Advice on Lighting requirements (for acropora corals)

[Shaemus]

I have a 54 gal tank at a height of 20 inches and I want to have acropora corals with in it and a pipe organ/daisy coral(Tubipora musica) it's a type of polyp/lps coral that need strong light. I was wondering how many watts i should be lookings at, I'm looking towards 280-380 watts with Metal Halide and Compact Fluorescent, do you think thats enough or more ?

Sincerely,
Shaemus

 

[trido]

What are the overall dimensions of the tank? If it is over three feet long I would recommend a minimum of Two 175W MHs with some actinic lighting for color.
A couple 250s should allow you to grow anything you are capable of keeping alive.

 

[Shaemus]

it's 36 x 18 x 20

Thanks for the advice

 

[trido]

IMO you will definately want two MH bulbs. The single 250 over my 40 breeder (36"x18"x16") leaves alot of dark shadows on the edges. Fortunately its not display tank.

 

[Shaemus]

do you know any companies that have 2 250 metal halide fixtures that could fit on my tank ? ( i have to order from the internet because i live in Nova Scotia, Canada and it's hard to find good quality up here, we just have t-5's)

 

[Anonymous]

This is what I have. Outer Orbit 2x150 w/T5 lamps. http://www.championlighting.com/product ... 629&page=1

For little over hundred more you can get 2x250.

 

[Shaemus]

i'm thinking of getting the 36" Outer Orbit 2x250 w/ T5 Lamps, in total there is 669 watts, is that to much? there are 2xs 250 metal halides.

Shaemus

 

[Anonymous]

Shaemus wrote:

i'm thinking of getting the 36" Outer Orbit 2x250 w/ T5 Lamps, in total there is 669 watts, is that to much? there are 2xs 250 metal halides.

That would be awesome. As previously stated, you could keep anything in that tank. Well, anything that likes high light!

Louey