another lighting question

[carl8232]

hi all i'm new to the hobbie and the forum.. i have a 50 gall tank that i want to add some corrals to i am currently looking at 48" Power Compact setups. i was wondering if it was better to get one that has 4 of the shorter bulbs or the 2 long bulbs. also how much watage do i need.

Thanks for the help in advance

Scott.

 

[cwby416]

can you be a little more specific about the short and long bulbs??? Wattage all depends on what you plan to keep in the tank.....If it were me setting up a 50g reef I would want at Least 200+ watts to keep...

 

[jign4bass]

I agree. At least 200 watts of PC, but it all depends on what you intend on keeping in your tank. As for long or short bulbs, I think it all boils down to what you can fit inside your canopy (assuming you are using a retrofit).

 

[plack]

pm'd you
paul
Do you want any corals that you know of by name as a must have or even the different categories softies/LPS/SPS ?
The right light for the right corals

 

[NaH2O]

Welcome carl8232 and jign4bass to Reef Frontiers!!!

 

[shallowreef]

What are you planning on growing?

 

[carl8232]

sorry about not giving enough info. like i said i'm kind of new to this whole thing. right now what i'm looking at is a 48" 260 WATT JEBO ODYSSEA AQUARIUM POWER COMPACT LIGHT. this light uses two 130 watt 4' bulbs. the other one i'm looking at the Coralife version but it has 4 65 watt bulbs. as far as what type of coral i want to keep i'm not sure. probibly soffties and maybe some anemones . if i where to get one of these two setup what types of corals would your recomend that i stick to?

Thanks again for the help.

Scott

 

[moortim]

I currently have a similar setup with PC's (working on a MH hood), you will be limited to softies and I would be very careful with anemone's they usually like more light (at least the ones I had didn't do so well). My thought would be to find a good book that will give you lighting needs of different corals you think you might want and see what would fit.

Tim

 

[Mauisreef]

Welcome Carl8232.
Go see Kevin at Aquatic Dreams if you havent already.
Pick his brain and drool on his tanks.
Just dont drool in them. :lol:
He will set you in the right direction.
Plus he's out in the valley by you.
You can get his address in the sponser forum on here plus a link to his web site.

Maui

 

[carl8232]

Maui i have talked to kevin some already just thought it would be a good idea to get some other oppinions.. thanks for the suggestion. i'll have to go talk to him alittle more tomorrow.

 

[Mauisreef]

Meeting tomorrow night there as well.

Maui

 

[Volcmreefer]

4-6 watts per gal.

 

[Mauisreef]

4-6 watts per gal.

Welcome Volcmreefer!

Maui

 

[Volcmreefer]

Right-on!! Yeah, hopefully we'll get this disturbance moving into the Gulf of Mexico to kick us a much-needed groundswell this week. It has been like a lake man. REEF ON!!

 

[iowa_seller]

Hello, this is a great place to read up on reef keeping. I have been running a JBJ 24gal. for 8mths now and have modified the filter system to make it a surface type. Wow, it is doing very good, no losses, mucho growth with almost all critters, especially sun polyps and alvepora (daisy coral?). So far I am very happy with my downsized reef.
Looking for a suggestion on lighting, Do I go from the standard hood and lighting for the 24 gal. JBJ cube.....to an open top with a 96 watt CF Corallife setup?? i run the tank with no skimmer, have very fine filter media instead, and I watch my PH...Nitrates...levels of all kinds carefully.
Thanks for any helpful advise!!

Iowa's Reefer!

 

[NaH2O]

Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!!

I'm curious to why you want to change the lighting if everything is doing well? It might help in determining your lighting needs.