Lighting a 90 Gallon

[Abraxos]

I've got a standard 90 Gallon tank that is two feet deep. I am considering buying a lighting system for it and read somewhere a rule of thumb for lighting. Something like 2 watts per gallong for soft coral, 3-4 watts for hard corals or something like that? Can anyone help? I'm not sure where I read the rule and haven't quite decided if I am going fish only or coral reef route but I wanted to check before buying a light.

[reefergeorge]

A fowlr doesn't need any special lights. So anything will do.
If you go reef. I would go with a tek 4 or 6 bulb setup. Others use two 250 watt mh.

[Abraxos]

Thanks,
I'm sort of torn. My wife likes the reef tank and I was leaning towards the Triggers and Wrasses. I hate to buy a lighting fixture now with 108 watts and then have to turn around and buy something else later if I decide to go reef.
The LFS said my basic 1 bulb T5 light system and glass tops were on backorder so I was thinking of getting something better from Dr Fosters but was still battling the whole reef vs FOWLR thing.

I was looking at a 108 Watt double bulb T5 system for fish only and I saw a 260 Watt four bulb power compact set up for a little more. Would that actually be enough light for polyps and mushrooms or would I actually have to get 500 watts to do any kind of corals in my tank?

[bill37]

I have that tank and have a Tek 6 x 54 watt T-5 light fixture. It is awesome. i would stay away from pc's.

[Abraxos]

Well after explaining that the T5 light was around $60-$100 and the Tek 6 or better lighting for corals was around $375, I think I'm going to wait on the reef tank. Between Corals and lights I think I would have to get a second job :D

[Waxxiemann]

welcome to reefing =)