watts per gallon

[mrcool]

when figuring a tanks watts per gallon do you also figure actinic wattage and what would min-max be for a 24 deep tank using mh 12-14 k to keep lps sps?:hmm3:

 

[RichConley]

WATTS PER GALLON IS WORSE THAN USELESS.

What size tank are you planning on using, and what type of lighting?

 

[mrcool]

I have a 72 bowfront I planned on using 2x 150 mh with 2x 125w actinics 14ktemp on the mh

 

[trueblackpercula]

it has to do with what you are trying to keep

 

[mrcool]

well I would like to keep some sps and lps

 

[mrcool]

also how does one measure par for a tank?

 

[Milleme]

with 150s you will have to end up keeping most sps up very high. I would go with the 250s if possible and save urself from having to upgrade later.

Its more about the intensity of the light and not the watt per gal.

 

[Ti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7709026#post7709026 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
WATTS PER GALLON IS WORSE THAN USELESS.

What size tank are you planning on using, and what type of lighting?

agreed

 

[dots]

If you go with the 150's you will be throwing them out to get 250's in less than a year. I know I am!! That 100w per makes a big difference in color and growth rates compared to the 150's...
Some swear by T5s if you want to go that route....

 

[xtrstangx]

For my 180g (24" deep), I'm using 3x250w MH and 4x110w VHO.

 

[icliao]

As long as you have a 250W 10,000K or 400W 14,000K to cover each area of 24"X24" You should be ok. If you want to lite a deeper tank over 30", 400W may be necessary. In any case, as long as you don't put very light demanded coral in the bottom 1/3 of the tank, you can get by with 250W 10,000K in most situation.

 

[mrcool]

thanks for everyones reply I have some sps now and with all parameters within acceptable ranges I'm not getting good polyp extension and I was wondering if the 150s might be the problem? what about so called burning of corals the 250s wont do that ? or do I have to keep all sps lps on the bottom? Pat

 

[icliao]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7712863#post7712863 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mrcool
thanks for everyones reply I have some sps now and with all parameters within acceptable ranges I'm not getting good polyp extension and I was wondering if the 150s might be the problem? what about so called burning of corals the 250s wont do that ? or do I have to keep all sps lps on the bottom? Pat

If you have a lux meter you can check the sun intensity.
Even at 8 - 9 am, the sun intensitive easily go beyond 75,000 lux, which is what 400W 10,000K gives at 6-7" distance. In any clear day at noon, the intensity goes beyong 125,000 lux and only a 1000w bulb can replicate. While some coral may be shocked due to extended holding period in dark tank, I am sure all SPS can adjust and in most cases I had (90%+?), you won't face any issue burning your SPS placing them anywhere at the tank.

 

[TaubBaer]

I was told that 6w-9w per gallon is ideal.

 

[LBCBJ]

Look at SunnyX's reef tank...he's only got 2 watts a gallon. Watts per gallon is worthless as said before unless you're talking to a newbie

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7714251#post7714251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by icliao
If you have a lux meter you can check the sun intensity.
Even at 8 - 9 am, the sun intensitive easily go beyond 75,000 lux, which is what 400W 10,000K gives at 6-7" distance. In any clear day at noon, the intensity goes beyong 125,000 lux and only a 1000w bulb can replicate. While some coral may be shocked due to extended holding period in dark tank, I am sure all SPS can adjust and in most cases I had (90%+?), you won't face any issue burning your SPS placing them anywhere at the tank.

Iclao, thats nice and all, but its not really accurate. Take that Lux meter, and measure the lux in 20-50' of water. Its NOWHERE near that high. Thats where our corals come from. Theyre (in most cases) not 4 inches from the surface. In many cases, our light IS much brighter than noon day sun.

 

[dvanacker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7714370#post7714370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LBCBJ
Look at SunnyX's reef tank...he's only got 2 watts a gallon. Watts per gallon is worthless as said before unless you're talking to a newbie

No he's not..he's running 2 400w 20k xm's right now with 3 x 140 watt VHO's I believe.

He was running 10k 250's awhile ago but he still had over 2 watts per gallon.

 

[LBCBJ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7715556#post7715556 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dvanacker
No he's not..he's running 2 400w 20k xm's right now with 3 x 140 watt VHO's I believe.

He was running 10k 250's awhile ago but he still had over 2 watts per gallon.

I'm just quoting his article from TOTM...

"This is exactly why my tank can thrive with as little as 2.22 watts/gallon of lighting..."

 

[mrcool]

also as long as we're once again on lighting is a dusk or dawn light really needed or will corals do fine without?

 

[LBCBJ]

I suspect your referring to actincs. No, they aren't necessary at all. The only reason to use them is for asthetics. The dusk/dawn thing is cool if you want to be anally accurate, but they really serve no purpose, other than possibly inducing spawing