Coral QT Lighting

[scubaboy]

Hey ya'll,

So my tank has been wet for 10 months now and has reached some maturity and is pretty stable in my water parameters so I am wanting to start adding corals, softies and LPS for now. I am pretty well stocked on fish so far so I wanted to use one of my two Fish QT tanks for corals only. I have a 20 gallon tall with an HOB filter and I plan on throwing some of my cured dry rock that I have had in my refugium for the last 6 months in it.

As far as lighting goes, I am wanting a cheaper solution for now until I can afford a better lighting set up for it.

I have a couple of options I have thought of and would like to hear some of your opinions on them.

1. I have a standard glass top with a T8 fixture for this tank. Would a single T8 lamp suffice for this, and if so which single color lamp should I pursue?

2. I have found a LED light on Amazon and would like to hear from anyone who may have any experience with it.


Thank you all in advance for any comments you have.

Happy Friday!

 

[nereefpat]

I wouldn't use a T8, unless you can rig up several.

Ideally, your QT lighting would be similar to your display. If you're using LEDs, then something similar to your link would work, but I would fine something with more wattage. With LPS and softies, that might work, however. Something like this might be something to look in to https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/smat-farms-led-from-amazon.843957/

 

[scubaboy]

Thank you very much for your response.

My DT lighting are 2 Kessil A360X's and 4 T5's but cant go that route yet.

The link you sent has 2 of the SmatFarms LED's, is one better than the other?

 

[nereefpat]

Yeah, I wouldn't spend that much on a coral QT either. No idea on the Smat farms. It's a big thread, so you may get some help there.

You might consider a cheap 2-4 bulb T5 fixture also.