Lighting FAQ

[1journeyman]

Thanks Mud for the info and the link..
Any chance you could throw in some explanations to HQI lighting? Also, how exactly does the depth of the water in the tank affect the different lights?

 

[mudplayerx]

I appreciate the concern Snipe, but honestly, all the original site has to do is complain, I hit delete post, and its as simple as that
As far as HQI MH's... you get more bang per wattage than a non HQI bulb. For instance, I have 150watt HQI's over my tank, and they are probably like 200-250watt non-HQI bulbs.
As far as light penetrating water, I think 150watts will penetrate up to 21 inches. Over that and you will need additional wattage. I don't have my literature with me at work so unfortunately I can't offer a more detailed description that that atm.
ps- can't credit who put the work together, there is no author listed, just a name for a pay site which will get edited by the mods.

 

[dmitry]

One thing that confuses me is when a bulb is listed as 65w/500w. The argument is that it takes 65w to power it, but the output is equivalent to 500w. Is this true? I'm looking at some converted HO lights (previously flood lights) being offered on an auction site and it says 65w/500w. I'm trying to figure out if this is actually how that works! I mean, if it is 500w...then I've got pretty high lighting there!!! Over 16 watts per gallon at 6500K

 

[mudplayerx]

I apologize, but my knowledge is mostly limited to metal halide lighting, and even then it is limited. The info posted in this thread was compiled by someone else. I can aswer basic question about MH lights, but hopefully someone else will have the answer for you

 

[dmitry]

Bump! :needhelp: Thanks for trying! This light is a flood-light converted to in-door use. The bulb it uses is 6500K. And the web-site of the company that produces it (Lights of America) also claims that the 65W bulb puts out the equivalent of 500W. I just want to be sure this would be ok to use if I want to get a couple of corals. 500W on a 29 gallon tank is more than enough! :jumping:

 

[ophiura]

I am afraid that many of these sorts of fixtures have been tried, and they don't really get around the fact that they aren't the most appropriate for reef tanks. Check out and post this in the DIY forum....if they did work, many people would be using them as a cheap alternative, and I don't think they are