burnnspy
Active Member
I hear all to often the tank size used to determine the lighting requirement. That is all wrong.
Only the coral inhabitants should dictate lighting requirements. For instance a Blue Tipped Acropora must have MH(usually 400watts) lighting to maintain peak color.
In a tank with PC or VHO it will usually turn brown, even if the tank was 10 gallons, it wouldn't matter; brown. Heck it will lose color in 250watt MH lighting in most cases also.
Its not like a small tank focuses light to the coral so its okay to use dim lights. Light loving corals will always need intense lighting even in a 5,10,20,29 or 55gal tank.
VHO and PC bulbs are limiting because the wattage and intensity of the bulb is based on its length. When they make 15" 160watt VHO or PC lights then small tank coral choices will be without limits, until then small tanks are will have polyps, mushrooms, softies and select LPS corals, IMHO.
BurnNSpy
Only the coral inhabitants should dictate lighting requirements. For instance a Blue Tipped Acropora must have MH(usually 400watts) lighting to maintain peak color.
In a tank with PC or VHO it will usually turn brown, even if the tank was 10 gallons, it wouldn't matter; brown. Heck it will lose color in 250watt MH lighting in most cases also.
Its not like a small tank focuses light to the coral so its okay to use dim lights. Light loving corals will always need intense lighting even in a 5,10,20,29 or 55gal tank.
VHO and PC bulbs are limiting because the wattage and intensity of the bulb is based on its length. When they make 15" 160watt VHO or PC lights then small tank coral choices will be without limits, until then small tanks are will have polyps, mushrooms, softies and select LPS corals, IMHO.
BurnNSpy