lighting
- Thread starter tangey
- Start date
tangey
Member
ok sry but i am new to reefs i have always kept fowlr and never thougth about a reef and now i have and wnat to what is 4times 96 watts. is that a total of about 380 watts i need or not.right now all i have are two 24 inch flouresent lights both are 19 watts each. how many watts total i should say will i need.thanks
oceana
Active Member
yes that would be 384 watts of light.
there is no formula that is entirly accurate. i gave you a number that i felt would give you a good all around light coverage and intensity to keep the items you listed and then some.
if you want a VERY BASIC number then IMO you need about 4-6 watts per gallon MIN.
four 96 watt pc bulbs with ballast would run you 200 bucks for a retro kit on the big E auction site and would be great for your tank and goals
there is no formula that is entirly accurate. i gave you a number that i felt would give you a good all around light coverage and intensity to keep the items you listed and then some.
if you want a VERY BASIC number then IMO you need about 4-6 watts per gallon MIN.
four 96 watt pc bulbs with ballast would run you 200 bucks for a retro kit on the big E auction site and would be great for your tank and goals
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by tangey
on a certain website i just read it said 2-5 watts per gallon for reefs.
That website is wrong.
For the animals you are considering you don't need to go to the high end of lighting. If it were me I would get VHO but PC is good too. 4 X 96 PC or 4 X 110 VHO will give you a nice selection of corals to choose from including all that you listed earler.
on a certain website i just read it said 2-5 watts per gallon for reefs.
That website is wrong.
For the animals you are considering you don't need to go to the high end of lighting. If it were me I would get VHO but PC is good too. 4 X 96 PC or 4 X 110 VHO will give you a nice selection of corals to choose from including all that you listed earler.
tangey
Member
ok this is a stupid question but i am new at reef tanks. right now liek i said i ahve a 55 gallon fowlr. I have two flouresent lights 19 watts each .like i said i have two different ones they are about 24 inches each.i was on a website and someone was selling there and it said 48in perfect for your 55 gallon tank?i am confused on what i need to get.thanks for the help.
compinnov
Member
Hello,
IMHO.....you need atleast 5 watts a gallon for those corals that you are wanting to keep....LPS's. Some will argue on that I know
, but if you want them to grow and thrive right than do it right. Save yourself time and money and go with the orbit 96x4. You need atleast 275 watts per gallon to equal 5 watts per gallon. This will give you 384 watts, which will put you around 6.2 ruffly
. Do not skimp on lighting!!!!!!! This way you can have what you want. Just MHO. Hope this helps.
IMHO.....you need atleast 5 watts a gallon for those corals that you are wanting to keep....LPS's. Some will argue on that I know
