Will this be good lighting

sleepercivic88 · 01/31/2006, 12:47 AM

This what I was thinking of getting because the price looks right. I have a 46bow front tank. I plan on stocking it with various soft corals. My tank is 36 in long. It brings me to about 3.4watts per gal. What do you think?

Cheap lighting

Blown 346 · 01/31/2006, 01:14 AM

I myself would try and get more light than that, even soft corals will be better off with more light. You could use this light, but even softies like light.
If anything I would upgrade the bulb so you get more light to reach the depth of the tank, you and your softies will be much happier with a lighting setup that you will have more coral keeping options.

stelow · 01/31/2006, 02:07 AM

Looks like a decent lighting system to me; would be plenty for a soft coral tank.

mybug · 01/31/2006, 08:42 AM

I have this lamp. Quality is high, typical of Current. I've got it on a standard 55G (48" model 4x54).

Tank is very, very bright.

Only complaint I have is I wish the moons and fan didn't have a the separate power supply. That makes plugging them in on a power strip tight.

This does not have separate reflectors for each lamp like a Tek but it cost $200 less also. I'm very satisfied.

It comes with 2 10K and 2 actinics.

sleepercivic88 · 01/31/2006, 12:33 PM

Is it bad practice to use two lighting fixtures at once. If I use this with my current florecent I would get around 4.26 watts per gallon

sidog1 · 01/31/2006, 01:57 PM

i would get a fixture that has individual reflectors for t5's. it makes a huge difference. i have the 4 bulb 36" tek light and it's a sps dominant tank. you cant really measure the wattage per gallon either with t5's. check the equipment forum here on rc to find out more about t5's. also you might be able to find some used in the sale forum.

01/31/2006, 12:47 AM	#1
sleepercivic88 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arvada, CO Posts: 30	Will this be good lighting This what I was thinking of getting because the price looks right. I have a 46bow front tank. I plan on stocking it with various soft corals. My tank is 36 in long. It brings me to about 3.4watts per gal. What do you think? Cheap lighting

01/31/2006, 08:42 AM	#4
mybug Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Quivira, KS Posts: 31	I have this lamp I have this lamp. Quality is high, typical of Current. I've got it on a standard 55G (48" model 4x54). Tank is very, very bright. Only complaint I have is I wish the moons and fan didn't have a the separate power supply. That makes plugging them in on a power strip tight. This does not have separate reflectors for each lamp like a Tek but it cost $200 less also. I'm very satisfied. It comes with 2 10K and 2 actinics.

01/31/2006, 01:57 PM	#6
sidog1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 375	i would get a fixture that has individual reflectors for t5's. it makes a huge difference. i have the 4 bulb 36" tek light and it's a sps dominant tank. you cant really measure the wattage per gallon either with t5's. check the equipment forum here on rc to find out more about t5's. also you might be able to find some used in the sale forum. __________________ -Simon Current Tank Info: 120gallons...

01/31/2006, 01:14 AM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	I myself would try and get more light than that, even soft corals will be better off with more light. You could use this light, but even softies like light. If anything I would upgrade the bulb so you get more light to reach the depth of the tank, you and your softies will be much happier with a lighting setup that you will have more coral keeping options.

01/31/2006, 02:07 AM	#3
stelow Moved On Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Indiana, USA Posts: 472	Looks like a decent lighting system to me; would be plenty for a soft coral tank.

01/31/2006, 12:33 PM	#5
sleepercivic88 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arvada, CO Posts: 30	Is it bad practice to use two lighting fixtures at once. If I use this with my current florecent I would get around 4.26 watts per gallon