do I already have adequate lighting?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

mackattack702

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 23, 2008
82
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0
San Antonio Texas
I have always wanted a salt water tank I got my first freshwater tank (60 gallon bowfront) about a year ago and have still been looking at salt but the lighting is so expensive. The freshwater tank that I got used came with built in florescent lights along with florescent actinic lights. I was reading across this article

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/lightslightingsetups/tp/tpkelvinratings.htm

and it says that 10,000k lighting is good, so I checked what mine are and they are 12,000k !! and 36 watts( I have two of each). Does this mean the lighting I have now would be adequate for a salt tank I understand that corals need intense lighting but could I keep a fowlr tank with what I have as far as lighting goes?
 
theres a lot of factors that make light, adequit. the Temperature of the bulb (kelvins) is important but you want bulbs with a good bit of kick as well. This means that the light waves have better penetration power through the water and make it more ideal. In most cases, lights that are not designed for corals, will not keep corals. Thats what i always tell people i deal with, just because even IF the lights you have now are okay, you will notice 0 growth probably and your corals could eventually die. On top of that, your extrememly limited as to what corals you can keep in the first place.

Post some pics of the lights and bit more detail as to what type of floros they are. Examples of this are Compact Flourecents, T5's, T8's or T12's. this info will help us better understand what where working with.

these days lights are not really that bad in cost, depending on the dimensions of your tank, i could build you a light system capable of keeping lps corals, and some low-moderate light SPS corals for a low cost if you would like me to do that for you. You have to know the type of lights your dealing with to "get away" with building it yourself. Understanding how each type of light works, its pros and cons etc will all aid in how much you spend.
 
wow thanks for the quick response. Here are some pictures I just took of the lights.
3495496034_0c4fede7d3.jpg


3495496270_6dff3b424e.jpg

Right now I am a student and won't be able to afford a salt tank for a few months at least. Which is good in the fact I have more time to research. But if I already had decent lighting to get the live rock to grow it would be nice. Also thanks for the gesture of building it for me I will take it into consideration but I am an electrical engineering student and don't know if ill let you take all the fun away from me :P
 
what size tank is it?

if it's fairly small, or at least shallow, those would be good for pretty much all soft corals... leathers, toadstools, xenia, mushrooms, zoos etc
 
those lights are actually pretty good. I agree with big G though, i feel that 18" is a bit too deep for those lights, but also, my 65 gallon was run off 2 CF lights and my corals did just fine, all softies. I think if placed mid to high level in the tank, you will be fine.
 
NP, were always here to help... When you do switch to salt, because i know you will lol, i would probably change the bulbs. You could also for cheaper, add more bulbs. A 2 bulb kit for T5HO's and a small ballast and also with good ICECAP reflectors, you will be sitting very well, running both types of lights that is, an option in case the two are not enough.

good luck with all of your future fish keeping.
 
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