Lighting

[pudd'ntang]

How many watts to I need for a 50 gal pentagon? And what would cause coral to fade and loose its color (heat maybe??)

 

[norm]

165 Watts / 50 Gal = 3.3watts/gal

 

[corky]

spectrum will be more important especially in a pentagon that is deeper than standard tanks

 

[pudd'ntang]

I plan on having corals, clams maybe? - compact lighting - open to suggestions, also on my current tank the corals are healthy but losing color - turning brown - what would cause this?

 

[fender]

For a deep tank (over 30inches) or anyone wanting clams, MH is the way to go.
What is your current lighting? If you are using NO bulbs, I would say that is why your corals are having problems. Try moving them higher/closer to the light. What is your tank temp?

 

[pudd'ntang]

What's MH and NO lighting? The temperature is 85 degrees. On the corner pentagon, I'm in the process of ordering it therefore I have not lights, the current compact I do have is on the old tank 32 inch compact 2 atinic 2 white with a fan.

 

[burnnspy]

You need at least 175 MH because if the shape and depth of the tank.
The corals usually lose color under poor lighting and poor nutrition conditions, what lights are in the tank?
BurnNSpy

 

[pudd'ntang]

Compacts 2 antinic 2 white with a fan, about 250watts - I noticed last night some of the color is coming back. I read somewhere that heat affects corals, is this true?