watts per gallon limit?

[cchung718]

I'm thinking about starting a reef tank and was wondering if there's a limit to the watts per gallon limit on the lighting. I'm thinking about changing my 29 gal into a reef and got a 250 watt metal halide on an auction. Is that too much?

 

[scy]

Hello, The light we provide our reef is nowhere near what nature gives a reef at noon on a sunny day.Too much light per se realy isn't a problem.Althought heat could be so use a fan to help cool things.

 

[getinjr]

i have over 10 watts per gallon in my 40,mh and vho actinics.

 

[ironreef]

250w would be nice for all corals. Some ppl use 400w. theres a guy with a 54g tank he has 3_400w and 1_1000w.

 

[cchung718]

wow... thanks

 

[darkstar]

I run a 175w MH and 2X55w pc on my 29g.
Everything loves it.

 

[burnnspy]

I ran 175watt MH on a 10gal(17.5 watts per gal) higher math. The only limit is water temperature as far as I know.
BurnNSpy

 

[-shawn-]

The Sun gives of a lot more light than I think almost any of us could afford to recreate. I don't belive that there is anything such as too much light, but the two problems I see are; the obvious heat, and whether or not you'll be able to handle starring at it for extended periods of time
(which I am know to do).
Just think about investing in some sun glass while your at it... oh and don't forget cooling.

 

[@knight]

h2o-boy, are you being serious or just trying to encourage us to go with higher lighting now that we all quit smoking for the betterment of our fish?
[ June 01, 2001: Message edited by: @knight ]