watt lighting?

[tagraham]

i know this is an over asked question but how many watts should i have for my 55 gallon. i want a few softies and clams if i can.

 

[jmick]

Generally speaking, softies don't need near the light that clams do. If it were me, I'd go with T5 or Halide if you really want clams and keep the softies towards the bottom of the tank. Also, I am not a fan of Watts per gallon rule to many other factors (such as DOC's at the surface, dirty water, lids, placement of lights over the tank, depth of the tank) to consider. That said, I'd go with a 250 watt halide over the center and maybe some additional T5's to cover the ends of the tank.

 

[tagraham]

well i rally want to go with just t-5 ho 54 watts each what would be a good number of them. maby i dont want clams

 

[sir_dudeguy]

watts per gallon isnt a good rule to go by. If you have 400w of PC lights over a 55 (i had close to that...384 to be exact) it it comes out to a nice high "watts per gallon" number...but its still not a lot of light all the way to the bottom.

Now if you were to take 2x150 or 2x175 of MH, you could probably grow whatever you wanted throughout the tank...where PC's on a 55 will only allow you all softies and a few lps and maybe a few sps up higher.

All that said...softies dont need a lot....if thats all you wanted, you could do 4x65 and be fine. HOWEVER, you say you want clams, and for those, you will DEFINITELY not be able to use pc's on a 55 for them...they require pretty much the most lighting out of corals and anems and stuff. You'd need MH"s for sure, or T5 HO bulbs which can be just as strong.

 

[tagraham]

ok no clams but i really want t-5 lighting for my 55 i will get mh when i move to a perminant home and cane create my dream reef.i saw a light fixture at drs foster and smith that had 216 watts from 4 t-5s will softies be ok with those