Adding another lamp to the lighting canopy

Hello Robert, I have another question for you, I want to add another lamp to light canopy. right now I have a 50/50, actinic, and two 20,000 daylights (48") but not sure what to add. any input?....

Do you have room? Im hearing you have 3 different lamps

a 50/50 ( 1 I presume)
an actinic (which is presumably blue)
assuming 1 and 2 daylights

Do you want to replace the existing lamps or add new fixtures and lamps?

Ive never been crazy about the daylights Id possibly recommend 2 actinic white and 2 actinic blue both by URI

By the way if I am bothering you with to much mail/questions just let me know. I just think it is great to have someone to answer questions and not try to sell you something in the process......

I dont mind answering qeestions from my readers. What I try to encourage is that as much information included in the original question. This minimises lengthy misunderstanding ;-)

I couple things you neglected to tell me

What is the total WPG for your lighting system?

Lighting is running about 2.5-3 WPG. I know that is low and I am thinking about upgrading to maybe compact fluorescents (55 or 96 watt) what I want is something that I don't have to purchase another ballast for, if that is possible.

If you have a wide variaty of corals (some needing high light) you'll need close to 5 WPG and somehow adding another isnt going to do much for intensity

You dont say what species these 7 great corals are?? Im a little skeptical of your lighting setup (unless of course you have HO)

(I have a source for free ballasts) also corals are (according to GARFs writings on bags) red/blue mush. gorgonians, purple vanuata arro ?, s.p.s tonga, xenia, green tip vanuath, zoanthio, snake sinularia.

I hope I got some of those right, the markings on bags were somewhat faded. can you help with the lighting? I would like to go to V.H.O. or compact lighting but also would like to hang to the free ballast source.

I just had the spare ballast (single lamp) and sockets sitting around. I want to have the best lighting I can have without going to expensive V.H.O. lamps and ballast, but if you say what I have is ok well then I will leave it at that.

I just want to give the rock and corals the best I can offer. speaking of corals I just received 7 various corals that I had ordered from G.A.R.F. got some nice frags. I have room 1 more lamp and have the sockets to do so, but just was'nt sure on what to add.I just replaced all lamps a little over 2 wks. ago

Dont the flo have to run as pairs? In other words, one ballast can only put out (run) a predetermined amount of wattage. Can your ballast handle it? If so I would recommend the actinic blue, I will give your reef a nice look and be good for the inhabitants.

Having said that remember if you add a lamp now.. down the road you will have to replace that as well, the $$ can really add up in the long term. Looking at the photo you sent of the inside canopy the 4 lamps looks spaced properly, I dont really see room for one more, plus you have the nice mirror in there. That should be plenty of light