What's the difference?

[robvia]

What is the difference in a t8 and t12 light?

What would be a fair price for a F30T12/AR/SR (41378) bulb?

What about a F40T12/AR/SA?

The water depth of my tank is 24 inches. It's 72" by 12" which makes 90 gallons. How much total wattage would you think I would need in lights?

Thanks,
Rob

[Ninong]

What is the difference in a t8 and t12 light?

T8 = 1" diameter tube
T12 = 1.5" diameter tube

The water depth of my tank is 24 inches. It's 72" by 12" which makes 90 gallons. How much total wattage would you think I would need in lights?

Depends on what you intend keeping. SPS and clams require stronger lighting that most LPS, softies, mushrooms, etc. Total wattage is just a measurement of power usage. Not all lamps of the same wattage are created equal. The best solution would be three metal halide lamps plus a couple of 6' long (160w) URI VHO Super Actinics. That would enable you to keep anything. The metal halides should be 250w or even 400w for your size tank but you could get by with less.

If you don't want metal halides, then at the very least you would want four 160w VHO fluorescents (two Actinic White and two Super Actinic). Other possibilites might include either power compacts or T5's.