Lighting ?

[lillisa]

I am currently working on starting up a 55 gal. salt water aquarium-fish only, no coral. I have had salt water tanks in the past but still am ignorant as far as lighting goes. The tank I will be using is a hand me down from someone that used it for fresh water fish. I know enough that the 2 lights that came with it are not adequate. They only have 18" 15 watt flourescents. I am figuring that I will require at least 40 watt each. I have been shopping around to see if I can get bulbs only 18". I have come across a few that size but am unsure if a type will be good.

Help Please

[lillisa]

Lots of views but no suggestions. Seems no one has the answer to my question. Oh well, thought a forum would be a good place to get answer from folks in the know. I'll try elsewhere. Thanks anyway.

[wozza]

Hi lillisa, what kind of set-up are you going to have.
Is it completly fish only, no live rock or macro algie just fish and sand with fake decorations?

if so it doesnt matter what lights you have as long as you like the look of them.

But, if you have live rock in the tank you will need more powerfull lights if you want the coraline algie and other life forms of on/in the rock to thrive.

what are the dimentions of you tank?

cheers james

[charlie]

Lots of views but no suggestions. Seems no one has the answer to my question. Oh well, thought a forum would be a good place to get answer from folks in the know. I'll try elsewhere. Thanks anyway.

Sorry I missed this, been shopping til I dropped. Tis the season you know.
I would look into maybe some VHO's or T5 lites.
A combination of daylites and actinics would mke it look really good.

[lillisa]

Thanks for some info. My set up will be completly fish-just as you discribed. I was worried though that if I did not have adequate lighting that I will grow the nasty looking brown and red algea as opposed to the green. It is confusing and want my fishies to be happy and healthy. I'm trying not to sink more into lighting that possible and prefer to only change bulbs. Any suggestions for lighting that will help me with good algea growth at an 18" size?
Thanks again James!

Hi lillisa, what kind of set-up are you going to have.
Is it completly fish only, no live rock or macro algie just fish and sand with fake decorations?

if so it doesnt matter what lights you have as long as you like the look of them.

But, if you have live rock in the tank you will need more powerfull lights if you want the coraline algie and other life forms of on/in the rock to thrive.

what are the dimentions of you tank?

cheers james

[lillisa]

Do you know if those light types (bulbs) are avail. in an 18" size. Also, do you know if this type of lighting will promote good green algea growth?

Thanks for the reply!

Sorry I missed this, been shopping til I dropped. Tis the season you know.
I would look into maybe some VHO's or T5 lites.
A combination of daylites and actinics would mke it look really good.

[charlie]

Do some checking around with our sponsors for that size lighting. I myself have been running 18" lites over my refugium for years, and yes, they make algae grow.

Marine Depot and Premium Aquatics, both sponsors, should be able to get you going with what you need.