Lighting question

Invictus · 10/15/2009, 01:57 AM

Hey guys, I'm in the process of cycling my first SW tank. No prior knowledge regarding tanks whatsoever so I relied on my LFS quite a bit. For my lighting fixture I was steered toward the GLO dual T5 HO. My question is, will this fixture be enough for my tank alone as well as soft corals?

I planned to upgrade the lighting once I gained more knowledge, but will this do for now? Will I need a fixture that houses 4 lights?

chessnutt · 10/15/2009, 02:10 AM

how many gallon is your tank?

Invictus · 10/15/2009, 02:29 AM

It's a 50 gal

chessnutt · 10/15/2009, 02:34 AM

I would go for 4 lights.

PRDubois · 10/15/2009, 03:32 AM

Go with 4 bulbs unless you just wans softies. Glo is a good light, I have 2 of them.

thegrun · 10/15/2009, 08:30 AM

4 lights minimum, if you think you may want an anemone, clam or SPS corals in the future, I would get at least a 6 bulb fixture.

ScarletReef · 10/15/2009, 10:01 AM

You can figure minimum 3watts per gallon for most soft corals, more for lps and sps. Hope that helps.

Invictus · 10/15/2009, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRDubois

Go with 4 bulbs unless you just wans softies. Glo is a good light, I have 2 of them.

I just want the softies for now until I feel comfortable enough to move onto SPS.

I see the consensus is for a 4 bulb fixture. Right now I'm just trying to get the tank established and get my feet wet so to speak. Will it just be safer for me to use the current lighting for fish only? The only coral as of now that I would be interested in are shrooms.

What lighting fixture do you all recommend if I want to keep SPS for later down the road?

Appreciate the feedback.

Invictus · 10/15/2009, 04:22 PM

No other input? Just trying to figure out the best solution so I can try to get it taken care of tomorrow while I have the money.

seapug · 10/15/2009, 04:31 PM

the two bulb (or even one bulb) will be fine for a fish only setup but you're definitely going to want to go to at least a 4 to 6 bulb fixture if you want to keep anything other than mushrooms.

Invictus · 10/15/2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seapug

the two bulb (or even one bulb) will be fine for a fish only setup but you're definitely going to want to go to at least a 4 to 6 bulb fixture if you want to keep anything other than mushrooms.

thank you. do you have any suggestions for light fixtures if I later want to keep SPS?

aquainas · 10/15/2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Invictus

thank you. do you have any suggestions for light fixtures if I later want to keep SPS?

Something like This should do the trick for ya!

If you do not provide adequate lighting for sps they will lose their color and would not thrive hence no growth either. A 6 bulb fixture will also give you the flexibility of mixing the color spectrum of different bulbs to achieve the best results

Invictus · 10/15/2009, 06:18 PM

thanks aquainas! that gives me an idea of how much I'm gonna need to be saving

aquainas · 10/15/2009, 09:23 PM

Anytime! FYI there are members on the forum selling similar items at much better prices, check the for sale thread. Also if you're handy at wiring you could purchase a retro kit and build it into a canopy.

10/15/2009, 01:57 AM	#1
Invictus Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: California Posts: 20	Lighting question Hey guys, I'm in the process of cycling my first SW tank. No prior knowledge regarding tanks whatsoever so I relied on my LFS quite a bit. For my lighting fixture I was steered toward the GLO dual T5 HO. My question is, will this fixture be enough for my tank alone as well as soft corals? I planned to upgrade the lighting once I gained more knowledge, but will this do for now? Will I need a fixture that houses 4 lights?

10/15/2009, 03:32 AM	#5
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Go with 4 bulbs unless you just wans softies. Glo is a good light, I have 2 of them. __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

10/15/2009, 09:23 PM	#14
aquainas Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: AZ Posts: 1,361	Anytime! FYI there are members on the forum selling similar items at much better prices, check the for sale thread. Also if you're handy at wiring you could purchase a retro kit and build it into a canopy. __________________ “Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.” - D. Elton Trueblood Current Tank Info: In-wall 240 Main display\|MSX300\|MP40W's\|Radiums\|Ecoxotic\|Apex\|Constant water change via LiterMeter III R.I.P

10/15/2009, 02:10 AM	#2
chessnutt Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Silicon Valley San Jose Posts: 115	how many gallon is your tank?

10/15/2009, 02:29 AM	#3
Invictus Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: California Posts: 20	It's a 50 gal

10/15/2009, 02:34 AM	#4
chessnutt Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Silicon Valley San Jose Posts: 115	I would go for 4 lights.

10/15/2009, 08:30 AM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	4 lights minimum, if you think you may want an anemone, clam or SPS corals in the future, I would get at least a 6 bulb fixture.

10/15/2009, 10:01 AM	#7
ScarletReef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 227	You can figure minimum 3watts per gallon for most soft corals, more for lps and sps. Hope that helps.

10/15/2009, 04:22 PM	#9
Invictus Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: California Posts: 20	No other input? Just trying to figure out the best solution so I can try to get it taken care of tomorrow while I have the money.

10/15/2009, 04:31 PM	#10
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	the two bulb (or even one bulb) will be fine for a fish only setup but you're definitely going to want to go to at least a 4 to 6 bulb fixture if you want to keep anything other than mushrooms.

10/15/2009, 06:18 PM	#13
Invictus Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: California Posts: 20	thanks aquainas! that gives me an idea of how much I'm gonna need to be saving