lighting upgrade? help?

[reeferrmadness]

planning on starting a 20 gallon long and was looking at different lights..
i was told that t5's had to have individual relflectors so i found these 2 lights
what could i keep with these?---20 gallon long..12 inch height

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticL...xtures-AquaticLife-AK01035-FILTFIT54U-vi.html

and----

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewi...&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=mdcsegooglebase2

any suggestions as to other lights? would eventually want to keep sps maybe nems or clams

 

[thegrun]

Either of those fixtures will work. You may need to replace one of the actinic bulbs with a daylight bulb when you move to the more light demanding corals.

 

[a.browning]

Between those two fixtures, definately get the Aquaticlife fixture. I have owned both a Nova and Aquaticlife fixture, the Aquaticlife is much better. I actually sold my Nova for the Aquaticlife, and couldn't be happier. Both fixtures don't have "true" induvidual reflectors, but the Aquaticlife's are much better than the Nova. It actually puts out some comparable par to the high end fixtures. Whichever one you go with, you would definately want to replace the stock bulbs. Go with something reputable such as ATI, which puts out some serious light.

I am growing SPS very well under my Aquaticlife fixture. Although, if you're looking into SPS and clams seriously, you may want to look into the Tek fixtures. Once you replace the stock bulbs in the Aquaticlife/Nova, the price between them and a Tek is negligable. A step up from that is ATI fixtures, which is what I'm getting in the next couple of months. Can't go wrong either way, just my experience at least.

 

[reeferrmadness]

perfect
the only reason im not going for the TEK is because i need a 30 inch fixture to fit the tank but ill deffinately look into getting replacement bulbs. i have no idea what to do about colors though.. any suggestions if i get new bulbs what "heats" or colors or whatever i should get? whats too much blue and is any particular color better than another?
thanks for being so helpful

 

[Mikez1207]

Love this bulb awesome but you need a 30 inch

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...in-ati-coral-plus-t5-ho-fluorescent-bulb.html

 

[reeferrmadness]

ive found the ati coral plus light in 24 for the aquatic life fixture but what combination should i use..? all 4 coral plus or one purple and 3 coral plus or 2 and 2 or blue or what? too many choices..

 

[Mikez1207]

Yes there is da 24 inch...wat I have...i would go 2 blue, 1 purple, and 1 coral plus

 

[reeferrmadness]

would that be too blue?
is there such a thing?
would 2 blue, a purple, and 1 coral plus be enough for higher-light corals or does the color of the light not matter much?

 

[Mikez1207]

Na if you have 4 light at 39 watts that will be good enough...color not really matter...actually the deeper you go in the ocean the bluer water gets and no it wouldnt be to blue

 

[reeferrmadness]

aren't the lights are only 24 watts.. for the 24" version? that still enough?

 

[Michigan Mike]

A 20long is 30" long and 30" fixtures use 24" bulbs. The only fixture that is 30'' long and uses 30" bulbs is coralife- 31w 30" bulbs but no good bulb manufacturers make bulbs in that size. So yes a 24" bulb is fine for 30" tanks.

 

[reeferrmadness]

okay so ultimately..
would i be able to keep higher light corals in a 30" tank with the aquaticlife fixture with ati bulbs at 4x24w ?