fowlr lighting

[Brett A Ross]

I have a 75gal FOWLR system that I am starting to stock. The only lighting I have is what came with the tank single florescent bulb on the tube is natural daylight f40t10 marinland no wattage that I could find. Will this light be ok to keep my live rock healthy and can it crow coralline. I'm planning on having a few shrimp snail and crabs no coral for now.

[saltjunkie]

as long as the fish can see, as long as you can see the fish.. and you like the light color.. you are all set...
Although better brighter light is beneficial in some ways??? to fish also?

[Brett A Ross]

will invest in better lighting later probably pc, just trying to prioritize my money. At first need so much stuff have over $1700 invested so far and no end in sight.

[saltjunkie]

will invest in better lighting later probably pc, just trying to prioritize my money. At first need so much stuff have over $1700 invested so far and no end in sight.

if you are going to invest in good pc lighting.. you can get a good mh retro kit for the same price.... and have a better light system..

[Brett A Ross]

not sure i can fit a mh kit in my one tubu fixture. the back of my tank is undrer my basement steps so maby pendents

[jordyt123]

I have the same question buy I only have about a 20gal tank, how many watts per gallon is recommended for live rock?

[Poseidon]

I have the same question buy I only have about a 20gal tank, how many watts per gallon is recommended for live rock?

Watts per Gallon??? ;)

Sounds like you have been to a LFS!!! Live rock only requires basic lighting. Personally I like VHO over PC, if you want to upgrade though.

Oh ya... Welcome to Reefland! Make sure to browse the posts and use the "search" function Scott has included in the board, it works VERY well! I'll bet many of your questions are the same ones we all had when we started out, so you MAY find lots of detailed answers there...

[jordyt123]

So how many watts would I need for a 20 gal tank then?

[Poseidon]

It is NOT the WATTS, that is a measure of electric consumption. It is the LUMENS that is a measure of light output. How long is your 20 gallon? Is it a LONG or a TALL? I would say 2 VHO's one white 6500K and one actinic 03. (Blue) Or you could do a Power Compact, 50/50, or even 2... But for Fish only with liverock you really don't HAVE to change a thing!

[Ninong]

I have a 75gal FOWLR system that I am starting to stock. The only lighting I have is what came with the tank single florescent bulb on the tube is natural daylight f40t10 marinland no wattage that I could find.

The "f40" is the wattage, fluorescent 40 watts. The "t10" is the diameter of the lamp in 8ths., 10/8 = 1.25".

Will this light be ok to keep my live rock healthy and can it crow coralline. I'm planning on having a few shrimp snail and crabs no coral for now.

Yes, it will keep your live rock live if that's what you mean. It will be sufficient for certain species of coralline algae, sponges and other low-light loving animals but inadequate for most zooxanthellate corals.