Thanks for your help--now a question on lighting and fixtures

[g. mcclean]

Thanks so much for the help with the "fading angel, and starting my new unit. Now about lighting. I am confused. In the new new unit we would like to add some soft corals (after several months of set-up and cycling) We don't plan on any that require super high intensity lighting. I am certain we will need more than a standard fixture. How high tech must it be? From my reading I seem to understand that it is not just total wattage but also light spectrum. Is there a simple explanation as to fixture type and actual light bulbs? Again thanks for your help!

[VoodooChild]

Someone around here I'm sure has some good lighting links. Otherwise what size tank is it? I really like my Coralife quad bulb power compact fixture. It's 96 w and is enough to keep a good variety of corals. You can pick them up usually for under $150. There's a few other people here that also seem to like them. They come with fans built right in to them and you can get legs to stand them up on if it's heating your tank.

[Mandairn]

like voodoochild said depend on the size and how deep your tank its.

Colors closer the red have longer wavelenths but lower frequency, while colors closert to blue have shorter wavelenths but higher frenquency. As light travels though salt water wavelenths get absorbed. Red go first and blue goes the deepest. A rule of thumb i heard is 3-5 watts pre gl but there really to meny factor...

I use a power compact fixture 2 55wattas over a 30gl (110w). Do to the light producted by the PC they would be about 220w of VHO. I what to do some ezer corals after a while and i confine that the lighting i have will support them (it put out more blue voilet color).

...sorry i dont have any good links..

gOOd LUck

[kreblak]

Whichever lighting fixture you go with, just be sure not to let your bulbs get old. As bulbs burn, they begin to shift wavelength output, so an old bulb may be putting out way too much red or blue light.

[g. mcclean]

Thanks for your help. My existing tank is 46 gal; 48 inches long; and approx 20 inches deep. I want to upgrade the lighting fixture on it as well. My new tank will be 75 gal; 48 inches long; and I don't know its depth but Iseem to think approx 24 inches.
do you mix the bulbs if you have a multi bulb fixture? How do you determine what bulbs to use? Are they energy burners?

As a footnote my "fading" angel is greatly improved. I hope he continues.

[kreblak]

Glad to hear the Angel is doing better. With any luck he will be showing that bright red that Flames are famous for real soon.

For bulb mixing, I kind of use a hodgepodge of whatever I have handy. I don't have coral, and have found that mixing wattages makes the corraline algae grow quite well. I think I am running a 65 watt and a 45 watt currently.