Newbie light question

fiestyblonde · 07/05/2006, 03:10 PM

Ok Im sure 500 people have asked this same question. I have a 55 g that has been set up and running for almost 2 months. I have 10 lbs of live rock(making arrangements for more rock and sand) two clowns, 2 damsels 1 small blue tang 10 crabs and 25 snails, and a 2 inch sandbottom. Im running a sea clone protien skimmer.The lights I have are 2 20 watt coral/ fish lights from walmart. I know this is not the correct lighting I need more. Im just completely confused when it comes the lighting stuff. I would like to possiably have a few soft corals. I know when it comes to the fish they dont require alot of light but I need suggestions on whats the best way to go. Ive seen complete lights with all the lights for day night and dawn. The ballest stuff and all the wattage and stuff just has my mind swimming (oh and yea Im blonde but dont let that confuse you..lol) any advice would be a tremndous help.
April

mg426 · 07/05/2006, 03:39 PM

There is an awesome lighting thread by waterkeeper. I believe there is a link to it on this page somewhere.

smcdonn · 07/05/2006, 03:43 PM

On a tank with just fish and possibly some soft corals, a 4 x 54watt T5 fixture (the fixtures with the small diameter flourescent bulbs) should be fine. If your thinking about doing a tank with some SPS corals or even some clams, you may want to look at a little more light like a 2 x 175 watt Metal Halide setup. And if your wanting to save some money, you could get a kit to retrofit a canopy with some Power Compact Flourescent bulbs. When you hear somebody say they have PC's on there tank, this is what they are talking about. If I were you though, I would look at the 4 x 54watt T5 fixture. This is a fairly simple setup and should be able to handle most soft corals. If you have any other questions don't be afraid to ask. I have been in this for over 6 months now and am still just learning about a lot of this stuff. Cheers

Sean

yamaha racer · 07/05/2006, 04:27 PM

no if u get the TEK 4x54w t-5 fixture u can keep sps and clams. thats what im getting hopfully for my birthday, its goin to be a sps tank and a clam of so

smcdonn · 07/05/2006, 04:56 PM

200watts over a 55 with sps and clams? I think that would be pushing it. Either way though she said she only wants to keep some softies so it should work just fine.

yamaha racer · 07/05/2006, 06:41 PM

ya but if she does want to keep those things she can

fiestyblonde · 07/05/2006, 08:16 PM

Thanks so much for the advise. Im still a little "stupid" about the lighting lingo. I ck the drygoods selling forum everyday in hopes of finding a reasonable setup that wont have my husband going WHAT THE H***did you spend 600 bucks on..lol also I wasnt sure what I would be looking for.... I do want a setup with all the lights so I can hook up timers boy will I have questions then. Now in a few months Im hoping to have a 75g up and running...yea Ill be kicking his jack dempsey into a 40 g fresh water I have ..on his request because he wants to have a coral tank, wait till I tell him what he'll need on that, but then again I only paid 20 bucks for the 75 g tank. Believe it or not some crazy guy thought he was going to use it for a horse water trough and they say blondes are dumb..lol

07/05/2006, 03:10 PM	#1
fiestyblonde Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4	Newbie light question Ok Im sure 500 people have asked this same question. I have a 55 g that has been set up and running for almost 2 months. I have 10 lbs of live rock(making arrangements for more rock and sand) two clowns, 2 damsels 1 small blue tang 10 crabs and 25 snails, and a 2 inch sandbottom. Im running a sea clone protien skimmer.The lights I have are 2 20 watt coral/ fish lights from walmart. I know this is not the correct lighting I need more. Im just completely confused when it comes the lighting stuff. I would like to possiably have a few soft corals. I know when it comes to the fish they dont require alot of light but I need suggestions on whats the best way to go. Ive seen complete lights with all the lights for day night and dawn. The ballest stuff and all the wattage and stuff just has my mind swimming (oh and yea Im blonde but dont let that confuse you..lol) any advice would be a tremndous help. April __________________ Life is like a box of chocolates...and mine contain all the nuts.

07/05/2006, 03:39 PM	#2
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	There is an awesome lighting thread by waterkeeper. I believe there is a link to it on this page somewhere. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

07/05/2006, 03:43 PM	#3
smcdonn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 925	On a tank with just fish and possibly some soft corals, a 4 x 54watt T5 fixture (the fixtures with the small diameter flourescent bulbs) should be fine. If your thinking about doing a tank with some SPS corals or even some clams, you may want to look at a little more light like a 2 x 175 watt Metal Halide setup. And if your wanting to save some money, you could get a kit to retrofit a canopy with some Power Compact Flourescent bulbs. When you hear somebody say they have PC's on there tank, this is what they are talking about. If I were you though, I would look at the 4 x 54watt T5 fixture. This is a fairly simple setup and should be able to handle most soft corals. If you have any other questions don't be afraid to ask. I have been in this for over 6 months now and am still just learning about a lot of this stuff. Cheers Sean __________________ 180g IN WALL, REEF Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

07/05/2006, 04:56 PM	#5
smcdonn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 925	200watts over a 55 with sps and clams? I think that would be pushing it. Either way though she said she only wants to keep some softies so it should work just fine. __________________ 180g IN WALL, REEF Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

07/05/2006, 08:16 PM	#7
fiestyblonde Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4	Thanks so much for the advise. Im still a little "stupid" about the lighting lingo. I ck the drygoods selling forum everyday in hopes of finding a reasonable setup that wont have my husband going WHAT THE H***did you spend 600 bucks on..lol also I wasnt sure what I would be looking for.... I do want a setup with all the lights so I can hook up timers boy will I have questions then. Now in a few months Im hoping to have a 75g up and running...yea Ill be kicking his jack dempsey into a 40 g fresh water I have ..on his request because he wants to have a coral tank, wait till I tell him what he'll need on that, but then again I only paid 20 bucks for the 75 g tank. Believe it or not some crazy guy thought he was going to use it for a horse water trough and they say blondes are dumb..lol __________________ Life is like a box of chocolates...and mine contain all the nuts.

07/05/2006, 04:27 PM	#4
yamaha racer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gypsy Posts: 1,131	no if u get the TEK 4x54w t-5 fixture u can keep sps and clams. thats what im getting hopfully for my birthday, its goin to be a sps tank and a clam of so

07/05/2006, 06:41 PM	#6
yamaha racer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gypsy Posts: 1,131	ya but if she does want to keep those things she can