How much watts is low to moderate?

[CPdude]

Hi everyone, the title says it. How much watts really is considered low to moderate. Thanks!

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[slief]

Hi everyone, the title says it. How much watts really is considered low to moderate. Thanks!

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That is relative to the system size, equipment etc. My system before 2010 was consuming over 3000 watts and about 600 gallons. In 2010, I upgraded all my equipment and today the system is 7000 gallons and consumes less than 1100 watts during the day and less than 500 watts at night.

 

[slief]

I have a 100 gallon system that consumes about 200 watts during the day and around 100 watts at night not including the 300 watt heater than only runs several hours a day during the winter.

 

[jayball]

provide information for us to give an answer like tank dimensions and light source in addition to the PAR targets (or intended livestock) in the tank.

WPG and the like are not good rules to go by as there is a wide variety of efficiencies available between the different light source types and the fixtures they go in..

 

[mcgyvr]

I've found this to be "fairly" generic/close enough as a starting point..
FOR LED Fixtures....
Assumes dimensions in INCHES....
Length x Width / 24 *3 = "lowish" watts (Soft Corals,etc..)
Length x Width / 22 *3 = "medium" watts (LPS,etc..)
Length x Width /18 *3 = "high" watts (SPS tanks,etc..)

So medium light for a 48" x 24" tank is ~160W of LEDs..

and that allows you to easily start out running around 50% power and work up over time for acclimation,etc..