lighting help for another set up

Ok, I have my first tank up an going almost to where I want it. plenty of corals and pretty much completely stocked. Now I have another 6 ft tank I want to get going. I would like to keep such corals as the acans, brain corals, candy canes, trumpets, and such. Maybe some sps also, but I'm still a rookie on lighting stuff. I would like to know if this set up would be sufficent for this new reef. I was planning in 2 3 ft double strip t5 on each side of the tank. Probably with 12,000k bulbs  with one actinic included on each side. so that would be 36,000k on each side plus the actinic. Is this enough, too much, or am I going to fall short? I just need to know that the the corals will do well, and look good, because I am completely sold on reef keeping now that my first tank is coming to life! Any help will be greatly appreciated, matt.

 

I think you you are going to need a lot more light. I think you are going to want 6-8 bulbs min. I would consider going MH myself. the kelvin rating is not what your looking for so much as you are watts. 3 watts per gallon i think is the min most tend to shoot for.

 

Just an fyi, the K rating is a gauge of where the light falls in the color spectrum. The higher the Kelvin rating the bluer the light. How much light depends on what corals you want to keep and the depth of the tank.

 

How deep is the tank?

If it is just a standard tank, 3 bulbs on each side would be ok 4 would be better. I would consider ditchig the antinic & going with a 75/25 instead.

Craig

 

Ok, how about an LED setup then. Foster and smith has this, marineland double bright LED lighting system. It has 8 6000k daylights per strip and 4 blue actinic/moonlight per strip, and produces 600 lumens. How would this do, since you cannot calculate it by wattage? Thanks, matt.

 

You would be much much better off with the t-5's.

LED's are nice, but if you arent going to spend a chunk of change for the nice ones it would be a waste IMO.

The marineland LEDS work on smaller tanks, Trent has one in the office in Waterloo if you want to stop & see them.

 

these?
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+22443&pcatid=22443
I wouldnt recomend them myself.

 

Yep, those. I wondered.  I'm leaning towards the t5, mostly because they seem pretty good for the most part. I'm not going to get really exotic with the corals, mostly just easy stuff, with an experiment or two of the the more difficult ones just to see.

 

yeah I Like T5 myself, add a couple led stunner strips for shimmer effects and it looks great.