help with lighting

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by martygary, Mar 5, 2012.

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  1. martygary

    martygary Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2012
    Messages:
    92
    Location:
    cape canaveral fl.
    i need help understanding lighting! for a reef tank whats the lighting needed [soft coral] whats the formula for knowing what watts you have? ive got a 55g 17inches deep. 2 t5ho*54watts apeace and 2 t5-28watt bulbs.
     
    martygary, Mar 5, 2012
    martygary, Mar 5, 2012
    #1

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  2. Kevin3884

    Kevin3884 Tassled File Fish

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    Messages:
    1,978
    Location:
    Tallahassee, Florida
    108+56= 164W....but that doesnt really mean anything anymore...i have just 288W of light on my 265G tank...but its LED...so its a new ballgame.
     
    Kevin3884, Mar 5, 2012
    Kevin3884, Mar 5, 2012
    #2
  3. rocketmandb

    rocketmandb Ocellaris Clown

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    Messages:
    1,451
    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    What you've got should be plenty for soft corals.
     
    rocketmandb, Mar 8, 2012
    rocketmandb, Mar 8, 2012
    #3
  4. chelseagrin

    chelseagrin Fire Goby

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2011
    Messages:
    1,346
    yeah theres really no formula you just have to know your lighting! ive only got about 19 watts of lighting over my nano tank and i can grow anything.
    your fixture would be fine for soft coral. really the main lighting fixture you can get will be

    -Normal Output fluorescent(normal striplight, little output)
    -compact fluorescent(slightly higher output, only for soft coral)
    -t5(depending on fixture, 2 bulb for soft coral, 4-8 bulb for sps)
    -metal halide(High output sps grower)
    -LED(strip light or 1-3 watt led's for coral growing!)

    -
     
    chelseagrin, Mar 8, 2012
    chelseagrin, Mar 8, 2012
    #4