a few questions about lighting for simple reef tank.. Please Help

psariandras

psariandras

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May 18, 2007
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:help: I want to have a 29g tank w/ live rock and DSB and maybe in the future some hardy corals. I have a few questions about how I need to set up lighting. Please forgive me if my questions are stupid.

1) Can I use twist compact fluroscents, the ones found at: http://www.ezbulbz.com/itemdet.php?brandid=2&itemid=923&catid=65maybe
or do the bulbs have to be a non twist design? I was thining of using around 100-200 watts of compact fluroscents with 3000-3500k each for 29g w/ live rock and someday a hardy coral.

2) I also saw a special 50/50 bulb(not one of the twists) designed for reef aquarists but i have read conflicting accounts about this bulb. Can anyone advise me on this bulb?

3) Can I use a combination of fluroscents with high K and one of the "blue sort" of bulbs (sorry I cannot remember what it is called - it starts with "aci") and be able to maintain most corals/anemones? I do not plan to keep the SPS corals.

I am grateful for any help you can give. Thanks.
 
I would go with either some seperate actinics and either 10k or 6500k bulbs. The 3000-3500 would look really yellow, and probably promote more algae growth then what you want. Could be wrong on that, but I wouldn't mess with it.

You're looking for something between 24 and 30 inches for a 29g.

I just got a 220w 4 bulb (2 6500 and 2 actinic) setup (really nice, too) for $75 picked up in my town from craigslist.

You might also try the classifieds here, at reefcentral, and maybe even try and find a local club.

Also, www.ahsupply.com has some good deals on power compacts.

And don't forget T5s are great lights too.

Guess it just depends on the $$$ amount you want to spend, really.
 
to be honest with you, the answer to number one would be no i am afraid. All though it packs a punch with watts, they are the wrong colour range for corals to thive in a good enviroment.

The 50/50 bulbs that you refer to are quite common in marine systems as they provide you with Actinic light ( blue to make the corals stand out and glow ) and marine white light..

If your after a good light that can give you good range on what you can keep on there, personally, i would bite the bullet and go with a Metal Halide fixture or about 175w or better. This will give you the adaptability to be able to pick and choose what coral/nem you would like to keep...

These are just my opinions, see what others chime in and suggest mate...

Niko
 
most household lightbulbs contain very low kelvin ratings... that gives us the subdue lighting thay us humans prefer.... the lowest K rating for reef inhabitants is 6500k with suplimentary lighting on top of that...

so if you plan to buy corals i say go with a fixture made for corals untill you become an avid reefer and piece together a lighting retro.... PC or power compacts are the most common and price to product equivilant.... MH or metal halide is the most extreme lighting you can get and opens the door to all sorts of corals ans variouse zooxan hosting inverts

(excuse my typing.. im eating chips)
 
Any light will work for FO and FOWLR. Just don't get too much lighting of lower kelvins, or it will make unnecessary algae growth.
 
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