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elite_guy
04-15-2003, 03:20 PM
Hi everyone, glad I found this place!

I am starting up a new tank (50 Gallons) and would like some recommendations on lighting. The tanks dimensions are 48" x 13" x 18" high

I intend on having roughly 65 pounds of live rock, 70 pounds of live sand, and various fish along with soft corals.

I'd like to make sure I put the correct lighting in place ahead of time.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mike
Chuck S
04-15-2003, 04:28 PM
If you are just going to do soft corals I would go with VHO lighting. You will be able to fit 4 4 foot long VHO tubes under the hood. I know I have a 55 gallon tank. Okay you choices are going to be the following. If you want just easy to care soft corals try 2 VHO 50/50 bulbs and 2 NO actinics. Now if you want to make sure you can add some of the hardier LPS corals like Hammers and brains as well I would suggest 4 VHO bulbs. That would give 440watts versus the 300watts. You can go with Icecap ballasts or the cheap way would be any hardware lighting distributor and get a VHO ballast. PFO makes a good ballast as well. I think overall the 4 VHO is best for a variety in case you want to add that harder to keep coral. I even keep some SPS under VHO successfully.
elite_guy
04-15-2003, 04:45 PM
440W for a 50 gallon tank!? Isn't that a bit much? What's your take on PC lighting? I found a 36" 4x55W setup for a great price.
Chuck S
04-15-2003, 05:46 PM
The minimum for a soft coral tank would be the 2 VHO and 2 NO bulbs. I would recommend the 4 VHO bulbs.

I have over my 120 gallon reef 2 400watt halides and 2 VHO actinic bulbs. Now as I stated I have a 55 gallon reef system. This tank is 48x12x18 standard tank. This tank is a mixed reef with majority of corals being soft and LPS but I do have some SPS in there. The tank is great. If you really think 440watts is too much for a reef tank then you may need to read a bit on coral lighting requirements. Here is a picture of my 55 gallon tank.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/omegatron/b/DSCN0238.JPG

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/omegatron/b/DSCN0237.JPG