18x48 inch hood with t 12 actinic blue lights, buy another hood?

[aborrero4u]

I have a 72 bow with an 18x48 inch hood with two 40 watt t 12 actinic blue lights. I have some zoas and polyps and candy canes in my tank. Can I buy another hood to make more sufficient lighting. Its cheaper this way for me, for right now. If i do this then all together the wattage would be 160? Good idea. bad idea, pros, cons? Thanks in advance....

 

[KathyC]

The issue is the color spectrum in coral keeping. T12 bulbs don't provide what the corals need, so adding more won't help the corals thrive.
Keep your eyes on the For Sale forum here, perhaps you can get an inexpensive PC light if you only want to keep zoa-like corals.
You could also try posting in the Want to Buy forum

 

[aborrero4u]

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it..

 

[mr_X]

t12's are perfectly fine for corals. VHO bulbs are t12, they are just higher wattage.
they come in daylight, and actinic.
you could purchase a VHO ballast, and then change out the bulbs to 1 daylight, and 1 actinic. at 48", they are 110 watts a piece. you could use the same fixture, end caps and all.