What lighting/upgrade for 55g?

Everyones Hero · 07/23/2008, 09:46 PM

I transferred my 20g saltwater setup to my 55g tank. On it I have a standard Flo light that runs across the top. It's separated into 2 bulbs. I also have a 24" 65w CoraLife PC light on one side.

Right now I only have 2 mushrooms which are on a piece of LR that is closer to the top of the tank on the side that has the CF light.

I'd like to look into T5 lighting but the cost of buying new is really pushing my budget. All I can find in the classifieds is MH.

I've considered buying a retrofit kit for the standard Flo strip light or even buying a retrofit kit & building a canopy for it & incorporating the lights into that.

I just don't know how much light I really need & what kind of lighting I want to go with. Nor do I know what I need to upgrade the standard Flo light that I already have (or if I can even upgrade it.) I figure if I went MH I'd need 2 pendants to cover both sides of the tank, which I'd prefer to avoid & just get T5s.

Would running 4 24" or 2 48" T5s be enough light for most corals that only require moderate light or is that still not enough?

When I get more/better lighting I will move the mushrooms to the bottom of the tank.

Aquarist007 · 07/23/2008, 09:50 PM

check on this thread for t5 lighting

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1340633

Everyones Hero · 07/23/2008, 10:47 PM

I had looked through it earlier, but it's so huge I couldn't even find the beginning. But thanks for the link. Went ahead & posted my questions there.

07/23/2008, 09:46 PM	#1
Everyones Hero Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,154	What lighting/upgrade for 55g? I transferred my 20g saltwater setup to my 55g tank. On it I have a standard Flo light that runs across the top. It's separated into 2 bulbs. I also have a 24" 65w CoraLife PC light on one side. Right now I only have 2 mushrooms which are on a piece of LR that is closer to the top of the tank on the side that has the CF light. I'd like to look into T5 lighting but the cost of buying new is really pushing my budget. All I can find in the classifieds is MH. I've considered buying a retrofit kit for the standard Flo strip light or even buying a retrofit kit & building a canopy for it & incorporating the lights into that. I just don't know how much light I really need & what kind of lighting I want to go with. Nor do I know what I need to upgrade the standard Flo light that I already have (or if I can even upgrade it.) I figure if I went MH I'd need 2 pendants to cover both sides of the tank, which I'd prefer to avoid & just get T5s. Would running 4 24" or 2 48" T5s be enough light for most corals that only require moderate light or is that still not enough? When I get more/better lighting I will move the mushrooms to the bottom of the tank.

07/23/2008, 09:50 PM	#2
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	check on this thread for t5 lighting http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1340633 __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

07/23/2008, 10:47 PM	#3
Everyones Hero Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,154	I had looked through it earlier, but it's so huge I couldn't even find the beginning. But thanks for the link. Went ahead & posted my questions there. Last edited by Everyones Hero; 07/23/2008 at 11:02 PM.