live rock and lighting

[cichlidfort]

I am am getting a 55 gallon saltwater tank and I am soon going to order 45 pounds of live rock. What kind of lighting will I need to maintain it? Like how many watts?

[Reefland]

Liverock doesn't really require lighting; the coralline algae and other photosythetic life does. If you are not adding any corals to this tank then you can get away with just about whatever you want. I do however like to suggest that even FOWLR tanks incorporate some PC or VHO lighting just to help bring out the vibrant colors in marine fish.

[cichlidfort]

well I was getting some lights that could support some of the corals and other photosythetic life. I was just wondering if these lights could work for a 55.


I would get two 24 inch single bulbs that have 1-65 watts so it would be total of 130 watts. I know its not a lot but I am 16 and don't have all the money in the world. But are these lights good enough to maintain coraline algae and some photosythetic life and possibly some corals?

[jagsy]

that would be a good like just for liverock. but as said above, if you are going to add some nice corals VHO is the minimum i would suggest, pcs will do just fine for fish only with live rock--happy reefing mate

[The R/C Man]

That lighting would work for just fish but you will need a lot more to keep corals. Unfortunately, lighting is a large expense. With that said it is of great importance and therefore required. Maybe you can ask the folks for help..

[Reefland]

If those are only 24" you would have to have 2 fixtures to cover the length of the tank. If you did this I don't see any reason why you could add some Corallimorpharians (mushrooms).

[cichlidfort]

Thats what I said. I would be getting two of these 24 inch lights. So I could keep some of the more hardy mushrooms?

[The R/C Man]

As an example, I started out with 130watts of PC's over my tank (which is only 25 gallons) and ended up having to add a 250watt MH in order to keep all the corals I wanted.....

Don't go cheap to begin with because you will end up having to spend twice as much in the long run having to upgrade.....

[cichlidfort]

I am not interested in keeping all the corals I want. I am only 16 and don't have the time to maintain corals even if I wanted too. I just wanted to know if these lights could maintain the liverock.

[Reefland]

They will be fine for liverock.

[The R/C Man]

Oh! Yap what Scott said..

[CSeaSee]

I used to have 130W of PC over my 55 gal, and I had a lot of success keeping mushrooms. That's about all, though. I did have a beautiful flower (rock) anemone that did well for a long time, but eventually declined for reasons unknown. So, I say, go for some 'shrooms!

[cichlidfort]

yeah I will do that.
Thanks a lot guys