lighting question

[hummer]

i know its too late to ask now i have them but do you all think these lights would be good for all coral (any kind) the watts are 520 the tank size is 55 gal 18 inchs deep... it is all most 9.5 watts per gal

[Iconz]

i'll tell u what i've been told twice today by guys at my LFS's... You can probably keep anything under them alive, but some things just won't grow as well as under Halides... They were referring to the SPS corals and some clams.

To be honest, the best looking tank i've seen so far used T5 lighting, and it was a pure SPS tank. So, that being said... From all I've read so far, I think they will do fine... I also think that there are some people who hold on to Halides like they are the Bible of lighting. And are convinced that there is no other. While there is nothing wrong with that, there may be another way...... T5's for instance. (BTW.. I look at those type of people as being partial to one and would not give a true, fair, factual answer.)

Sorry for the rant, but that's my 2cp... Also remember, I too am fairly new and am by no means an expert. I've just done alot of reading on lighting.

[Sweetpea]

Just to put my 2 cents worth in here, too...

I have not tried to keep clams or SPS under the type of lighting you pictured, but I had kept and grown LPS with them. I have had the 20" fixture over my 10 gallon for about 14 months.

I have kept AND grown SPS under T5 lighting, even though my LFS people said I wouldn't be able to. I also have a clam under this lighting, and he seems happy (haven't had him long enough for him to grow).

Hope this helps.

[hummer]

thanks sweetpea and icons the largest T5 lights are 430watts mine are 520watts ..90watts more this is why im asking

[Sweetpea]

I have 4 - 24 watt T5s running on an IceCap 660 ballast. The lighting is so intense that I have to warn everyone in the room before I open the canopy so I don't accidentally blind them! Seriously, I have been extremely pleased with the set-up (thanks a bunch Eric and David!).

Bottom line: I have only 96 watts over my 20 gallon tank, and I have seen enough growth on my SPS corals to confidently recommend it to others.

Perhaps Eric (or another knowledgeable lighting person) could step in here to explain more about watts vs. PAR...

[perpetual98]

There is no end-all-be-all correct answer for you, and pay no attention to the Watts-Per-Gallon rule. Halides and T5 can generally throw the most PAR (Photosynthetically Available Radiation) compared to their Wattage. PC are typically the worst as far as PAR vs. Wattage.

That being said, that fixture is probably fine for you. You may not be able to keep some of the higher light-demanding SPS or clams on the sandbed, but by all means, you should be fine. There's some SPS that I wouldn't try, but for a long time, you'll have all the lighting that you need.


Seeing as your 55G is so narrow front-to-back, when you upgrade to a larger tank (oh you will ) you can use that fixture on your new tank and then put a couple HQI halides behind it or a couple T5 bulbs behind it.

Eric

[hummer]

thanks eric(perpetual9 and thank all just wanted to ease myself on what i had gotten .. thanks all of you again..

[AlgaeFarmer]

When did they come out with 130W PC bulbs? What are the dimensions on them? I don't think I'm familiar with those.

[hummer]

thay are orbit extreme48 inch the disscription says revolutionary 130W compact fluorescent lamps rival metalhalide light
2 sunpaq dual day light (6,700k/10,000k) and
2 dual actinic(420nm and460nm)bulbs
a total 520watts also has dual fans

this is all a knoew about them i was hoping some one kow more about them
there are the most exspensve com pac fluorescent around and most watts for the money im doing a reef with corals and anenamies will let you all know how they work or just follow my thread in the ....diy.. 55 from the start .... there are pics of them there...