MH vs PC???

[jbrunken]

For metal halide, I think it goes more by the dimensions of your tank. As I understand it, you need roughly 1 MH lamp for every 2' x 2' area. The wattage of the lights depend on the depth of your tank and perhaps the type of bulb you plan to use...

My tank is 6' x 18" x 22" deep, so I plan to use 3 x 250W (20K, 14K, 20K) when I upgrade to MH.

-JB

 

[glaspie69]

I've never thought that was a good way to figure your lighting, I wish that the local fish stores and book writers would elaborate that topic abit more. You could put 30 PC's over a tank and equal 1000 watts, you could to the same with 1 MH. The intensity is NO where near the same but most forget to mention that. I would definitly think over what you are going to put in the tank and what you MIGHT put in it, it's much easier to start with something rather than buying a peice of equipment and then buying another and another like most of us.

 

[skis3]

Agreed. That has been my usual MO.

 

[rc1214b]

I agree that the watt per gallon rule is a little vague but I guess it gets you in the ballpark for basic coral keeping. Wouldn't it be nice if corals had a way of telling us they reached saturation. Like a turkey thermometer that pops up and says I'm done!!!