Upping the Watts - Any Concerns?

[captainemo]

I am replacing the standard light hood that came with my tank with a 95 watt PC unit. My tank has somehow managed to survive nicely with the standard 18 watt bulb. I received some free corals. Now it's time to upgrade.
Do I need to be concerned with the increased power?
Thanks in advance.

 

[autofreak44]

id say the more power the better, you should be fine... what kinda tank you have? (gallons, livestock ect.)

 

[zanoshanox]

Nope, bill will go up a few bucks but thats it.
ten gallon?

 

[captainemo]

29 hex. Clowns and LR. I ended up with some free polyps.

 

[captainemo]

And a green Kenya Tree.

 

[rbaldino]

Increasing the wattage will probably lead to an algae bloom of some sort. You could acclimate the tank to the new lighting by not hitting it with all 95 watts at once. If you have multiple bulbs and multiple switches for those bulbs, start with just one bulb for a week, then two bulbs for another week, etc. If you don't have multiple switches, you could remove some of the bulbs and replace them following the same schedule.

 

[volitan_fa]

Like said...probably an algae bloom will be your worst case scenario. I seriously doubt the wattage jump is enough to damage your corals.