Lighting for my 55 gal after X-mas

For Christmas, my wife got me a new 2 bulb strip light for my 55 gal tank. Before that I had a single bulb strip light. I'm trying to decide, with no corals or "special" invertibrates, if the twin bulb would be enough. I could alternately go back for a triple bulb strip (adding a bit more money). Alternately, I could use the new dual and the old single. Basically, I'm wondering, with what I have what would be the best way to set up my lighting so that my tank will flourish and so possibly I can get some inverts down the road. I've been told that VHO's are the best, but can't put in that much cash right now. Maybe down the road... Any thoughts?

 

Any thoughts at all on this? Trying to decide if I should keep these new lights or return them and if I keep them what the best use would be - 1 "daylight" light, 1 moon light and 1 coral light (20000 K) or something along those lines is what I was thinking. That'd give me only 80 watts during the day for a 55 gal tank though and that's why I wasn't sure. So maybe 1 "daylight" bulb, 1 coral light and 1 50/50 or something. Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

You could also keep the light strip and get the right bulbs.. maybe one 10,000 and one 50/50 and down the road you can covert your ballast and wiring to VHO. I dont think you can return the bulbs that the light came with though... you can still use them for a while until you get the 50/50 and 10,000

 

I ran my MH with, get this...hehe...3 extra NO bulbs!  in 2 separate fixtures!  You can do it!

Just keep in mind the limitations when purchasing animals

If all you have is fish, they will be fine.  
they will look better under the 10K and 50/50's tho like MM said!

 

[quote author=Mr._Bond link=board=lighting;num=1104279058;start=0#0 date=12/28/04 at 16:10:58] I've been told that VHO's are the best, but can't put in that much cash right now.  Maybe down the road...  Any thoughts?[/quote]

with SIX VHO's on a 70 gal (20 watts each) i could not get enough light to make even my leather corals flourish.....by flourish i mean molt monthly-bi-monthly and grow noticably....not just die slowly. If you want to upgrade...PCs are just as much as VHO's if you look in the right places (ebay hint hint).....The new coralife and other fixtures will let you have most LPS, softies, and all zoo'z/shrooms.

 

Hi Sea...is that wattage right?  20W each?

I have VHO's that are 36 inches long and are 96 Watts each?  Of course I have MH as well..

Also, I believe Amcarrig runs only VHO's and her tank is beautiful...

 

48" VHO's are 110watts each and put out more light then PC's at the same watts.