lighting

[Gouramiman]

i am going to set up a 50 gallon and was wondering if 2 of this lighting would be adequate for a reef tank?

here is the link: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3779&Ne=40000&R=7383&N=2004+113030

it is almost 4 watts per gallon but im afraid it might be too bright

any comments would help thanx

 

[KennethT]

How long is the tank? If it's a 4' tank, then why not get the 48" Coralife Aqualight? It's 260W with seperate switches for actinic and 10,00K. It runs between $200 - $300 depending on where you look. would work MUCH better. But then, I have 284W of power compact lighting over my 20L reef.

 

[wayne]

Is a 50 gallon 3 or 4 feet long. I would suggest that at 18 inches long this will be too short for a 4 footer, and possibly be a bit odd for a 3 as you'll get a lot of shadowing where the light is too far to one side.

 

[S.Reef]

I agree with Kenneth and Wayne.

Sam Reef
_______________
90 Gallon FOWLR Marine System
20 Gallon Reef
10 Gallon Reef
10 Gallon Marine Aquarium
20 Gallon Freshwater Planted Aquarium

 

[Gouramiman]

but i am going to get two of the system and put them side by side
long way

 

[KennethT]

ok, but you are still only looking at 192W, and the bulbs are only 17" long. The 4X65W Aqualigth would work much better, or you might find a nice retokit on Ebay or one of the lighting sites. The more light the better. I currently have 284W of PC lighting over my 20L tank, and will be upgrading to 303W very soon.

 

[Gouramiman]

i am now thinking about getting some of those flouresent shop lights and changing out the bulbs to 50% 10000k and 50% actanic. it would be way cheaper but i would have to find a way to get the ballasts out of the way because with the ballasts on top they are reallytall and probably wouldnt fit between the top of the glass and the top of the canopy im putting it in

 

[KennethT]

I ahte to keep sounding like a smarta**......BUT fluorescent lights just aren't for reef tanks. A reef tank needs VHO Fluorescents, Compact Fluorescents (Power Compacts), or Metal Halide Lighting. If it was a FOWLR Tank, then the regular Fluorescents would be fine. What length is your tank, and I'm sure that we can point you in the right direction, without breaking the bank.