So of course my LFS's always bs and try to tell me I have a good enough set up for all the corals and I do not buy it. I have a 46 gallon with only 1 36 inch POWERGLO fluorescent and 1 24 inch MarineGlo fluorescent. Is there ANYTHING that I could keep without upgrading lighting. Xenia?
Honest opinions from honest people =-)
- Thread starter Ryand63
- Start date
I would personally go for something like a 4 bulb t5 fixture for a 46 gallon tank. Even with the 4 bulb you will be limited to what you can keep. Judging from my own experiences and that of others, I don't think you will end up with only keeping xenia. I keep a 6 bulb t5 fixture over my 40 gallon breeder tank.
Are you giving yourself advice
lisafoster
so much to learn
You would need a 4 bulb picture to keep corals. I have seen people talking about that fishneedit.com I think their 4 bulb fixtures are under $69. If it is a 46 gallon bowfront they are deeper than a standard tank.
logan 12
New member
Don't agree
I have several tanks and run T5's over all of them. My 33 has a 4 bulb set up with ATI's and it is an all sps tank set up for growing frags out. So u may be limited in where u can put the coral but not limited with T5 to what kind of coral. Keep in mind that the sps will have to be placed directly under the 4 bulb fixture if u choose later on to try them out. I think that a 4 bulb T5 fixture is a good start. U should have no problem keeping any softies and most LPS should do well also. A 6 bublb fixture would allow for u to place coral throughout your tank. I would go with the 4 bulb fixture.
From what I have seen and experienced xenia loves High light and does well in high light. MH are the best aplication for growing xenia. However it can be kept under a variety of lighting. I have grow xenia like crazy and then watched it all die. Some people can not keep it at all and in others tanks it thrives.
That is just my little bit I have learned over the 8 years in this hobby.
PiXieCath
Premium Member
Keep in mind that it's not just about the quantity of bulbs you put on the tank, it's about the quality...A 4 bulbs cheap lightning fixture never give the same light spectrum that a good quality fixture. Reflectors, ballast, bulb and cooling system are all components who have a huge impact on proper lightning...So...a 6 bulbs cheap fixture can give less lightning that a 4 bulbs high quality fixture.
InsaneClownFish
New member
With your current lighting you can keep button polyps, mushrooms, some frilly mushrooms, green star polyps, and kenya tree.
With a 2 bulb 2x39w HO with rolled reflectors and your marine glow you can keep all of the above and possibly some cap, plate, maybe a less demanding LPS or two. Colt, Sinularia. Personally, pom pom, or pulsing xenia I think would be fine. Cespitularia(blue xenia) and Anthelia would most likely struggle.
With a 4x39w HO T5 fixture, with individual reflectors, as others have suggested, you can keep Anything you want. Toadstools, Nepthia, Fiji Leather, all LPS(appropriate of course), SPS(appropriate of course), Clams(high up only), and smaller anemones...Sebae, BTAs etc. The only thing I wouldn't recommend keeping with this lighting would be some deep water SPS and certain anemones, like Gigantea- which is 100% inappropriate for your tank anyway. Also if you happened to choose a Crocea clam, only high up under all 4 bulbs with an eye to any pigment loss.
Hope this helps.
With a 2 bulb 2x39w HO with rolled reflectors and your marine glow you can keep all of the above and possibly some cap, plate, maybe a less demanding LPS or two. Colt, Sinularia. Personally, pom pom, or pulsing xenia I think would be fine. Cespitularia(blue xenia) and Anthelia would most likely struggle.
With a 4x39w HO T5 fixture, with individual reflectors, as others have suggested, you can keep Anything you want. Toadstools, Nepthia, Fiji Leather, all LPS(appropriate of course), SPS(appropriate of course), Clams(high up only), and smaller anemones...Sebae, BTAs etc. The only thing I wouldn't recommend keeping with this lighting would be some deep water SPS and certain anemones, like Gigantea- which is 100% inappropriate for your tank anyway. Also if you happened to choose a Crocea clam, only high up under all 4 bulbs with an eye to any pigment loss.
Hope this helps.
theitalianczech
New member
take a look at reefgeek.com they have some nice t5 setups i recently purchased a 4 bulb retro kit and love the way it lights up the tank.
alancolinet
New member
Also, don't fall into the trap of getting TOO much wattage over your tank. "The more the merrier" doesn't always apply, especially with lighting over a reef tank.
I wouldn't go over 250 watts over your specific tank size.
I wouldn't go over 250 watts over your specific tank size.
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