I was wondering what the best type of lighting for a 4 foot marine tank would be? At the moment I've only got 1 normal flourescent tube in it which I got from the local fish shop. It only fits one tube. Is it better to get a different coloured tube? Or should I get a light with at least 2 tubes?
Marine Lighting
- Thread starter peaka
- Start date
Pheonix
Fish Crazy
depends what your looking to keep under the lighting peaka, for a fish only system you can get away with tubes and you will be fine though i would at least reccommend two tubes so you can get one "marine white" bulb and one "antic" bulb.
if your thinking of keeping corals and other inverts then you are looking at getting the best lighting which you can possibly afford!
T5, Power Compacts and Metal Halide Lighting are all possibilities. Depending on what you buy will decide for you what you can keep.
Research what you want too keep in your tank and they will tell you what lighting they require then need to be kept healthy.
If in doubt ask here and we will let you know
if your thinking of keeping corals and other inverts then you are looking at getting the best lighting which you can possibly afford!
T5, Power Compacts and Metal Halide Lighting are all possibilities. Depending on what you buy will decide for you what you can keep.
Research what you want too keep in your tank and they will tell you what lighting they require then need to be kept healthy.
If in doubt ask here and we will let you know
It all depends on what you want to keep...
Soft corals will do fine under several T5`s, however for sps and lps you will need metal halides.
and as its a 4 foot tank you will probably need 2 Metal halides as the light in tesnsity of a metal halide deminishes greatly as it spreads.
Soft corals will do fine under several T5`s, however for sps and lps you will need metal halides.
and as its a 4 foot tank you will probably need 2 Metal halides as the light in tesnsity of a metal halide deminishes greatly as it spreads.
Hey thanks for your help guys. I guess I'd like to try and keep some corals in the tank as well as fish. I've already got one anemone in the tank already which has survived and grown alot. But the light that I have doesn't really show off the colours very well. Do you have basic prices on what you can expect to pay for say a basic lighting setup if you want to keep all kinds of corals and fish and the best lighting setup?
Mr Miagi
Veins are flowing with SW, now going back to FW!
Pricing really depends in which part of the world you live! But we don't know, cause you havnt filled out your profile, yet!! 
Your anemone may seem to be thriving, but under a single globe it wont be doing well. Do you have a hood that prevents a "pendent" system, or is it open topped? If its underneath a hood, id suggest you get 4 marine T5's. Metal halides get very hot, and need ventilation, especially if they are in a hood. T5's dont waste as much heat, and keep cool.
The colour of the globes is up to you, personally, id go for 3 x 14,000K globes or maybe 3 x 10,000K, and one Actinic, but its up to how much blue light you prefer, compared to white.
10, 000K is white, 14,000K is a little yellow, 20,000K is blue/purple, and Actinic is all Blue.
But we don't know, cause you havnt filled out your profile, yet!! Your anemone may seem to be thriving, but under a single globe it wont be doing well. Do you have a hood that prevents a "pendent" system, or is it open topped? If its underneath a hood, id suggest you get 4 marine T5's. Metal halides get very hot, and need ventilation, especially if they are in a hood. T5's dont waste as much heat, and keep cool.
The colour of the globes is up to you, personally, id go for 3 x 14,000K globes or maybe 3 x 10,000K, and one Actinic, but its up to how much blue light you prefer, compared to white.
10, 000K is white, 14,000K is a little yellow, 20,000K is blue/purple, and Actinic is all Blue.
Yeah sorry I'll have to do that, I'm from Sydney Australia Sorry for my ignorance but what do you mean by a pendent system? I've got glass covers covering the top of the aquarium and the light is in a metal hood thing hahahah. Also can you tell me what T5's mean?
Would it be ok to get an actinic light for the moment, to replace the white one because I just want some light that will show the anemone and the fish's colours off the best.
Sorry for my ignorance but what do you mean by a pendent system? I've got glass covers covering the top of the aquarium and the light is in a metal hood thing hahahah. Also can you tell me what T5's mean?Would it be ok to get an actinic light for the moment, to replace the white one because I just want some light that will show the anemone and the fish's colours off the best.
Mr Miagi
Veins are flowing with SW, now going back to FW!
T5 refers to the diameter of a tube. T8 is your standard, cheapest globe. T5's are smaller in diameter. Pendant refers to an all in one unit, which looks nice, hehe. Something like this. As for Actinic only, no. Probably not a good idea. Actinic will be just blue. That wont necessarily show your Anemone's true colors. It might be that your Anemone isnt faring too well under the low light. Might pay yo to have a read of our Anemone FAQ topic!
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