Lighting?

valhallae32 · 07/15/2007, 03:36 PM

I Am new to the hobby and have a question. What kind of lighting do I need for my tank? I have a 40gal bow front tank that stands about 2 1/2 feet tall, and about 2 1/2 ft long. I Eventually want to have corals and so on. So if you have any tips please let me know.

bertoni · 07/15/2007, 03:40 PM

To Reef Central

There are many types of corals. Some don't require any light, and some require very high light intensity. Many are in the middle.

If you like the coloration, a good T5 setup (with individual reflectors per bulb) will allow keeping high-light animals like Acropora and many anemones. This book might help:

[ericsbook]

valhallae32 · 07/15/2007, 03:42 PM

Thanks. But do i need to buy a whole setup, or can i just buy a bolb, that will do the same thing?

bertoni · 07/15/2007, 03:46 PM

Well, you'll need an appropriate ballast and a fixture to hold the bulb.

theatrus · 07/15/2007, 04:00 PM

You need more light in your aquarium, which requires new appropriate bulbs, light reflectors, and matched ballasts to drive the bulb types. 46g bow fronts are usually 36" long, not sure of your tanks. I would look for a 36" T5 fixture.

kuoka · 07/15/2007, 09:08 PM

It also depends on what kinds of corals you want. For example, if you want SPS (the hard colorful ones) then you'll need MH (metal halide) lighting. If you're gonna go with LPS (soft corals - e.g. leather coral, bubble corals, etc), then PC (power compacts) are sufficient. MH lights are more expensive than PCs. Visit a site like marinedepot.com to learn more about lights (they're pretty good).

Your 40gal is probably a 36". You get into 48" with 55 or 72gal bow fronts (I have a 72gal bowfront). BTW, you might have to make a custom leg for the light with the bowfront as the tank is most likely too wide for the normal legs (I had to).

Good luck!

07/15/2007, 03:36 PM	#1
valhallae32 Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 9	Lighting? I Am new to the hobby and have a question. What kind of lighting do I need for my tank? I have a 40gal bow front tank that stands about 2 1/2 feet tall, and about 2 1/2 ft long. I Eventually want to have corals and so on. So if you have any tips please let me know.

07/15/2007, 03:40 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	*To Reef Central* There are many types of corals. Some don't require any light, and some require very high light intensity. Many are in the middle. If you like the coloration, a good T5 setup (with individual reflectors per bulb) will allow keeping high-light animals like Acropora and many anemones. This book might help: [ericsbook] __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/15/2007, 03:46 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Well, you'll need an appropriate ballast and a fixture to hold the bulb. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/15/2007, 04:00 PM	#5
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	You need more light in your aquarium, which requires new appropriate bulbs, light reflectors, and matched ballasts to drive the bulb types. 46g bow fronts are usually 36" long, not sure of your tanks. I would look for a 36" T5 fixture. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

07/15/2007, 09:08 PM	#6
kuoka Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Cali Posts: 713	It also depends on what kinds of corals you want. For example, if you want SPS (the hard colorful ones) then you'll need MH (metal halide) lighting. If you're gonna go with LPS (soft corals - e.g. leather coral, bubble corals, etc), then PC (power compacts) are sufficient. MH lights are more expensive than PCs. Visit a site like marinedepot.com to learn more about lights (they're pretty good). Your 40gal is probably a 36". You get into 48" with 55 or 72gal bow fronts (I have a 72gal bowfront). BTW, you might have to make a custom leg for the light with the bowfront as the tank is most likely too wide for the normal legs (I had to). Good luck! __________________ They say don't talk about someone unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.. But if you do, at least you'll be ahead of them AND have their shoes! :) Current Tank Info: 72gal glass bow front reef, mostly LPS with some SPS, tangs, anthias, blenny, paired percula clowns, gold headed sleeper goby, red fairy wrasse

07/15/2007, 03:42 PM	#3
valhallae32 Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 9	Thanks. But do i need to buy a whole setup, or can i just buy a bolb, that will do the same thing?