Do I have enough light?

[malexikeander]

Hi all,

I've been researching how much light I need in a 12 gallon in order to grow softies, and I see a lot of people talking about 50/50 bulbs or special coral bulbs. Since my tank's a "refitted" eclipse (I pretty much had to replace everything but the tank itself - gasp!), I built lighting for it. Using daylight spectrum CF bulbs I get 120Watts of light in the 12 gallon. I'm concerned that I don't have the right type of light? Or is it just the wattage that matters? I also heard that the 50/50 and arctinite are just nice because their blue color brings out a nice shade in corals?

Thanks everyone for helping out a newbie!

[kcooley]

that should be plenty of light.

[dorkfish]

I also heard that the 50/50 and arctinite are just nice because their blue color brings out a nice shade in corals?

That's pretty much it - 50/50 bulbs (or similar bulb mixes) just look better. Also, I'd say you've got enough light for most small polyped stonys, softies should grow like mad :).

[imnotlistening]

Actually, you need atinic in order for the corals to survie. 50/50 means have blue and half daylight spectrum. In the ocean where the corals live the light they recieve is in the blue spectrum. It not only is for your viewing pleasure but to keep a coral alive. 120 watts is also too much. You should have 60 watts.

[Lorna]

120 watts is not too much light.......just acclimate what ever you put in to the brightness. I have heard of people using 175W metal halide lights on a 10g .......so wattage is not the issue but spectrum and penetration is.