Aquarium lighting how much is good.?

[fishguy007]

Currently have a 90 gallon salt water. Going to be putting in corals soon. Have a few softies now.

I currently have a t5 lighting system. It has 4 bulbs each at 54 watts. 2 daytime and two attinic.

Is this enough lighting for corals or do i need more.?

[spreerider]

im no expert but that doesnt sound like enough light on a 90G, its just over 2WPG and i think you need more for most coral.

[DanG]

Is it a standard 90 (48 wide x 18 deep x 24 high)? If so, that's not going to have a ton of penetrating power down at the bottom. Do the bulbs have individual reflectors?
What types of coral are you wanting to put in? LPS, SPS?

[Skimmerking]

Well I have a 120 48x24x24 with a 8 bulb t-5 with its own reflectors over it I have SPS, LPS, CLAMS, Im also going to be havign a60x24x24 with 2x 250 MH over my tank with the livestock from the 120 gal. you can get away with 4 bulbs at 54 that is 200 and something watts if your not going to have corals that need light that should be plenty. heck when i had my 280 gal I tried and suceeded on growing lps and softies with 8 No flourensants so that was 8x40 320 watts with the tank being 72x30x30 but not every tank is the smae thou.. if you can add another 4 buls go for it or go 2x250 ,or 2x 400's for all out lighting:biggrin: