55 gallon lighting

hi all i have a 55 gallon tank and a 4x130 watt orbit fixture what wont i be able to keep for corals? i dont have a par reader either so i cant test that.

 

probably stony corals, but you might be able to keep them if there placed in the top ten inches of the tank.

 

cool i was thinking softies anyways

 

I think with 520 watts on a 55 gal. tank.. You would be able to keep most anything..??

I only have 260 watts on a 55 gal. and have Leathers, mushrooms, candycane,
Fregspawn,hammer, etc. All doing good.. I know I do need to upgrade ..

But 520 watts sounds like alot.. Thats 9.45 watts per gal..
Even tho you can't really go by watts per gal..

Later, Larry

 

You will be able to keep many soft corals just fine .. even a few hardier LPS also.. Not my first choice of lighting but with proper lamps and longer photo periods there is more then a few types you can keep . But I'd not try any SPS with them there is a specie of flordia Green Staghorn Acro that is near bullet proof to use a tryout sps . I have sent out lots of it to people with Nanos and first time sps keepers ..

 

thanks

 

That much wattage on a 55 should be able to grow pretty much anything except many of the smooth skinned or very light dependant SPS. Montis both capricornis and digitata will grow great as well as most likely birdsnest.
I've personally kept SPS of certain types in a 55 with 260 watts of PC over the tank. Just about all if not all LPS will be fine in your tank, just about all softies, and like I said many SPS will do fine.
The only problem I see is that there will be much wasted light and energy with PC, with that much wattage you will be seeing an increase in that energy bill every month, and you will need to replace those 4 130watt bulbs at least every year as well. Most likely every 8-10 months.
I don't see why people would doubt that you could grow coral with this light??!?!
You just could've gone a more energy efficient way i.e T5...

The only thing that is concerning is I am seeing that particular light marked down from $830ish down to under $400, something isn't right there.... Better hope that Current or other manufactors don't phase out the 130watt PC bulbs!!!

Happy lighting!