Lighting for SPS on a 20

[acropora12]

How many watts would be good for a 20 gallon tank if I wanted to keep a SPS dominant take with some LPS, and a clam? Is 130 watt PCs goot, or do I need Metal Halides?
Kevin

 

[troy989]

im new but i would say metal halide or t5. if it fits u can get sunpod. but idk 130 wats is alot just wait for some more opinions

 

[acropora12]

Well, I can't find a T-5 fixturefor a 24" tank, with more than like 48 watts...which is no good. Plus I really don't want to spend the money of a Sunpod....I found a VHO unit that does 150 watts as well, so that is an option too.
Kevin

 

[jetskiking]

Go with a 4 bulb T-5 HO fixture.

 

[tang master]

honestly, 130w wouldn't be enough light for sps but it would be ok for most LPS. 250w mh you could keep anything, but may be a bit of a heat overkill as well as an lps overkill. if you can fing a 175 w fixure, that would be best.

 

[acropora12]

Ok, here is the deal I want a SPS dom tank, should I just do up my 20 gallon or would it be easier in the long run to get a nanocube and buy one of the HQI hoods from nanotuners?
Kevin

 

[calbert0]

inch for inch power compacts produce more wattage than the equivalent lengthed T5...
just use the 20 gallon, and instead of using a prefab hood with an HQI installed, find a MH bulb,ballast,socket,reflector and hang it from the ceiling to avoid heat issues..
that will be cheaper and more effective

 

[nigerbang]

PC produce and consume more watts.. That doesnt mean they are more powerfull though...
That is one of the benefits of T5.. Less wattage but more quality light instead of a lot of wasted power..

 

[acropora12]

Well, looking at it now it may actually be cheaper to do a NanoCube 12, and just gt a more powerful hood. Because at the moment it's just a bare 20 with nothing, no filters, skimmer, lights, or anyything. I think the nanocube idea might be the way I will go, but that's a ton guys for your info.
Kevin

 

[d-man]

I have current t5s on my 29 it's 24 in and I have about 3.5 watts per gal and I have no problem with sps. imho t5 are in some ways better than mh because of light distribution.
I know people with mh and more watts per gal than me but it's only in the center of the tank
so for the most park their tank gets less light than mine. For me sps is all bout water flow