Lighting?

[seahorse]

I'm new to salt water. Do you need special lighting for live rock? Can I use the fluorescent bulb that comes with the hood?

[slipknottin]

Depends whats on the live rock, and what you want to keep alive.

There may be some algae and coral on the rock that you might want to keep alive, depending on what kind of coral and algae it is, you might need very intense lighting.

For just biologically active live rock (bacteria, pods, etc) your single bulb strip light is fine.

[seahorse]

Do you have a recommendation on the intense lighting? Would I have to get rid of the hood that comes with the tank and have another set up?

[Sregnar35]

The most generalized recommendation is by measuring watts per gallon. It's not precise, just somewhere to start. For most coral, 3 to 4 watts per gallon is needed, and chances are your hood you have is a normal output hood and has a 30 to 40 watt bulb at best. So for intense lighting, you will def. need a different hood. Upstate NY seahorse?? where, I'm in schenectady.

[seahorse]

Thanks for the info. I'll probably have a lot more questions. I haven't started the tank yet. I'm from Saratoga.

[Sregnar35]

Message me with questions, I'll be happy to help. I too, am new to this hobby, this message board is THE place to go, great people here.