Something to remember about PCs:
Inital buying cost for fixtures for the lights are pretty low. You could get a few hundred watts over your tank for (using the example someone posted on the first page) $170 for 260 watts.
Now, like Grins said, 50% of that light is really more for you than your fish. But still, lots of light on a little tank.
However, in 6 months, that fixture is going to need $100 worth of new bulbs. CF bulbs will shift frequency as they get old, and the light often times promotes algae growth rather than coral growth.
So, now if you figure initial buying cost of the fixture ($179), plus $100 for new bulbs in 6 months, and another 100 in another 6 months, which brings you through one full year, you've dumped a TON of money into the least recommended type of lighting for corals.
On the flip side, you can get a metal halide setup, or retrofit one of your own for no more than that $379 we already mentioned, and the bulb will last 9 months to a year and the replacement cost for that ONE bulb will be under $100 (easily under $100), you'll have the best lighting available for your coral, and you'll get the shimmer effect you don't get with any of the other types of lighting.
Food for thought, right?
Inital buying cost for fixtures for the lights are pretty low. You could get a few hundred watts over your tank for (using the example someone posted on the first page) $170 for 260 watts.
Now, like Grins said, 50% of that light is really more for you than your fish. But still, lots of light on a little tank.
However, in 6 months, that fixture is going to need $100 worth of new bulbs. CF bulbs will shift frequency as they get old, and the light often times promotes algae growth rather than coral growth.
So, now if you figure initial buying cost of the fixture ($179), plus $100 for new bulbs in 6 months, and another 100 in another 6 months, which brings you through one full year, you've dumped a TON of money into the least recommended type of lighting for corals.
On the flip side, you can get a metal halide setup, or retrofit one of your own for no more than that $379 we already mentioned, and the bulb will last 9 months to a year and the replacement cost for that ONE bulb will be under $100 (easily under $100), you'll have the best lighting available for your coral, and you'll get the shimmer effect you don't get with any of the other types of lighting.
Food for thought, right?
