Anemone Lighting

[pcpope]

Have a 46 gal bow front with single 175 metal halide and 2 65 watt pcs with moon lights. Not sure if this is enough for rbta, has split but still does not look great, From what I have read this is enough light just want to have someone confirm, or do we need double halides.

 

[pcpope]

Could a moderator please respond to my question.

 

[scsinet]

My my aren't we demanding...

Well I'm no moderator, but I can answer your question. You have a very marginal amount of light. By my math, you have about 305 watts of light, some of which is fluorescent lighting your tank. IF the anemone is directly under the halide, you should be okay.
Anemones require absolutely perfect water quality and correct flow. If he's not doing well, be sure to check these other factors.

 

[pcpope]

In our size tank that is 6.6 watts per gal. why is that not enough?
Thank you for your responce.

 

[scsinet]

I didn't say it wasn't enough, I said it was marginal.
You have a very marginal amount
Metal halides produce light in a very pinpoint pattern. As the light leaves the bulb and hits the water, the further you get horizontally from directly under the bulb, the more steep of a diagonal the light is traveling and hence the longer the penetration distance of the light, as opposed to fluorescent, which fires light directly downwards over the entire length of the tank.
The general rule of thumb with halides is to place them every 24" of tank width, and a 46 bowfront is 30" wide. That's MARGINAL, not INSUFFICIENT. Just as a matter of comparison, I keep my BTAs in a 55 gallon tank lit by 540 watts of halide and T5 fluorescent, though I'd say that's almost overkill.
Long story short, there is more to consider than simply watts per gallon. Regardless, to reiterate, as long as you place the anemone directly under the halide, I don't think you'll have a problem.