is 400 watts enough for a 280 gallon

livingwater

livingwater

Member
I have a 280 gallon tank. 96 x24x30. i am buying a 400watts light for $100. this light will not cover the entire tank. is it possible to put it in the midlle of the tank and add corals only to the area directly under the light? or do i need light to be spread evenly thru out the tank? i wnt to do reef however i dont have a bunch of money right now to put into lighting.
what do you think i should do with the light? add to it and put it up until then or can i add my corals now?
 
fishfreak100

fishfreak100

Member
I am not sure if you can just put the corals under the light. I think you should wait until you can get 4 watts of pc per gallon before any coral.
 
livingwater

livingwater

Member
i guess that would hurt now would it? i will have to wait on this one. maybe i will put it on a smaller tank and start reefing. this way when i have the money i can go get more lighting.
or maybe i will put a tank under the stand (75 gallon) and reef that one. hook it up with the same water flow from a fish adn invert only tank.
opps wait......i would need a serious cooler then. the heat would get trap........wow. that was a bad idea.
well anyway thanks bud
 
dirtybilge

dirtybilge

Member
Don't buy any corals use the money for more light, at least 750 watts min PC's, VHO or the best is 250w MH's every two feet because your tank is deep.
 
D

diatom

Guest
Living~
I've seen Richard Harkers 2000 gal tank done in a similar fashion. The tank is 12 feet long and has only 3 400 Watt MH over it. Each is poisitioned over an island of live rock where he has placed his corals. It's definately not the conventional way of seeing up a reef but it should work...you can add rock and corals as you add light to your tank. I think I'd avoid fish till everything was settled in.
 
thewolfman777

thewolfman777

Member
i have read for a reef tank that 6-7 watts per gallon is recommended. you just have to be careful of burning your corals so start them low and slowly move them up closer to the lighting, but just monitor them closely
 
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