BEST VHO IN MY 55G (new to this)

[darkurza]

A friend of mine gave me a 55g tank i set it up about 6 to 7 months ago, I dont have the money to go buy any of these better lighting i keep reading in here about.
My Q? is --the lighting the tank came with is oh/vho 55 to 330(power box on back) it came with a white and a blue light (he got this tank about 15 years ago he didnt use it for about 12 of that, its still has the original lights. Now
I what to make this a reef tank for right now what are the best two bulbs(vho) I can buy for this tank?
I'll try to get better lighting for this tank in the future, but right know I'm on a buget.
please help.

[Poseidon]

I say set it up as a fish only. Lighting is the single most important item in a reef tank, and you just don't have enough. I don't want to sound negative, just realistic.

[dave00gt]

so u only have to VHO 48" tubes, so that would equal 220 watts of total lights.. your almost there but not quite, and it sounds like the lights may need replacements.. if you have about 200 bucks than you can go with a brand spanking new coralife 260 watts power compacts.. its worth the money, or you can do a retro fit and use the ballast and wiring and stuff.

[darkurza]

(((Thanks guys.)))
Dave that 260 compact i looked it up its two bulbs right??
And if I get it will that be good for all corals and anemones?
thanks again.

[charlie]

Even with pc's you are gonna be stretching it when it comes to anenomes. You may have enuf for some softies, but I wouldn't try anything more just yet. JMHO.

[dave00gt]

(((Thanks guys.)))
Dave that 260 compact i looked it up its two bulbs right??
And if I get it will that be good for all corals and anemones?
thanks again.

i have had my anemone and my clownfish for a couple of months now, and the anemone is doing great, i feed it couple of shrimps per week.

i am groing a little bit of everything , and i am sure i can grow whatever i want in there even acro, might not grow as fast , but my lights can handle it, i guess people here want you to overshoot in lighting than come short, but the extra lighting means more heat, honestly i would want more light at least 100 more watts, but then that would mean , my lower light creatures wouldnt havea place to hide..overall my tank looks great with the 260 watts.. I might try to go metal halide, but that is when i want to grow acropora and stuff.

the light fixture has 4 bulbs , rated at 65 watts a piece, pretty much 2 blue ones, and 2 white one's

Like i said, i have tried the high lighting corals, and they did just fine, its just that my puffer nips at them so i take them out.

[Steven Pro]

It sounds like your abllast can operate at least two (possibly three) 110 watt VHO lamps. I would use URI lamps, specifically one Aquasun and one SUper Actinic 03. If you mount these close to the water with no glass cover, you should be able to keep a variety of things. Many common large polyp stony corals would do fine as would mushroom anemones, some soft corals, and even a bubble tip anemone.

Lighting is really overrated/over emphasized in this hobby, in my opinion. Most things can do very well under rather modest lighting if you provide good water quality, appropriate feedings, and the right amount and kind of water movement.

[dave00gt]

It sounds like your abllast can operate at least two (possibly three) 110 watt VHO lamps. I would use URI lamps, specifically one Aquasun and one SUper Actinic 03. If you mount these close to the water with no glass cover, you should be able to keep a variety of things. Many common large polyp stony corals would do fine as would mushroom anemones, some soft corals, and even a bubble tip anemone.

Lighting is really overrated/over emphasized in this hobby, in my opinion. Most things can do very well under rather modest lighting if you provide good water quality, appropriate feedings, and the right amount and kind of water movement.

...nicely said.. thats why he is a PRO

[Steven Pro]

By the way, if you can add a third lamp, get a URI White Actinic to go with the other two lamps I mentioned.

[darkurza]

Man the best thing i ever did was join this forum.
((((THANKS ALOT))))

[darkurza]

How Close To The Water Should I Get These Lights.

[Steven Pro]

2-3"