Alzado

I just picked up a 20 gallon tank with a standard hood that I want to use as a small reef tank.

I'm thinking that I want to start with some relatively easy, low light mushroom corals such as these: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...15&pcatid=2315

With that type of simple reef in mind, would these Coralife 20W 50/50 Mini Compact Bulbs be sufficient?


thanks!

HN1

IMO, not even close. You can do softies and maybe some LPS with PC lighting, but you'll need quite a bit more than that and will require a new fixture.

Alzado

i'm sorry, what's "PC Lighting"?

harpua2002

Power compact.
HN1 and I use 2x65W PC fixtures over our 20 gallon, which gives us a total of 130 watts. It's enough light so that we have quite a few options for what corals we can keep. If you only want low light corals, you could go as low as 1x65W PC fixture. However, that will limit your choices for what corals you can keep if you decide you want to try some that need higher light.

HN1

What she said...

BigJoe

Since this is sortof what i was asking in the thread I had... If I got 2x65w 6500K bulbs and maybe 1 of the 20w 50/50 bulbs would that allow me to get the full coloration out of the corals I would be planning? if i upgraded to 85w bulbs would that help with coloration? I have heard several times that 6500 bulbs will grow even better that 10000k ones but 10000k will allow them to bring out their full color... anyone know? If I need to switch threads please move mine

harpua2002

As far as I know there are no 85W power compact bulbs. I'd go for 10000K bulbs rather than 6500K- it will look more white, whereas 6500K look more yellow. Probably not the look you want for your corals. As far as adding actinics, that's up to you.

BigJoe

yeah there are all the way up to 105w CFL screw in... they are 9.5" long.. but ise a standard light outlet... the 105w gets 6300 lum. and the 85 gets 5100 lum... i think is what i read...

harpua2002

Oh. You'll lose a ton of light due to restrike with CFLs as I understand it. I suppose you could try making a DIY reflector and see if it works. I thought you meant you would be using a power compact fixture. I've seen DIY CFL hoods that work for FW planted tanks, but I've never seen anyone try it for a reef tank.