[Saltie]

Hello, I am new to the forum and to saltwater tanks. I am setting up a 50 gal tank and wanted to know your ideas for what I can support with my current lighting. I am planning to use a 36 watt power compact (7100K) and a 15 watt incandescent light. Is this adequate light to support any soft corals or plants?

Thanks for the help.

[Ninong]

To answer your question: No.

[The Grim Reefer]

You would need at least 2 55 watt PC lamps to keep even the lowest light corals.

[Saltie]

What about mushrooms that need lower light, will my 36 watt power compact (7100K) and a 15 watt incandescent light support them?

[Ninong]

The answer is still "no."

Your 36w 7100K PC is a monochromatic actinic lamp with virtually all of its output at 450 nm. It will have a barely measureable amount of PAR.

Your lighting is suitable for fish, except those species such as clownfish that are adapted to the brighter light of shallow waters. They would wonder what happened to the sun. Most fish don't care that much about your lighting one way or the other but fish that are accustomed to the bright light of shallow waters would be confused.

[Ninong]

What are the dimensions of your 50-gal tank?

[Saltie]

Ninong,

The tank is roughly 20.5" High x 30.5" Wide and 17.5" deep.

[Ninong]

At a minimum, you would need something like this fixture if you want to keep even low light corals.

There aren't as many options in the 30" size. There are more choices in the 36" size. Or, you could always DIY.

Another possible option for your size tank (assuming you want to avoid metal halides), would be a fixture that contained four T5 HO lamps of the appropriate size.