Reef Tank Lighting:How much is too much

oak

oak

Member
I was wondering how much light is to much
? I was setting up a new 30g reef tank (with some baby maxima or crocea clams) and was wondering how much light is two much? I found a afordable MH light with PCs and it was 380 watts which is 12.6 watts per gallon. I thought that was too much and don't know for sure. The tank is 18" deep.
 
privatejoker

privatejoker

Member
Keep the light a little higher above the tank and adjust as needed. I have eight 54 watt t5's over my 75. That only comes to about 6 watts per gallon but I can keep clams, sps, everything with no problem.
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
I am putting a single 250 DE halide over my 36 bow tank. I think you need to be careful where you place some things soft corals may get hurt up top, but all in all you should be ok.
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by ReefLife1680
http:///forum/post/2699479
I don't know about everyone else but I never really believed in the watts/Gallon measurement ...
No your correct it is a very inaccurate way to determine light amount. But given the fact that he told us the type of bulb/s the total watts and the size of the tank you can apply the WPG theory based on those 3 things. Without the tank size specifically the height and the type of bulb the WPG method is worthless.
 
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