lighting a 19 gallon tank --please help

[CHAS]

Have just bought a 19 (english gallon) tank. It comes with 2 x18 watt compact fluros.

I was told this would be fine to set up a little mini reef. But after visiting other forums, people dont seem to agree.

I have read on this site that these bulbs give out more light than normal bulbs with the same wattage.

But what I really want to know is will this support my mini reef?

thanks

[DevinJM]

No, corals need alot more light then that, and If I was you I would either look into getting a Power compact retrofit and try to find something around 96 watts, there is a 96 watt quad tube power compact retrofit on the market that should fit your tank, or you could go with either a 70 watt or even better for a full blown reef, a 150 watt metal halide pendant and just get a glass top. I hope this helps, and WELCOME TO THE CULT,,,, *cough cough* I mean Forum.

[CHAS]

God so annoying!

Problem is it is a kinda all in one jobby. Dont know if you know them its a Aqua one AR 620.

thanks for replying

[tjigger]

Welcome CHAS,
You may be able keep some mushrooms or polyps that don't need lots of light.
But you can't have a full blown reef unless you can somehow upgrade the lights.