Lighting question for my 15 gallon?

[spankey]

As most know here from my posts, I just set up my son's 15 gallon upright designer tank for saltwater.. I built a custom canopy that right now houses 27 watts of PC. 2 bulbs are 10000k and one is an acintic bulb. All are only 9 watts a piece.. The top of this tank is only 12 x12 so space is limited when I build this lid..

I went to Home Depot and found small PC fixtures... They had 13 watt standard bulbs in them. I then replaced them with other bulbs from that pet place. They are 9 watt mini bulbs 6.5 inches long... I have room to put two more fixtures under this hood but that is it as far as room goes...

My question is this.. I only really intend on doing mushrooms and some zoos or polyps... Will 45 watts be ok for this setup.. Thats only 3 watts per gallon though? And the tank is 20" deep ?? And if I go for the total 45 watts. What bulb setup would one suggest.. 10000k/acintic and how many? Again each is only 9 watts... I know most will recomend the coralife 96watt. But like stated before.. I really only have 11x11inches under this canopy...Its really tight.


Thanks for your info....Again just looking for opinions and options?

Thanks
Spankey

Here are some pics:

The tank lit with just the acintic bulb and led moonlight at night


Here is a picture of the tank lit with both 10000k and the acintic bulbs lit..



Here is the canopy. There is a sheet of plexi glass over the lights to protect them from salt spray.. As you can see I have room maybee for a few more lights, but not much!!!



Mind you my digital camer a is only a sony cybershot 2megapixel. So I am unsure how to adjust the settings if they alow me to at all to take pics of aquariums....The pics don't do the tank justice.. It looks much nicer and bright in person... Camera stinks...ARGGG

Spankey

 

[valval1029]

HI- this is a little off topic, but HOW do you get the pics into your post???? I've tried everything. Mine are on uploaded to my .Mac site so I put the link for people to click and view them... However sometimes I'd like to add one in the post and I can't do it!

 

[FL Knifemaker]

HI- this is a little off topic, but HOW do you get the pics into your post???? I've tried everything. Mine are on uploaded to my .Mac site so I put the link for people to click and view them... However sometimes I'd like to add one in the post and I can't do it!

right click on any of the pics in this thread and and look at properties. You will see the URL address for the picture. That is the source. You need to type or ad

right before and right after your source in your post with no spaces in between. Make sure you get the "http://www.blahblahblah" exactly right and it should work.

If you like, PM me your source and pic and I'll post it then you can see exactly how it works by right clicking on it.

 

[mogurnda]

My question is this.. I only really intend on doing mushrooms and some zoos or polyps... Will 45 watts be ok for this setup..

For zoos and mushrooms, 45 watts of PC light should be fine. Certainly for mushrooms. Zoos may brown a bit if they add zooxanthellae to make up for the light. The reflector doesn't look perfectly parabolic, but looks adequate.