A question on lighting

[Subliminal]

Hello!

I'm just starting out a saltwater tank. For the future, I plan on beefing my whole setup up, but right now it's just lots of water circulation, heat, salt, LR and LS.

Anyway, the tank has a single 36" 30 watt 'Aquaglow' light in it, that's at least 5 years old.

The ballast says it will do up to 40w, although the box on the power cord gets pretty warm with the 30 on.

Anyway, I figure in the future I'll learn a lot more about lighting and probably go with something that will allow me to do coral and the like.

For now, I'd like to know if there's a choicier bulb that I could stick in my setup for the live rock (and 3 or 4 pieces of previously live rock that's mixed in).

Any info would be super.

THANKS!

damon
:dog:

 

[Fishieness]

for better lighting for corals, as well as some creatures on your live rock (although live rock doesnt need light to be live...) you will have to upgrade all of your lighting, including your ballast, to at least Power Compact (PC) lighting. there are other types that are better though such as t5 HO, VHO, and metal halide.

 

[Subliminal]

Thanks for the reply!

Like I said, though, I'm going to be upgrading the lighting in the future, but was wondering if there's anything better for the short run.

But, if the tank doesn't need any better lighting to cycle, I'll just leave it alone for now!

 

[Reefscape]

a lot of people just leave the lights off during the cycle anyways, so cant see any benefit there matey

Niko

 

[Germanman]

its best not to by a unit just for a bit and then get another later just for ur own wallets sake but if u can afford it go ahead. also the cycling doesnt need light just like atnixon said.

 

[Subliminal]

Thanks, guys. I was just wondering if i'd profit from a different bulb in the meantime. Sounds like I should just shut up and wait a few weeks and see how it goes.