Kengaroo131
Fish Crazy
if i were to run a 20 watt bulb in a 5 gallon tank (about 4 watts per gallon) what type of corals am i open to?
coral/lighting
- Thread starter Kengaroo131
- Start date
StunnaShadez
New member
power compact lightings? you can have zoos and shrooms in it
sir_dudeguy
Active member
they dont make a 20w PC light that i know of, so i'm gonna assume its just a normal strip light and not even High Output or Overdriven....just a normal output bulb.
If i'm right, then you wouldnt be able to get much of anything to grow under it.
If i'm right, then you wouldnt be able to get much of anything to grow under it.
Kengaroo131
Fish Crazy
i saw it at my LFS it was a coralife 20 watt bulb that fits in a normal size light socket. i was thinking about running 2 but i figured i only needed one.
I have a double strip light from coralife.
http://www.esuweb.com/cardfile.asp?ItemNumber=58020&IDProductRelationship=370
24" AQUALIGHT T-5 - DOUBLE LINEAR STRIP
Download This Image
300 DPI Art Version | 72 DPI Web Version PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
ITEM # 58020
UPC # 096316580206
Dimensions: 22.625"L x 3"W x 1"H
Product Information:
Aqualight T-5 Series - Double Linear Strip
14 watt 10,000K daylight and 14 watt true actinic 03 blue T-5 fluorescent lamps
On/off switch and built-in ballasts
Sleek, designer-black aluminum housing
Highly-polished reflector
Acrylic lens cover
Adjustable width tank mounts
I know now that I should probably look for a power compact or a MH light. I think I am going to go with a MH because the price for our small tanks seams to be the same as a power compact.
But, what would you suggest as an upgrade? Or is what I have good enough for softies?
http://www.esuweb.com/cardfile.asp?ItemNumber=58020&IDProductRelationship=370
24" AQUALIGHT T-5 - DOUBLE LINEAR STRIP
Download This Image
300 DPI Art Version | 72 DPI Web Version PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
ITEM # 58020
UPC # 096316580206
Dimensions: 22.625"L x 3"W x 1"H
Product Information:
Aqualight T-5 Series - Double Linear Strip
14 watt 10,000K daylight and 14 watt true actinic 03 blue T-5 fluorescent lamps
On/off switch and built-in ballasts
Sleek, designer-black aluminum housing
Highly-polished reflector
Acrylic lens cover
Adjustable width tank mounts
I know now that I should probably look for a power compact or a MH light. I think I am going to go with a MH because the price for our small tanks seams to be the same as a power compact.
But, what would you suggest as an upgrade? Or is what I have good enough for softies?
sir_dudeguy
Active member
oh, are we talking about that coralife mini PC one that is 50/50 and is a regular screw-in bulb? If so, i have used them before. I had a 20w one over my little 2.5g tank and it really wasnt great. Especially considering it was only 2.5g. For one, the light looked really pink...which sucked IMO. But it was also just kinda dim and didnt get enough light in there. Cuz i had a few easy corals and they were all losing color and i know it wasnt because of bad water quality.
I actually have the same light your using the Aqualight T-5 Series - Double Linear Strip I was told at the time that I bought it, That it would be good enough for corals that dont require too much light. However if I were to have some coral that required more light all I needed to do was run one more of them and that would be good enough for my 20 gallon. I have two O.clowns and one coral that I can't tell what it is and its living fairly well.
Kengaroo131
Fish Crazy
yes that one but they have 2 differant kinda there one thats pinkish and the other one is 6500k and 6500ant just like a normal coralife 50/50 bulb
sir_dudeguy
Active member
Ya i had the one that was 50/50 with half 10K (white daylight) and the other half was SUPPOSED to be 03 actinic, which is the normal purple/blue looking actinic. But it looked quite pink and the colors on the corals were not great with it.
Kengaroo131
Fish Crazy
ooh hmm.. alright thanks for the heads up! 
Kengaroo131
Fish Crazy
you know i just though of somthing... what if i got a 10k buld without the antic and just put one of thows coral antic florecent buld in a small fixture that i have would that work? that wat i can get the light i need for some of the corals im putting in there right? or would that not work?
sir_dudeguy
Active member
as far as i know, they dont make those screw in coralife bulbs in 10K. They make them in all 65K i think, but i've never seen a pure 10K one. 65K works, but i personally dont like the color. But then again, if you were to get a nice enough (and bright enough) blue/actinic, then it would look alright probably.
Kengaroo131
Fish Crazy
hmm yea thats what i was thinking i might try it i have stuff just laying around that i can use. do thows florecent antinics look good? for the florecent fixtures i never used one.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
I never have used one either. I'm not sure what type of fixture (t6, t8, t12, etc...) your fluorescent one is, but if you have a wide choice selection, try to get one that is 460nm (i think its also refered to as 71K). Its not a true actinic. Just a blue, but its a lot brighter than actinics and doesnt give that purple color that actinics do.
Kengaroo131
Fish Crazy
alright i guess i'll give it a shot. thanks for your help.
