Calling all Light Officianados....

I have been reading and I just don't get it yet. All the abbreviations throw me. I am new to this, and gleening info off all the wonderful posts. I haven't been able to get to the shop to get new books yet.
Here is the scenario: I have a 20 gal.,that is about 13 inches high. I have 2 tube flourescent lights. One is 20w, puts out 1100 lumens,18000 kelvins,and lux is 80, it is a Power-glo. The second is 20 watts, puts out 700 lumens and no kelvins and 50 lux,it is a Marine-glo. These are specifically made as aquarium lights. One is blue and one is white. The wattage seems so much lower than everyone else's.
Here are the questions.
What is LUX?
Did I buy the wrong bulbs?
Who can live with those kind of lights?
Are these enough to help my rocks grow? (I've had two live rocks for two weeks, with very little green on them that looks like emerald paint).
Do lights lose strength before they burn out, like tanning bed lights?
I am afraid to buy another fish. I know it's silly. My exoskeleton buddies seem to be doing so well. After a couple of weeks of of preparing the water, I had two damsels die. I just want to be really prepared. I would like to master this little tank before going larger.
Thanks in advance.

 

40w on a 20gal isn't much at all, you can prolly keep shrooms and a number of soft corals, they'll live but won't grow very fast. you have 2w/gal you wanna be at least at 4-5w/gal. I'm guessing your "blue" light is an actinic good for color and growth. your rocks will be fine. and yes, bulbs definitely lose their strength in time.

Lux? i just look at watts and kelvins.

here's a good link to some low-light beginner corals:
Beginner corals for a reef aquarium - Aquatic Connection

 

Hagen Power GLO T5 HO (High Output) Bulbs produce high color temperature lighting of 18,000K, great for marine, African cichlid and other aquatic environments where a high temperature bulb is called for. Power GLO T5 HO will accentuate blue, violet and purple colors.

Sounds Okay to me,

Hagen Marine-glo, Standard intensity bulb promotes marine reef life. Simulates colors of deep marine environment. Ideal for saltwater aquariums, corals and invertebrates. Strong actinic blue spectral peak, strongly recommended for photosynthetic corals, invertebrates and other marine life. Visible dominant blue spectrum highlights blue coloration in fish, corals and other invertebrates.

Sounds Okay to me.. also bulb life according to hagen is 24" 20 W 7500 Hours which seems kind of long to me, I would change them about once a year.

So only issue I see is you are kind of limiting yourself to the types of coral that will do well in your tank. Most leathers, mushrooms and Zoa's will do well. a few lps like frog spawn will do Okay just don't expect any great amount of growth from anything.

As far as Coraline algae goes, it has been said and my tanks show that it grows much better in a lower light environment that in high light. My 16 gallon has an 80- watt PC on it and the Coraline only grows well on the lower levels and under ledges on top is isn't growing very well.

 

Thanks so much, I need to learn all these acronyms! I plan on going to the shop this Friday. I printed out the link info! Even the books are pricey in this hobby!

 

Ha! you are just starting.. trust me it gets worse, lots worse. started with a 10 gallon and at last count have 6 tanks going now, 7 if you count the 5.5g baby seahorse tank!

 

It just so happens hubby likes to look at the tank, (but not do the work) so he suggested a 100 gal. might be better........hmmmm. I really don't think he knows what he's said! I've already taken to using cash for purchases....it's less obvious! (hee hee).

On a more serious note, I was reading about which fish to get. Seahorse is not for me,yet. The book said they used to sell baby seahorse in bowls to kids. Can that be true?

 

Heres a link to regular abbreviations used around the forum
http://www.3reef.com/forums/bucket/abbreviation-help-thread-49436.html

 

So funny! Thanks! I spend so much time reading and learning off these threads, that I had to go to your link to see acronyms are on the main menu! Duh!
Thanks!

 

those are t5's,you have enough for a nice soft coral tank but the company that sells those glow fixtures does'nt sell the right bulbs for coral.you want a daylight bulb of about 10,000k and an actinic bulb ,2 bulbs over the tank.

 

Sound like you have NO Fluorescents.

NO=normal output, Fluorescent lights in bulb sizes ranging from T5-T12 (for aquariums)
PC=power compact, Dual NO T5 bulbs in one bulb basically.
VHO=very high output, Over driven T12 bulbs
T5HO= high output in a T5 sized bulb, Over driven T5 with built in reflectors
MH=metal halide, Converted street lights basically.