PC Lighting for 75 Gallon - is it enough?

[vester_72]

Hi - I have a 75 gallon with 85 lb.s of live rock and 75 lbs. of live sand. I currently have 220w of PC lighting - 2 55w actinic bulbs and 2 10k bulbs. The tank is about 20 in deep.

I want to add some simple soft corals and mushroom rock - my question, is this enough lighting for some beginner soft coral and mushroom rock? Is there any type of coral/rock that my lighting would be sufficient for?

My LFS has given some bad advice int he past so I wanted to see what some of you thought.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Enzo]

220 is a bit low, but it should be good for mushrooms and softies. YOu should be allright. My LFS told me that 60 watts on a 29 was even fine for mushrooms, and that they do it to. I'm not going to trust their advice just to be safe though. But you should be good, they are a pretty trusted LFS.

 

[Will C1]

my first tank a 40gal tall was lit with 2 30watt regular floresents and i kept mushrooms fine in there. i wouldent try anything else but low light stuff would be fine.

 

[vester_72]

thanks for the help - I was afriad of that.

so, if I want to go with a true reef, I need to add more PCs or Halides.

thanks again

 

[Will C1]

yes my reef now is lit by MH's but it depends on what you want to keep on what size to get if you want stonys go with either 400 or 250 watters. if you just want leathers and soft stuff the 175's will be fine.

 

[Green Lantern]

You don't need MH lighting to have stony corals. There are high light demand species for sure but many of the larger polyped species and even some of the smaller polyped species will do well under VHO or PC lighting. As a matter of fact, many will do better under the lower light levels. For example, in my experience Euphyllia spp. do better under lower light and I have to place them really low in my tank lit by MH. With a few more PCs in there, all but the most light demanding animals would do fine in your tank.

 

[reefsRcool]

as long as you stick witht he less demanding stuff IMO you should be ok. my advice is to not spend any money upgrading you existing lights until you are ready to go halides. more PCs will help but then you will only have more PCs.