Lights

[Darth-Tater]

I am looking to upgrade the light on my tank. When I got back into saltwater after being out for 27 years things sure have changed. We bought a pc light for the 55 gal tank. Well that is good enough for fish an LR. But no :lol my wife like the mushrooms and some corals so now new lights :lol new tank :lol and new stand and canopy :lol . Pete is taking care of the new stand and I have a 1oo gal from my classroom I am swapping out for the 55. So I don't screw up again what are suggestions on lights :unsure I have been looking reading and looking and more reading and now I am confused. Do I need MH or are VHO good enough :unsure I thought about 500 watts total but I don't understand 55K and all of the other things. I would like to keep it simple and under a bazillion $$$ We both are teachers and if the gov doesn't hurry up and fund school....(whole other debate) so any help (in simple English please) I don't want to buy lights again.

Thanks
David

[Sunhutch]

If you are only doing mushrooms and other low light corals than VHOs should be plenty.


I thought about 500 watts total but I don't understand 55K and all of the other things

K refers to Kelvin.Your higher numbers being more blue and your lower numbers being more yellow to the human eye. Most try to get a combination of both types of bulbs to promote growth as well as make the tank look pleasing with vibrant colors.

I am probably over-simplifying this a great deal (as I tend to do) but I'm sure if you have more specific questions about what you want to accomplish with your lighting someone with more experience will chime in.

HTH, Ken.

[jaded]

the more info you can post the better we can help... mushrooms are low light corals and should be fine with the PC's even...

Take a look at corals that you like at your LFS then look into what lighting they like. You will see that there are lots of different senarios.

I personally believe in MH and loads of LR so that i can create low light areas along the sand and inside caves but still have plenty of high light areas for the other, more demanding corals.