Corals with this light setup ok?

I am in the process of cycling a 35 gallon tank for a reef set up. (36" x 12" x 16" ) The 16 inches is the depth of the water, and I got this Odyssea light:

36" 192W (2-96 watt) Dual Strip Compact Fluorescent Light Fixture - 501021

Looking now I am just curious if I made a mistake by not getting a halide for the type of system I want. I would really like to do corals and just wanted some input if this would be sufficient light, or if I would need to purchase a halide, thanks.

 

i had 260w of CF on a 55gal and i kept softies and some LPS okay. You should be fine....but i would try to go T5. the bulbs last longer and hace way more coor options than CF. + they put out more light

 

I would have went the halide way!!!

 

Yah I am kinda wishing I had went that way. Maybe I will sell them on ebay and go with some halides, I haven't opened them up yet.

 

It really depends on what you want to keep. 35G is not a lot of water between your lights and a coral. I'm sure you could get away with mushrooms, Zoanthids, leathers. But I would stay away from SPS, and most LPS.

J

 

I wouldn't recommend PC's. Go with T-5's/individual reflectors or Metal Halides.

 

T5's all the way, PC's limit you to what you can keep to much.

 

Alright thanks all, wish I did a bit more research before I bought what I did. At least I didn't open them so I can just ebay them and get what I need.

So if I go with T5's would 4x39 be sufficient for my tank for most corals, or is a halide needed. Also, is a 150 halide sufficient or would a 250 be needed for some species?
Thanks!

 

I second that motion, you can never go wrong with MH

 

4 T-5's will cover that area better than one MH. Since the tank is only 12" wide and 36" long you would need two MH's. I'd buy the 36" TEK fixture with two ATI Blue Plus, one Pro Coral and one 12,000K Aquablue Special.

48" TEK fixture on a 75g with:
2x ATI Blue Plus
2x ATI Aqua blue special
2x ATI Pro Color