high quality lights a must???

i'm converting my fw tank to sw this weekend and just startin with the live sand n live rock....fish a week or two later....the lighting on the tank now is just some standard hood setup, do i need t5 or somethin like it for the live rock or is that just for when i add coral?

 

the fish you should wait more than a week or 2. the rock and snad need to cycle , usually 6 weeks for that. if youre gonna keep corals, good lighting is essential. t5's are good for that.

 

yeAH goin with 6x54 t5 for a 55 gal tank...already eyein em but won't be addin coral for 6 mo to a year so i'd rather save my cash for a bit.

 

you can wait until you want coral, but do wait longer to add fish. then only add one every 2 weeks

 

that will work good brian. good to have a plan like that.

 

a 6 bulb t5ho fixture works great with 55 gallon tanks, we have one on ours and i love it. we have had random coral come out of our live rock and they seem to be doing great. later down the road we plan on getting stuff like hard and soft corals and a carpet anemone, and have been told that they will do great under the 6x54's. good luck and cant wait to see pics of your tank!