Lighting for a nano reef
- Thread starter canisee2
- Start date
clay12340
Member
I've got xenia and a selection of riccordias that are doing fine under 18 watts of light. They are in a 3 gallon tank and very close to the lights(4-5"), so you might need to keep your corals high on the rock work. I don't get near the growth rate I do with the halide lighting on my other tank, but they are growing and splitting. The 40 watt is probably a better choice, but more light typically is.
clay12340
Member
Watts per gallon doesn't mean anything. Water volume doesn't affect light. Depth and distance from the bulbs are the only things that are going to affect how much light makes it to your corals.
A single 250 watt MH over a 55 gallon vs a 240 gallon tank will still provide the same amount of PAR at similar depths under the bulb. In the same vein, even in a 1 gallon tank that 18 watt PC bulb will never provide enough light for an acropora, even though the tank is getting 18 watts per gallon.
Getting the 80 watt fixture instead of the 18 will allow you a lot more options when placing your corals and most likely provide better growth and color. Go with the best lighting that you can afford. It is an expensive piece of equipment and it plays a huge role. If you can afford it look into some of the smaller halide options. Current USA makes a 16" and 20" halide fixture and JBJ I think makes a viper clamp lamp that I've read good things about.
A single 250 watt MH over a 55 gallon vs a 240 gallon tank will still provide the same amount of PAR at similar depths under the bulb. In the same vein, even in a 1 gallon tank that 18 watt PC bulb will never provide enough light for an acropora, even though the tank is getting 18 watts per gallon.
Getting the 80 watt fixture instead of the 18 will allow you a lot more options when placing your corals and most likely provide better growth and color. Go with the best lighting that you can afford. It is an expensive piece of equipment and it plays a huge role. If you can afford it look into some of the smaller halide options. Current USA makes a 16" and 20" halide fixture and JBJ I think makes a viper clamp lamp that I've read good things about.