FOLWR lighting

[jan]

Sir charles, I have another piece of question. if it's okay

My current folwr lighting is only (1) 28 watt elongated 6200K daylight NO T8 and I believe it's not gonna make corals survive. I was thinking if I add 3 more fluorescent light with the same specification. What kind of algae can it make survive? I just want my FOLWR tank to look more beautiful by having plant like species.

[charlesr1958]

Yeah, that is no where near enough light to support zooxanthellae coral species nor is it enough for most algae either. Fluorescent lights are okay for simulating the first and last few hours of a daytime period but for the "high noon" intensity, you will need something like metal halides or a large bank of T5 bulbs to support any organisms that depend upon photosynthesis. As an example of I have six CF bulbs (50w 6400K) that turn on at 6am and at 9am my 250w metal halide turns on, then turns off at 3pm and the CF bulbs turn off at 6pm. To be honest, even with that, I still wish I could afford to run another metal halide to give even more intensity.

Charles

[jan]

haha. okay I thought it would suffice in helping plan-like species thrive in my tank. but if I remove all T8s and install a 70W Metal Halide. would that suffice, my tank is 20'' tall. what kind of corals would it support?

[charlesr1958]

Even 70w would not provide much intensity but it is better than what you have now, I would suggest nothing less than a 150w bulb to ensure that any corals will survive.

Charles

[jan]