Newbie on lighting

[Dragcrab]

Hey everyone, quick question here. Recently I purchased an All-Glass 46gallon Bowfront aquarium. The tank came with a 36x5x2 flourescent light. I've been reading a lot in this forum...and noticed that this light "30watt Actinic Spectrum, Marine Glo" would be far from decent if I were to do a reef tank. Right now I just have fish and live rock...but would love to get some corals, more LR, and some inverts. What do you recommend? I've checked mulitple links and multiple sites, but nothing really gives me a direct answer...or price.

I do know that lighting is very spendy. Is the light I currently have worth anything? I wonder if I could trade it in for some credit towards something better.

Thanks, Andrew

[Chryocon]

Possibly Auction it off on Ebay...as for replacements, ideal would be 2 metal halide, I am guessing though that you have a hood that can only accomadate 1-2 flourescent bulbs of a certain length, so I would consider using VHO, check out www.helloloights.com and see what they have for you....

[Dragcrab]

Thanks for the link. I found a 36" 2x96 watt Coralife Aqualight PC hood, 1x Actinic and 1x 10,000 k square pin on sale for 192$. Would this be sufficient lighting? These lights sure are spendy, but 192 is a lot cheaper than 400, 500$ ones I've seen.

[Samurai]

Lighting all depends on what you want to keep. If you want clams and light loving corals then you might want to check out mh pendants.

[Mikeaveli21]

kinda off topic, but how would clams do under 260 watts of PC? Tank height of about 18-20".

[Samurai]

They wouldn't IMO.

[Dragcrab]

Well, I don't want any hard to keep corals, or clams. I was thinking just getting some easy beginer coral, and some inverts.

[BigFish]

The coral thing is a good question. But why spend the $ on cheaper lighting when later you will probably wish you would have saved for mh lights.

[Chryocon]

Dragcrab, it is not what you are keeping now or in the short future that matters.....it is what you are planning on getting, the PC's will be able to keep mostly softies, some LPS, and a few of the very little light demanding sps. MH would be you're best bet, I suggest you look into a dual pendant....

[BigFish]

I currently wish I would have saved the $227 I spent on PC for my 29g and waited and spent $400 on mh for my 29g.

[Chryocon]

why would it be $400? You should be able to get away with one MH bulb ona 29.....even if it was was a 400 watt how can that cost $400? I am thinking maybe $200 for the wiring and ballist...and maybe $100 for the bulb, but then again you could get it off ebay for much cheaper....