Lighting in a Nano

[just_got_tanked]

I have seen some awesome lighting in some of these little tanks.
However how necessary is it. These tanks are very shallow. So does the 3 to 5 watts per gallon rule really apply. I can see where some of these tanks can be a disaster. The lighting is going to heat up the tank. Then at night the temp is going to drop. This much lighting could also harm corals. How many people acctualy need the 5 watts per gallon. Are they keeping clams. Even so the tank is not that deep.

 

[marvida]

If you go very high you will need to do something for the heat. A fan will take care of that issue. Depending on what you want, 3-5 watts per gallon in a nano will be fine for most softies & maybe some LPS. IMO unless you have MH forget clams. Some people keep clams in less but I personally don't think it's worth it. Main thing is quality, not quantity.

 

[vibe]

well brooklynjohnny has 64 watts over his tank and they are power compacts i think. and he hs about 4 cams in his tank. i have 28 watts over my tank but im getting a better lighing system soon. more light = more variety of stuff .

 

[cprdnick]

Lets say you have 28 watts over a 20 gallon and 28 watts over a 5 gallon, it's the same light. the wattage is not the spectrum that penetrates the water. The wattage is how bright it'll be. the 28 watts will be just as bright in the 20 as in the 5. It's an optical illusion since the 5 is smaller.
Experienced check me if I'm wrong.