Bracod Posted June 27, 2003 Share Posted June 27, 2003 For reef lighting, how much light is enough? If you needed 3 watts per gallon, can the total watts per gallon be a mix between actinic and daylight? Could the total watts per gallon be completly 50/50? Link to comment
Toooloud Posted June 27, 2003 Share Posted June 27, 2003 OK "Watts Per Gallon" Is a rule of thumb that was used more once apoun a rainbow along time ago.. What are you looking to keep and what kind of tank to you have. See Watts per gallon is a bad idea.. Just becouse different corals will need different levels of Intesitiy! as different types of lights will have different levels on intesity. This is a layout of how different lights would be used! Florecents : Tank Viewing only. Power compacts/Vho: Great for smaller tanks or Short tank, Ideally great for any Softies or most tanks that are shorter than 24 inches. Metal Halides: Are what you want, Halides are great for all tanks, Are the only lights that would be used on a tank deeper than 24inches. as well are required for "higher Light needy corals" See Florcents are A "light source: witch is why they are for viewing only" everything eles will produce intesnsity witch is what the corals will feed off.. Now as for mixing.. Ideally its what you like, mix and match the bulbs to get the coloration that you like, Just rember that ACtinics are Benifical to your corals, as they will provide the Deeper water Spectrum that alot of these corals will need as well as they providing the spectrum of light that is going to Bring out the Coloration in the coral So to say 3 watt per gallon is not the best.. just becouse.. somthing like this,. I mean take say a 58 Gallon tank... a metal Halide ( 1 Bulb 175 watt halide ) thats 3WPG compared to say running 4x 40 watt NOs. They are Both running at about 3WPG.. and i will Promise you that depending on what corals you ahve.. the Halide will produce unbleavable results compoared to the NOs. So again, im rambling on and on.. what size tank do you have.. and what are you looking to keep.. we get this info.. and we can help you much better! Link to comment
Bracod Posted June 27, 2003 Author Share Posted June 27, 2003 Thanks, I'm looking to set up a 10 gallon tank, I don't know if I can affort metal halide, but I'll definitly check it out. Really, I am just looking to get enough light to where I will get some nice growth and sprouts from the liverock, but, later on I will probably end up wanting corals, so I might as well go with the requirements for basic coral. Link to comment
Bracod Posted June 27, 2003 Author Share Posted June 27, 2003 Oh, one more thing, is it ideal to get actinic in addition to metal halide, or can a metal halide handle handle all the lighting needs of a tank? BTW, it would be 10 gallon. Link to comment
Toooloud Posted June 27, 2003 Share Posted June 27, 2003 Well on a 10 gallon tank, Running a Metal Halide would be alot.. Unless you where going to run all Harder corals such as... Clams, Acros.. So on.. Running a Halide on that small of a tank might be too much for some of the more eaier beginner corals like Mushrooms, Softies.. So if you go with the Halide then just make sure you have shaded areas for the lesser light loving corals. If running a halide.. Most will run Actinics as well. on my 72 gallon tank i ran 2x 40 watt actinics while running 3x 175 watt 6,500 bulbs.. But if you run somthing like a 14k bulb you are running the Blueish look giving the tank the Deeper water look. But for your 10 gallon to start off.. any light will keep the live rock alive and growing, looking to start of with some corals on a basic level! Then i would go with your 10G tank and add a couple of 27 Watts 7.5" Powercompacts.. that would give you a good start .. and this kind of lighting would do just about any Softies. and then once your tank matures and gets going then you could add on a halide and move into the harder corals.. Link to comment
Bracod Posted June 27, 2003 Author Share Posted June 27, 2003 Do you have any specific suggestions for lighting, stuff that has been tried and proven? Link to comment
Toooloud Posted June 27, 2003 Share Posted June 27, 2003 Again.. There are hundred of us keeping nanos.. and most of use will have different setups.. Depending on what we have.. or what we like as a look!.. Your best bet is to look through out peoples sites and pictures and see what you like then ask them what they are running. Somthing to read.. http://www.nano-reef.com/articles/?article=13 Link to comment
Jahkaya Posted June 27, 2003 Share Posted June 27, 2003 For a 10 gallon Just stick with the 96 watt powerQuad. Link to comment
Toooloud Posted June 27, 2003 Share Posted June 27, 2003 yes again, Depends on what you are going to keep. Myself i would go with a 14K 175 watt halide, and make shady areas for the less light loving corals! Link to comment
ELGORDOINAVW Posted June 28, 2003 Share Posted June 28, 2003 i say go with the power quads, they will good for most anything. look around you can get a retro kit fr about 120. spend the money once so you don't have to upgrade. Link to comment
Bracod Posted June 28, 2003 Author Share Posted June 28, 2003 How about the 24" double strip light?: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...d=6&pCatId=9871 It looks like it would work out, and I know I would be able to fit it correctly, so I want to run it past you guys since I am a newbie. oh and BTW, is there such thing as too much light, or would it be so much you wouldnt need to worry about it? Link to comment
ELGORDOINAVW Posted June 28, 2003 Share Posted June 28, 2003 bracod, it won't work you said it yourself the light strip is 24" long but a average 10 gallon is only 20" long, with the powerquad i belive it comes out to 18.5". i'll look at the double strip light in a minute Link to comment
ELGORDOINAVW Posted June 28, 2003 Share Posted June 28, 2003 http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/power..._aqualight.html here you go this is the powerquad 1x96 watt that will fit inside the canopy for a ten gallon. for 97.00 it includes everything even a bulb.!!! Link to comment
Bracod Posted June 28, 2003 Author Share Posted June 28, 2003 thanks a lot, ELGOR..... ahhh nevermind thanks! Link to comment
basa90 Posted June 28, 2003 Share Posted June 28, 2003 On the 10gallon http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread...?threadid=11379 Link to comment
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