Options With My Marine Lighting

[CezzaXV]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to convert my 155L tropical tank to marine some time this year, and so begins the long process of research.

My tropical tank currently has a lighting unit containing 4 24W T5 bulbs, though I like to only have two on at a time. I've been told that I'd really want all four on at once, but are there any corals that would be suitable with 48W of lighting? I'm aware that I'll need to change the bulbs to marine bulbs.

Also, what I tend to do at the moment with my tropical tank is not to have my lights on a timer, but just have them on when I'm home. This can result in them being on for 14 hours on some days, whereas hardly at all on other days. Some plants died, and others have thrived and I've ended up with a bunch of plants really happy with the conditions in my tank. However, corals are obviously that much more expensive so I'd like to skip the trial and error this time

 

[Donya]

My tropical tank currently has a lighting unit containing 4 24W T5 bulbs, though I like to only have two on at a time

What's the reason for this?

48W of lighting really isn't much on a tank that size. The deeper the tank, the more light you need as well. What are the tank's dimensions?

 

[CezzaXV]

The tank is 60x40x60cm.

I prefer to run just the two bulbs because the room it is in is rather small and 48W is just about right, but when I up that to 96W it's rather bright and in your face. I have found little useful information on marine lighting.

I'm still in the process of deciding if a marine tank is right for me, and if 48W just won't do I then have to consider whether to suck it and go for the full 96W or go fish only. Going LED is also another option.