Lighting requirements

[KellyH]

I need to get my &*%$ together and start getting what I need for my system. I have a 90G tank and I will have both fish and coral. I need to know what lighting will be best and how much of it. I will build a canopy to fit it all when I know what I will need to put in it.

So I know you all have suggestions so let's have 'em :dance:

:thanks:

[kentracey]

What corals do you plan on keeping Kelly?

[KellyH]

Oh my...How did I know that I would have to answer a question after asking one.
How about I really don't know, now that you are asking me that I wonder,,,,,,is there a difference between them as far as lighting requirements is concerned, obviously there is. Am I along the right track in saying soft corals. That is what I want, and do I need to know which ones specifically? :wink-grin

[afss]

Softies usually are OK under NO bulbs. LPS is usually considered to be OK under VHO. SPS are usually considered to require MH. Having said that there are always exceptions to the "rules"

NO Normal output
VHO Very High Output
MH Metal Halide

Scott

[kentracey]

You can keep most soft corals with a small amount of power compact or VHO lighting. You could always go VHO and add more lighting as you need it. For example an Icecap 660 ballast will power four 4' foot VHO bulbs. These are 110 watts each. You can keep almost any corals you want with that setup. You could always start with a couple and work your way up (as you need them) or get all three or four right away, it's up to you. Lighting is very subjective and controversial. All most will agree on is that a combination of daylight and actinic will suit your needs well and try to keep the daylight part of that equation at 6500k or more. My preference is for metal halide lighting and two 175 watt halides would sure be nice and you'd get that shimmer effect and then you could keep almost anything you wanted as well. I'd say two 10k's would be great or if you like a little more blue the Aqualine Buschke 10k's are actually 13k. Another alternative is that Venki (a member who frequents AP) is selling 10k bulbs that he claims are actually 11535k and they're really cheap. The whole thing is really a matter of preference. Check out all the lighting threads here by performing a search and if you see a combination you like than investigate that futher. Good luck Kelly.