New lights did i make a mistake?

[Loon]

I'm in the process of upgrading to a 29 gal. I resently picked up a 2 x 65w pc fixture. one 14000k light and the other is a true atinic. All of a sudden im starting to read things like these aren't the best choces for corals. I would only be putting a frogspawn and a couple other corals in the aqaurium. Will this new fixture be sufficiant?

 

[m2434]

a 29 is a deep tank may be a bit weak. Probably can do some frogspawn if you want, and soft corals. Can always upgrade to a MH later and use 2x65W PC actinics as supplemental lighting.

 

[FranktheTankTx]

Am I right that the 29g tank is 24" long? Anyways - You could have gotten a Nova Extreme 4x24w T5 light for $169 from Marine Depot. Has individual reflectors too... much better light for your tank.

You could keep some SPS with this light. Never go PC unless it's just given to you. T5's are decently priced now.

 

[Loon]

the tank is 30'' long, maybe ill look into returning it if its going to be a head ache

 

[FranktheTankTx]

Oh - the 30" Sundial is $239. 30" is an odd dimension. You could put a 175w MH pendant over it. However, I imagine a T5 fixture would look really nice sitting over it.

 

[Loon]

I'll have to look into that

 

[stlrams88]

Definitley try to make an upgrade to MH since you have a 29 the dimensions make it hard for PCs to light all the way to the bottom. I learned the hard way with a 46 bow that PC's just dont cut it for deeper tanks.

 

[crvz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13677227#post13677227 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FranktheTankTx
Am I right that the 29g tank is 24" long? Anyways - You could have gotten a Nova Extreme 4x24w T5 light for $169 from Marine Depot. Has individual reflectors too... much better light for your tank.

You could keep some SPS with this light. Never go PC unless it's just given to you. T5's are decently priced now.

The nova extreme does NOT have individual reflectors, it's the nova extreme PRO model that does. And the PRO model is quite a bit more expensive.

 

[Saltcity]

I've got a 29g Biocube with Four 36watt pc's.... 2-14K's and 2-Actinics. It's a huge difference over the stock dual pc setup but PC's just don't have a lot of intensity.

 

[doomicon]

If your stuck with your PC (like I was with a same size tank), just make up the shortcomings with your aquascaping and coral placement (up top).

Save up, and follow the lighting recommendations here for your next purchase.

 

[Gwynhidwy]

IMO, PC's aren't that bad, but they do limit what you will be able to have. Most soft corals are happy under them, a few LPS, and very few SPS. If you can return it, I would. Inexpensive T-5 fixtures really aren't much more than PC fixtures and you'll have a lot more flexibility in what you can keep under them, especially in a deep tank.