[docjones]

I am new to the salt water game, have had Discus for about 10 years and am finally making the jump to salt water. I have read everything I can get my hands on, but one question still hasn't been answered. What is considered medium lighting. Every sight I got to, to buy coral says " this coral needs medium lighting". What is a good way to determine lighting requirements. I plan to get some soft and SPS corals in my 55g tank. I know I need pretty good lighting but what is the formula to figure this out. I have read where allot of people say 4 watts per gallon, but what is that getting me. My overall goal is to get nice coral and my fish of choice is the Lion fish (big surprise I am sure). So a little help on the lighting would be great. Thanks.

[emccullough1]

Check out this post. go down to a post by mcintosh it is the best I have seen on lighting. It helped me a lot.

http://www.reefbuilders.com/forums/s...-required.html

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by emccullough1

Check out this post. go down to a post by mcintosh it is the best I have seen on lighting. It helped me a lot.

http://www.reefbuilders.com/forums/s...-required.html

That was a good post and a good way to figure on how to buy or setup your lighting based on what you plan to keep in your system! Good job!

[docjones]

Yea that post helped alot, I think I should be able to figure it out now. Seems to me that lighting is very important in setup so I want to do it right. I have a 55g so its not a huge tank, but man lighting is still very expensive. Good thing I have a decent job...lol!

[jvharding]

I would probably take a look at some T5 lighting that would be the best you could get and keep tank cool at the same time!

[docjones]

This is what I think I will go with, will provide about 216watts no including the lunar lights. What is a lunar light used for...night viewing??


48 inch Current USA Nova Extreme 4x54W T5HO with 4 Lunar Lights

[pogodzib]

The lunar lights are primarily used for viewing the tank at night and some people think that since it is more natural, it benefits the fish and corals.

[SweeTang22]

i have lunar lighting and i like the effect of it. the light shimmers in the water and looks cool. it also allows me to monitor copepods and make sure i dont have a large number of bristle worms. kinda stuff i like to keep tabs on!

[docjones]

Right on, I will be watching copepods because I want a Green Mandarin and I was told they love copepods (could be wrong).

[CyberJester]

Lighting that weighs more then 200 LBS!

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by docjones

Right on, I will be watching copepods because I want a Green Mandarin and I was told they love copepods (could be wrong).

This is a tough fish to care for please let your tank mature before adding this fish they are beautiful but require a well established aquarium to survive. A refugium will help keep the copepods going so that they will be replenished. These are tastey morsels that the mandarin will devour quickly!

[Tonz of fun]

Originally Posted by jvharding

This is a tough fish to care for please let your tank mature before adding this fish they are beautiful but require a well established aquarium to survive. A refugium will help keep the copepods going so that they will be replenished. These are tastey morsels that the mandarin will devour quickly!

Im at about 3 months. My wife to be keeps on saying can we get it can we get it. I keep saying no its to soon we need to wait till month 12. She doesnt understand. I feel like a a hole lol...

[docjones]

Yea I have ready they are really tough, so I plan to get my tank established for about a year. slowly build up my enviroment, and then buy one once I am ready. But it is going to be the "center" of the tank so to speak.

[SweeTang22]

yeah there great fish. my friend has one now going on about 2 years. thats a while for these guys. he said its a pain keeping up on the copepods. i presonally dont know much about the mandarian so i dont know how he does it lol!