Figuring light wattage needed?

JCox · 05-31-2005, 01:37 AM

OK y'all....yet another question that may seem naive to most....When figuring the amount of lighting wattage to use for a reef tank, do you also include the sump volume into the tank volume? I am planning a 70 gal tank with a 20 gal sump, so should I consider 70 gal or 90 gal when determining my lighting? Also, is it true that a general rule of thumb is about 5 watts of light per gallon? Thanks.

Krux · 05-31-2005, 01:44 AM

if you are doing halides, you really just figure 1 halide for every 2 feet, wats per gallon is so dependant on what livestock that you keep that it is a really difficult system to go with.

if you are doing fish and softies only, then just a couple of vho would work, if you want any stonies then halides are most likely going to be requisite, with flourescent supplementation.

what are the tank dimensions.

oh sorry, roundabout, but no you do not take the sump volume into any real consideration, that is more important when figuring out filtration choices.

OodleyBoodely · 05-31-2005, 02:44 AM

forget that old watts per gallon rule. Figure out what you want to keep first, then get the optimal lighting for that. As Krux said, there are just too many variables to consider that watts per gallon doesn't address.

JCox · 05-31-2005, 02:44 AM

Hey there krux...So far, the tank is about the only thing that I've pretty much settled on...it's a glass 70 gal RR Oceanic. It's the 36x18x25 size, I had to go with the 36" due to space restrictions on the decided placement of the tank. I have changed directions in my thought of lighting and have decided that MH with some sort of tube (VHO or T5, not sure yet) supplement sounds like the way to go. On another thread, suzstephens gave me some options for some MH combo fixtures and I'm probably going to head in that direction (pending further research). I am leaning towards the fixtures that have 2 MH along with the tubes. Do you have any opinions on the wattage of the MHs? I've seen some with 150w or 250w MH bulbs. I am assuming that I would be better off with 2x250w MH. Also, I'm seeing different K ratings for these bulbs, some 10000K, some 20000K. Is any one better than the other? The tank I have planned is going to be a mix of just about everything, but mostly LR, fish and softies. But I also don't want to rule out hard corals. Sorry for all of these questions.....thanx!

icebear · 05-31-2005, 04:12 PM

Ok, you are not my husband

too many JCox's in this world, and when did he move to maryland?

my world is getting weirder by the second

just don't expect me to have dinner ready

no no

Carry on.....

Loverotties · 05-31-2005, 04:32 PM

Like Krux and Oodoly said it all depends what you want in your tank.