Would this light be adequate?

Found a light on Craigslist that is a 36" Nova Extreme 78W T5.

Right now I have a Coralife PC 96w 10000k and a 96w 460nm actinic.

I heard that with T5's you don't need as much wattage, but would 78w be too little to grow soft corals and support anemone growth?

 

What size is the tank your going to put it on?

 

I guess that would be important info right? lol

46 gal bowfront

 

over the 46 that would be fine

 

Is it true that with T5's you don't need as much Wattage as with the PowerCompacts?

 

I believe the T5 (that I am contemplating on buying) only has 2 bulbs.. should I just hold out for a 4 bulb fixture?

 

Hehe, I would grab a 4 bulb fixture. T5's are amazing lights, don't get me wrong. They have better PAR, more PUR and higher lumens per watt than pc's by far, but that is not going to be enough light IMO for that size tank. I know Puffer Chick has a 4 bulb TEK on her 46 bow, maybe she will chime in with her experience.

 

it will be fine for everything but high demanding corals such as some sps, and even then with good perams and high enough placement it could be done

 

Really? You think that is enough light to house an anemone in a 46? I would grab a 4 bulb fixture. If you get an anemone with out proper lighting, and it dies in your tank, you can loose everything.

 

yea i do, i think the number one thing for anems is water qual....the tank of the month about 6 months ago on rc was a 29 gallon bio cube with 2 pcs....had every type of coral u could think of many nems sps and the corals where the best i have seen in a while.....water qual is just as important if not more important then lights