650 too much for a 55 gallon?
- Thread starter vtrider
- Start date
vtrider,
Are you thinking of the issues that will come with using that much light on such a small tank, such as heat transfer, evaporation rates, salt creep, etc...... unless you plan to have an auto topoff for your sump, a chiller, and spend lots of time cleaning the entire room the tank is in of salt creep, I would suggest you go with something smaller.
I thought I was bad using a single 400w 10k Ushio pendant on a 46 bowfront. And I just about boil my corals alive in the summertime without a chiller. If it wasn't for the cieling fans, running on high all day, every day, and the air conditioning running and controling the humidity in my tank room, it would be outrageous. I replace almost 1/2 a gallon per day of evaporation in topoff, and my OCD keeps the rest of the room clean and salt free, or that would be a problem too.
Its not necessary to go that big on such a small setup, if you have enough money for expensive lights, then redirect your spending into a larger system, better foods, and more books, you will be happy you did. Larger systems allow for longer periods between water perameter changes due to simply dilution factors. More stable water conditions means healthier animals, and no fancy light is going to make that much difference. The only reason I do it, is because I use the tank as a temporary coloring/ and growout facility for my sps corals, as well as a great show tank. check it out....
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37131&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500
Are you thinking of the issues that will come with using that much light on such a small tank, such as heat transfer, evaporation rates, salt creep, etc...... unless you plan to have an auto topoff for your sump, a chiller, and spend lots of time cleaning the entire room the tank is in of salt creep, I would suggest you go with something smaller.
I thought I was bad using a single 400w 10k Ushio pendant on a 46 bowfront. And I just about boil my corals alive in the summertime without a chiller. If it wasn't for the cieling fans, running on high all day, every day, and the air conditioning running and controling the humidity in my tank room, it would be outrageous. I replace almost 1/2 a gallon per day of evaporation in topoff, and my OCD keeps the rest of the room clean and salt free, or that would be a problem too.
Its not necessary to go that big on such a small setup, if you have enough money for expensive lights, then redirect your spending into a larger system, better foods, and more books, you will be happy you did. Larger systems allow for longer periods between water perameter changes due to simply dilution factors. More stable water conditions means healthier animals, and no fancy light is going to make that much difference. The only reason I do it, is because I use the tank as a temporary coloring/ and growout facility for my sps corals, as well as a great show tank. check it out....
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37131&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500
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