Lighting question

**Tigerbarb** · 05-29-2009, 02:48 PM

Well, I think the time has come...I have some money on my hands, and I when I tested my tank for copper, the test read 0, so I'm looking into making my 55g a reef tank. (Also, I found a snail living in my 55g, so I think it's safe for inverts now)

Do you think I could get some lowlight corals if I got 100 watts of 6700k fluorescent light on a 55g tank? I'm thinking about mainly zoas and mushrooms.

**travie** · 05-29-2009, 03:23 PM

Power compacts? T-5's? What kind of fluorescent light is what will be the main determining factor. You should be able to at least keep mushrooms with a 100 watts. Adding a clean up crew before corals would be a good idea to make sure the corals will survive. I would get a higher K reading for the light bulbs at least 10,000K.

**sid101** · 05-29-2009, 03:33 PM

i would go for 2 96w powercompacts one 10k and one actinic, that should give you enough lighting for almost or all LPS if you add a third light you could even go for the low end of SPS.

**oldhead** · 05-29-2009, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by sid101

i would go for 2 96w powercompacts one 10k and one actinic, that should give you enough lighting for almost or all LPS if you add a third light you could even go for the low end of SPS.

The above is what I was using on my 65 and I was able to keep lowlights on the bottom of the tank. I would go with a low power t5 set up though if I were you but that's just me.

**Tigerbarb** · 05-29-2009, 11:52 PM

Well the thing is I'm kinda low on money, so I don't have alot of options.
And yes, the 6700k lights are compact fluorescent.

**AABatteries** · 05-30-2009, 03:19 AM

If you don't mind waiting a month or so, here's your ticket to afforable t5's. From my experience that brand is just fine.

**Tigerbarb** · 05-30-2009, 03:28 AM

Well, I've officially decided what I'm going to be doing. I'm not gonna upgrade to 55g, but instead, I'm gonna make my 20g a nano reef. I've found a 65 watt 50/50 coralife fixture at petco for only $90, so I'm gonna get that and put it on my 20g, and eventually, I'll be able to go to my lfs and get some zoas/mushrooms for my tank.

Thanks for your help, everyone.

**AABatteries** · 05-30-2009, 03:00 PM

Have fun with the 20g. I have a 2x65w coralife fixture on my tank. It's doing just fine. I'll sell you it for $100 + shipping if you want.

**Tigerbarb** · 05-30-2009, 10:51 PM

Thanks, but I'm good. :)

Hmmm...so how do I acclimate corals, anyway? I was reading online, and it seems like I should let the bag float for 15 minutes, then drip acclimate the coral.