Will my current lighting work

[sd75i_bnsf]

I have a 50 gallon tank that is about 5 months old and want to start adding coral to it. Right now I have 285 watts of VHO that sits about 18in above the tank. These are some of the coral that I would like to have.

Galaxea
Zoanthus
Euphyllia ancora (Hammer coral)
Blastomussa
Acanthastrea
some SPS

Will my current lighting set up work for these or would I need to upgrade to MH. If I do upgrade to MH will 2 175 watt lights be enough.

Also are these corals compatible in the same tank.

Thanks
Ryan

 

[jgoodrich71]

That would be fine for all that you list. Some SPS may do better with other light, but that would be a good setup for the LPS.

 

[Andrew]

Theres not enough light for SPS. You should be fine with soft corals and ect.

 

[sd75i_bnsf]

If I want SPS on one side of my tank, would a single 175 watt MH be enough.

 

[Andrew]

You really cant have a single mh on a 48'' tank because one mh can cover around a 2 x 2' area. You would need 2 mh units. I would get 2 250 watt retro kits if you have money to do so.

 

[Dubbin1]

You can put the 175 on one side of the tank but the lighting would be REALLY uneven. I would look at lowering the VHO's even for the LPS corals that you want.

 

[jastormont]

I would think you would have enough lighting. The only thing is you say it is above the tank by 18". If that is the case I would try lowering it. I have seen a 8 foot long Marine tank with one set of M/H on one end and they are only 150 watts (There where 2 of them to cover a 3foot area) and the corals where all placed under there and they where all growing great.