55gal lights

[Klobianco12]

I have a 55 gallon tank with a t5 corallife 48 in strip with one antic blue and a white. is that enough or not enough for me to have corals and anemones?

 

[Sniperhank]

That light would be enough for soft corals, but that's it. I have a 4 bulb coralife unit above my 36 gal and wasn't able to keep an anemone alive under it.

 

[Schism]

Yes soft corals only however some that a 2 bulb wont likely support

 

[Mrc8858]

Yes soft corals only however some that a 2 bulb wont likely support

+1 imo if you want any corals you should start with 4 bulbs unless its like a 10 gallon or something. You could always add a second dual bulb fixture and then I would say you could keep some LPS in there along with any softy

 

[Klobianco12]

So if I buy another would I be fine? Or I'm looking at this Aquarium Light 48" 216 Watt T5 Aqua Lighting Fixture Reef Fish Tank Salt Water on eBay would that be good? Thanks for the help people

 

[carey]

The ebay light would be much better than the 2 bulbs you're running now. Your coral options would really open up, but it's iffy on an anemone. Most do well under 4 bulbs while some don't. I would try out the 4 bulb fixture and add some corals and see how they do. Nems shouldnt be added to newer tanks but rather more established tanks. I am waiting a bit longer to add a bubble tip to one of my tanks just to make sure it will have the best chance at surviving and thriving.

 

[Klobianco12]

Yea I had a tank before that with a bubble tip anemone n it lived for a year n a couple months n lived of that one fixture I had was weird so I would be able to get any corals? And also any led stripes you know online for sale for cheap?

 

[carey]

The only corals I would hesitate with would be SPS ones. Although placement is also key as well as the actual light. You would be able to keep all softies and LPS corals with 4 bulbs. You get into the grey area when you want clams, SPS and anemones. I kept SPS under 4 bulbs and it did pretty well but I had it higher up in the tank.

Here are two sites you might wanna look at for cheap lights:
fish need it;lights; food;Sponge
Aquatraders - Guaranteed Best Prices on Aquarium Lightings + Free Shipping!

Both have decent fixtures for around $100 that have 4 bulbs. The aquatraders ones have led moonlights and timers and the fish needit light does not. I currently have 2 from aquatraders and one fixture from fish needit and they do a decent job for a cheap price.

 

[Klobianco12]

Is this the one your talking about ? Home > Lightings >

48" 216W (4x 54W) T5 HO Light Fixture Extendable Series

It doesn't say anything about moonlight and timer tho.

 

[carey]

This one. I just got the exact fixture about 2 months ago.

Odyssea T5 Aquarium Lighting

 

[Klobianco12]

Thanks alot. I'm gonna buy it tomorrow lol and I when I get it should I keep that one and the one I have one together so I would have 3 white and three blue antic blue and the led it comes with?

 

[Mrc8858]

If you want to do sps then yes add the extra fixture but 4 bulbs is fine for lps and Softies

 

[Klobianco12]

Thanks and do use know any site or know any ones that have good protein skimmers?

 

[Mrc8858]

Bulkreefsupply.com Carey is about to start a group buy Tuesday