Are T8 lights good enough for a SW tank?

[Evi1Monkey]

I asked first over in the lighting section, but no one responded after 3 days... so I guess I'll ask you guys

Are T8 lights good enough for a SW tank? I have a 48" 55gal with just fish and 2 almost freebie low light plants in it, and figured this would be good enough. Did some looking on T8 vs T5 bulbs on Google and didn't find exactly what I was looking for. If I understood correctly, T5 is massively brighter and smaller sized, and T8 is geared towards FW tanks.

Reason I ask, I got this light fixture really cheap. I knew it wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but if it worked it would be better then the fluorescent hood I currently have. This is the lable on it:

Lithonia Lighting
Model No. 1275B R071010
C.I.Code 990327 #E77235
120VAC,60Hz,32W
Use (2)F32T8 Replacement Lamp
MADE IN CHINA PX

After I got it, I found it here:
http://milo.com/lithonia-lighting-4-ft-t8-black-steel-shoplight
It's actually an office light, but was used as a tank light by the previous owner. Did not come with bulbs.

So my questions for this:

• Are T8 lights good enough for a SW tank? Note: Right now I have just fish and two colt corals I got for $5 at oddballs in Tulsa almost a year ago.
• Is the electric specs good enough for aquarium bulbs even?
• If it works, what lights would I need for it? It's 2 bulbs.
• Or would it be better to sell it to a FW user and get a new fixture?

 

[lauremf2002]

I dont see why you would need more than T8 for Fish only. If you ever want to keep coral you would need T5, compact flourescent, metal halide or LED lights. But this is fine for now. They sell T8 bulbs for aquariums at petsmart and petco

 

[Evi1Monkey]

Ok thanks. Any specific bulb type? Looking at the website I see many different types, daylight, actinic... Or does it not matter since it's just fish.

 

[cjilge]

no real need for actinic but you may want to play with the colors a bit even in the fish only.

 

[danielbui23]

The only thing I wouldn't do is a anemone under T8. I used a blue/white light for T8 that was really nice when I had my 180gallon African Cichlid tank running.