How many Watts per Gallon

[irish02bk]

Just wondering what they say for watts per gallon? I have a 55g and would like to do some beginner coral and an anenome once the tank gets established...

[dobejazz]

anenomes like lots of light. For "beginner corals" zoo's, leathers, xenia,shrooms PC or VHO lighting will be fine. Watts per gallon is kinda misleading since other factors play a role like tank depth

[bucket brigade]

Originally Posted by irish02bk

Just wondering what they say for watts per gallon? I have a 55g and would like to do some beginner coral and an anenome once the tank gets established...

Let me save you some time and money...... YOU MUST COME UP WITH A PLAN ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR 55GAL IN THE NEXT 2 TO 5 YEARS.

Just havig an attitude, "well, i'll try this and that" will cost you alot of money chasing down the correct lighting....and you'll end-up buying 2 or 3 different lighting systems over the next 2 years.

If you plan to NOT limit yourself on what corals you want to buy in the future: spend the money and get yourself a 48in metal halide system with powercompact actinics. its gonna cost you $500 - $700 but its the first and last lighting system you'll need. if you buy anything less than that, you'll NEVER recoup the money you spent on that first crappy "non-metal-halide" lighting system when you want corals that require MH lights. you'll end-up continuosly upgrading and spending more and more and more money, until you finally get a MH lighting system. TRUST ME! I've wasted alot of money in the past.

If you want to limit yourself to low / medium lighting requirement corals: then buy an all-powercompact setup for $200 - $400 range. But know you are limited on what corals you buy. You CANNOT "oooohhhhh" and "aaaaahhhh" at the FishStore and buy something that will DIE in 3 months because you dont have enough light.

AGAIN, MAKE A PLAN ON WHAT CORALS YOU WANT TO BUY....AND SPEND THE MONEY NOW ON THE CORRECT SETUP.

[110galreef]

Get 2 150/175w MH's and be done! You can add two VHO's or PC's for acctinic if you want as well! But the two MH's will be plenty!

If you start with PC or VHO...which will be enough for softies and zoos, you will more than likely want LPS and Clams and what not like us all and need to upgrade.

PLUS MH is so much nicer!

[motorslave]

I agree with 110. The 175 MH will do well on a 55. I would go with VHO for actinic supplimnetation as the PC bulbs are a bit costly in the long run, you get more out of VHO and the VHO ballasts are more versatile. If the VHO bulb goes out you can actually use a regular flourescent tube till you get the proper tube to replace it.
Do some research on the different types of coral first, see what tanks you like and go from there. dont rush to buy stuff as it will cost you more in the long run. Take your time, patience is the best thing you can have in your tank. You will hear this over and over! Haste is costly in this hobby it is also frustrating.

Robert

[Wiskey]

I would get 175W SE (Mogul) MH over 150HQI MH hands down. If you want an anonomie then MH is really your only option IMHO.

Whiskey

[110galreef]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

I would get 175W SE (Mogul) MH over 150HQI MH hands down.
Whiskey

Why's that...more bulb choices and cheaper?

[Wiskey]

Well that and (data from Sanjay's sight) the highest output bulb on a 150W (On the highest output ballast HQI) is 78 par, for a 6500K, the next highest is 67 Par for a 10K.

Those are spectrums most don't want to run.

The 175W has a Iwasaki 15,000K at 87 Par on an Electronic ballast, this would pull less power than a 150W on a HQI ballast (HQI ballast over-drives the bulbs) This is followed by a 10,000K at 75 par, a 13,000K at 72 par and a 12.5K at 70 Par.

If you run a 150 W on a Electronic ballast the best you will get is 59 Par.

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

BTW the 175W on the electronic ballast pulls 178 W.
The 150W on the HQI ballast pulls 206W

Thanks,
Whiskey

[110galreef]

WOW sweet info!

Glad I asked!

[Wiskey]

I seriousally reccomend you check that sight out, there is all sorts of good info there.

Whiskey

[110galreef]

I've read it and this guys site as well back when I was looking into converting to MH's.....click on 250 Watt Metal Halide Testing link on his page. Great info on different bulbs and ballast as well.

BRAIN OVERLOAD!


I ended up going 175w SE...now have 250w SE