Going from SPS reef to mostly FO- lighting?

[jpluttme]

Going from a 56g reef tank to mostly FO- there are a few shrooms and polyps on the live rock I'm not parting with.

Currently run a 250w 12k MH on a lumenarc, which is very bright on a 2ft deep tank. Going to try a radium to see if it gives me a more deepwater look.

Just curious to see what kind of lighting other people are running on tanks around this size and color temps- NO, VHO, PC? Photos would be great!

Thanks!

[Greg129]

I have 192 watt Coralife PC lighting on my 36x18x24 tank. I plan on keeping soft corals. Hope that helps.

[osufarker]

I run NO on all my fish only tanks except my 240 which I run PCs. Fish don't need any specific lights so its all your preference really.

[jpluttme]

Just want a nice deeper look where the colors of the fish will pop and what few soft corals I have left on the rock will flouresce.

How many bulbs if NO over a 56g thats 30lx24hx18w? Just need to decide if 2 or 3 bulbs will be sufficient and color temps- say 2 actinics and a actinic white.

Thanks for your input thus far!

[alancolinet]

It depends on the color range...for that lighter blue look go for actinic 6500K, for a deeper blue look that brings out contrasting colors use the true actinic 4500k, and to dilute the two colors together you could use an actinic white as you have suggested.

[Patchy]

Im using NO at the moment, one 4500k actinic and a white actinic.(24' cube tank)

but im upping my lighting soon to get a couple of corals and some better colours on my live rock

[paulpp187]

on my 250 i just have 2 40 w strips.i have all fish no corals.if you gonna do all softies go with pc's