10 gallon lighting

[blooper74]

I am doing a 10 gallon tank. I have 4 shop lights that I am thinking of useing in a retro hood. I am going to buy 4 replacement bulbs for them, I think 2 10,000K Compact Fluor Lamp 13W - 6" - PL(Coralife), and 2 50/50 Compact Fluor Lamp - 13W - 6" - PL(Coralife). How would this do?
:confused:

[ratimpulse]

I would say get a 96 watt quad, but I would say get 2 20000K lights and have a sunup and sun down period. With the 20000K lights on for 2 hours before and after the main 10000K lights come on. And put reflectors under the lights.

[surfnvb7]

yeah, i'm not sure if 4 NO bulbs are going to be enough. they aren't as strong as PC's.

by the time you buy 4 replacement bulbs, and whatever you got the shop light for......prob about the same cost as that 96w quad PC light.

i'd say you need about 65w of PC minimum to keep shrooms in a 10g.

[blooper74]

surfnvb7 I am not using NO bulbs, I am using PC for the tank. The cost is almost half of that of a 96w quad.

[surfnvb7]

oops, sorry, didnt read closely enough..my bad

i would go with true actinics and not the 50/50's, but i've found its a personal preference type of thing.

the blue part of the 50/50 on PC bulbs looks very "light blue", and not the darker blue you see on true actinics... HTH

[blooper74]

So you think it would be better to just get the true bulbs. I don't mind not getting the 50/50 bulbs if you think the trues will look better.

[surfnvb7]

well, again.....the kind of blue color that the 50/50 gives off is more of a straight blue, where as actinics give off a more purple-blue.

if you have 2x10k's, and 2x50/50's, i think your tank will look very white, which some people like alot.

if you have 2x10k's, and 2 actinics, i think it will have a very balanced look that is slightly blue.

if you are still unsure, maybe go with 2x10k, 1x50/50, and 1xactinic and see what you like, then mix and match from that point on.

that might be cool to try.

[blooper74]

Well I like a bright tank, but I don't want my corals to look just plain jane in there you know what I mean.

[surfnvb7]

they are cheap lights....you'll just have to mixn' match until you find somethin you like.

i would say all PC's make corals look "plain jane" to me, but thats JMO. but, since you are tryin to save money going with this is the obvious solution.

[blooper74]

Yeah that is my biggest concern right now (price). If I have to I will get better light down the road.