advise need on lighting

[mecedesfish]

Tank size about 44 (L) x 19 (H) x 22 (W).

Currently using 54watts x 3 nos (2 white n 1 blue ) T5 lighting from 1600 to 2400hrs.

Can get some advise------- Is the lighting enough or should i add more? I have a same set T5 light in my store room (2 blue n 1 white)

New to marine tank.

thanks

[dumdum]

hi, maybe you can tell us what you are going to keep in this tank?

[tjchan]

Tank size about 44 (L) x 19 (H) x 22 (W).

Currently using 54watts x 3 nos (2 white n 1 blue ) T5 lighting from 1600 to 2400hrs.

Can get some advise------- Is the lighting enough or should i add more? I have a same set T5 light in my store room (2 blue n 1 white)

New to marine tank.

thanks

sounds good enuff for most LPS and softies

[reeftask]

sounds good enuff for most LPS and softies

me agree too.

Just make sure the light bulbs are still good. After too long usages, the intensity will be lessen

[mecedesfish]

Wat are "good" T5 bulbs, colour, the life span?

Any special ballast needed or just normal 54 watts will support the lighting?

Should I add another 3nos T5 bulbs as i have extra?

Any good recommandaion???????

Thanks

[kareen]

Bulb colour (the K, kelvin we refer here) will drift over time. Depending on brand, some drift faster and some slower... so some reefers will just change their bulbs after certain period of usage.

Why the important of K? Well, it is that certain range of K that is of most use to the corals we keep. Undesirable algae has larger range and when corals or plants we keep do not grow, the algae do instead.

Life span of bulb is generally observing the intensity or drift of colour... it depend on brand and usage. Eg. same brand but different hours of ON hours also differs.

I don't think any special ballast, as long as the ballast is rated to light up the required bulb rating. Generally speaking a higher rated ballast can light up a lower rated bulb but may not spell good for the bulb. The right size is ones seek.

Having extra bulb is nice apart from the electrical bills. If light is sufficient why the extra which may contribute to heating to the system.... Be the judge yourself to add or not from the corals health...