Lighting ADD

Well after doing some more research and trying to find a light that will keep my sea horses happy and allow me to have SPS corals and polyps, I think I like this model

AquaticLife™ 36 Inch Compact Fluorescent Lamps with 4 Lunar LED`s

Designed in a contemporary shape, these Compact Fluorescent fixtures offer new features and light output only available from AquaticLife™.

• Timer controls Compact Fluorescent Lamps and Lunar LED`s independently.
• Like all AquaticLife fixtures, these fixtures use a single power cord to power all lamps, making it easy to mount on the aquarium or suspend from above.
• Included adjustable width Aquarium Frame Mounts support fixture above the aquarium.
• Suspension Ports allow connection to optional cables for various mounting configurations.
• Lateral supports and curvature of the fixture create a durable light housing.

Lamps Included:

• (1) 34" CF 96W 460/460 Lamps
• (1) 34" CF 96W 700+ Lamps
• (4) 1W Lunar LED`s

I have a 46 Gallon tank with about 50lbs of LR and a depth of 21" not including the depth taken up for sand so it is really 19-20" in depth. Does anyone have any opinions with this setup? I am mostly interested in polyps and fan worms.

 

Sounds like it should work for your application. Built in timers? Maybe I need one.

 

a built in timer is definitely a great selling point. They have a demo you can watch on Marine Depot.

AquaticLife PowerCompact CF Light Fixture

I believe all their lights have built in timers.

 

With power compact (PC) lights you need to be much more aware of your coral placement. Most SPS will only thrive high up in the tank. Personally I would look into a good T5 fixture if you want to keep SPS, much more efficient and better output.

EDIT: Looked at the link more carefully. If you're going to spend a few hundred dollars you may as well get a better light fixture than PC's IMO. A timer is under $20 I don't know if I would place that much importance on it.
This is a good middle of the road T5 fixture.
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Sunlight_Supply/Tek_Light_Fixtures/

 

I am trying to avoid a T5s because the stronger light annoys sea horses and forces them to hang out in shaded areas of the tank more. They will also turn more of a blackish color in T5 lighting to protect themselves from the high intensity light.

 

Well, honestly, if you want sps, you are trying to keep two things that have opposite needs. I doubt you will get good growth or color out of the sps. You could try a monti or birdsnest as they seem to require a little less light than other sps corals, but you may still not get good color. Also, sps require good flow, which is bad for seahorses. Seahorses are generally put in a species only tank due to their special needs in terms of food and flow.

 

What about polyps, how would they fair in this light? Any of the SPS I got would go on the top layer of my tank anyways which is about 10" from the top.