Lighting for a 50G

**Unlved** · 02-20-2006 06:45 PM

need some assistance, im looking in to getting some anemones and possable coral after that. the current lighting i have is what came with the unit, what lighting do i need for these to survive? 50G corner unit.

attached are a couplee pics (tank hood and light)

**Reefland** · 02-20-2006 07:10 PM

That is just a standard flourescent tube that comes with most aquariums. In order to have the lighting for an Anemone, you will need a metal halide lamp, a 250w setup at least. Keep in mind that it's not just lighting, it is also tank stability and maturity.

**Unlved** · 02-20-2006 07:17 PM

understandable about the stability and maturity, im not looking at going out and getting one tomorrow, it is something i would like to have, with the right enviroment for one that is why i was asking what i would need. what needs to be changed on the light, is there anything i can keep? does the whole top need to be changed, these are the unanswered questions im looking for before proceeding with any of the above.

**charlie** · 02-20-2006 07:28 PM

I had a 54 al. corner tank, and I ended up buying a PFO pendant, 1 MH, and PC actinics. Corner tanks are hard to lite from what I have seen.

**Unlved** · 02-20-2006 07:34 PM

how many of these would it take to light the tank for the additions and also what modifications would have to me made to my current lid for this to fit?

**charlie** · 02-20-2006 07:43 PM

1 pendant ought to do the trick, and if you are gonna do a reef, take the top glass off. I hung the pendant about 6-8" off the top.

**Reefland** · 02-20-2006 08:00 PM

Nothing from your current system is worth keeping when going to "reef" lighting. You should look into a hanging pendent system with at least 1-250w halide and potentially some T-5's or PC's to supplement.

**Unlved** · 02-20-2006 08:07 PM

WOW nothing? guess i didnt know what i was getting my self into when i got the idea to do this.. oh well the curreent configuration will for for fish only right? well i know i need better flourescent light.

**Reefland** · 02-20-2006 08:26 PM

Your current light is fine for your tank as long as you don't have photosynthetic corals or other invertebrates in your tank. However as you mentioned, even with just fish a couple of VHO or PC's can go a long way in bringing out their true beautiful colors.

**Unlved** · 02-21-2006 09:02 AM

Reefland, not to question your answer but i noticed that ZooMed makes a flourecent light that Promotes growth of essential algae for corals and invertebrates, just wondering but for such a small tank would it work?

**Reefland** · 02-21-2006 01:54 PM

I am not familiar with that light, but I can assure you if it is a standard output flourescent lamp it will not produce enough light. You are going to need either a PC kit, VHO kit, T-5 kit or MH kit, depending on what kind of corals you want. And if you want an Anemone, you will need Metal Halide lighting.