how many watts of light should I have

[nigerbang]

Originally Posted by Aztec Reef
I say 7-10 wpg of MH..or anything closer like T5's..

7-10...I am running at 4.34wpg and keep SPS on the bottom of the tank..Which is 22" and the light is 12" above the tank....WPG is garbage if it takes 7-10 to maintain sps...By way of example: A 400 watt HQI will penatrate 30"...if you add 4x96 which is 384 it will still only pen. at a maximum depth of a single 96 watt bulb..

 

[aztec reef]

Now try running 4 watts of pcs or lesser intensity and see if you get the same results...
As for the 7-10 watt of mh, that is the optimal/ideal for color and health of Sps corals but that's not the Minumun ? Or the maximun is it?

 

[nigerbang]

All I was saying is that the WPG "rule" has way to many flaws...as for my 4.31..It comes from a 400 watt Reefstar..On a corner tank...There are to many variables to consider when using wpg...

 

[lexluethar]

Regardless of the outcome, this was one of the most entertaining and informative threads i've read!

 

[usefulidiot213]

This post was intertaining, but I think Fumanchu is probably more confused now then before the question was asked... Interesting how some of these posts turn into small little debates that have very little to do with the question that was first asked...

 

[n_jones]

Yep

All yea have to say is that you've got a Tang in a 30 gal, pop some pop corn, sit back and enjoy......