be able to keep things like clams, sps (acros, montis), anemones ...
Great info, I don't know where I would be without this board. Thanks. Would any pc be strong enough for anemones?
 
chilwil84

chilwil84

Active Member
some might survive pc but it would not be worth taking a chance in killing an animal when most dont survive
 
vpotts28

vpotts28

Active Member
Originally Posted by chilwil84
some might survive pc but it would not be worth taking a chance in killing an animal when most dont survive

I agree, I would never kill something because of my own selfishness. So no anemones until I can afford mh's. Thanks again.
 
vpotts28

vpotts28

Active Member
Originally Posted by chilwil84
or a 4 bulb set of ho t5s

Ahh, I read this wrong. Guess I will be on the look out for some t5's thanks for correcting
 
vpotts28

vpotts28

Active Member
This may be a horrible question but I have to ask it anyway. Just so I can understand, what is the difference between a T5 light and a T6 light?
 
chilwil84

chilwil84

Active Member
the difference is in the diameter of the bulb the smaller the T# the smaller the bulb the old big bulbs are t12 another difference is availability t-5 and t-12 are the most available with the most option with t5 being the better choice imo the t12 are what you see as vho systems
 
vpotts28

vpotts28

Active Member
Originally Posted by chilwil84
the difference is in the diameter of the bulb the smaller the T# the smaller the bulb the old big bulbs are t12 another difference is availability t-5 and t-12 are the most available with the most option with t5 being the better choice imo the t12 are what you see as vho systems
I see, thank you. I am looking at prospects for t5 in the classifieds.
 
vpotts28

vpotts28

Active Member
I am now thinking about purchasing the Nova T5 HO 4x54 two 460nm Actinic Blue and two Daylight 10,000K SlimPaq high output T5 lamps with lunar lamps. This should just about allow me to keep anything I want, correct? Does anyone have an opinion about this fixture. Thanks
 
chilwil84

chilwil84

Active Member
on a 55 you could keep a lot of stuff sps like montis, pollicipora, and porites would be good mid to high you could try a few acros up real high some types of stags will be fine any lps, softies, zoos would be fine
 
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