I'm slowly gather parts for building up my 60 gallon tank as a softie tank. The tank is about 48"x15"x15". I doubt I will have any fish in it, unless I get one as a hitchhiker.
Now for my question. I'm considering going with twelve 24w (13")power compact bulbs for the lighting. They could be powered off six separate ballasts, allowing the lights to come on in pairs slowly. This would also allow me to run 4 actinics, 2 50/50 and 6 daylight (or whatever the right combo would be). Placed in the hood it would pretty much be alternating 2" of bulb followed by 2" of space. I've found some 36" pc reflectors I can chop down to 12" and use to maximize light output. I have an aquacontroller that can be tasked with controlling that mess.
So, will it be enough light for softies? Pretty much all I want is mushrooms, zoos, xenia, GSP and whatever else is hardy and cheap.
What are the drawbacks to doing this besides the expense of bulbs, the extra cost of numerous ballasts and the higher likelihood of a ballast going out?
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Now for my question. I'm considering going with twelve 24w (13")power compact bulbs for the lighting. They could be powered off six separate ballasts, allowing the lights to come on in pairs slowly. This would also allow me to run 4 actinics, 2 50/50 and 6 daylight (or whatever the right combo would be). Placed in the hood it would pretty much be alternating 2" of bulb followed by 2" of space. I've found some 36" pc reflectors I can chop down to 12" and use to maximize light output. I have an aquacontroller that can be tasked with controlling that mess.
So, will it be enough light for softies? Pretty much all I want is mushrooms, zoos, xenia, GSP and whatever else is hardy and cheap.
What are the drawbacks to doing this besides the expense of bulbs, the extra cost of numerous ballasts and the higher likelihood of a ballast going out?
Thanks for any help you can offer.
