Watts per Gallon

NemoNano

NemoNano

New Member
Hi Guys,

I was thinking of getting a bigger reef tank. I am all out of room now and still like to get a few things. I don't want to spend much I have a few tanks sitting around empty. I have a 5.5 and a 10G.

I wanted to use the same light. (Coralife 9X2 watts)

Would an 18 Watt light on a 5.5G be enough light for Zoo's, Mushrooms and yellow polyp's? (I could move the zoos close to the top) Or I could get another 18 (Coralife 9X2 watts) and use my 10G?

What other coral could I get that would not need much light?

Thanks,

Eric
 
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reefman23

New Member
I wouldnt use that light on either of the tanks...the general watts/gallon rule doesnt hold up.... ie. a 20 gallon tall tank (18" tall) with say 96 watts of pc isnt going to be as effective as a 96 watt light on a 20 gallon long (12" tall). Measurements of lighting that are more effective for reefs is PAR and color temp of the bulb (ie. 10,000k, 14,000k, 6,700k...etc.)

I would say go with the 10 gallon and get this light---> http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 004+113345 (the 20" model)

Jesse
 
NemoNano

NemoNano

New Member
I just trying to keep the costs down. If I was to keep my zoos on near the top of the tank and my mushrooms at the bottom would I be able to get away with a my 18 watt light on a 5.5G? I think it is less then 9" tall.

I would realy like to get a 6G nanocube they only come with a 18 watt 50/50 light.

Thanks,

Eric
 
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sadielynn

New Member
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amf82380

New Member
Not to step on anyones toes here but I have a 10 gal and was using only one of the 9wx2 fixtures that nemo was talking about and added a second one and I have never seen my corals more responsive they are opening beauitfully my candy cane and my zoos love it I even have coral opening that I thought was dead and as far as the mushrooms go I didnt think they were all that picky about light anyway mostly the water but from what I have gathered they are pretty easy going all the way around and the yellow polyps I dont have much experiance with them but I would assume they are like the rest of the polyps pretty easy going I will post pics of the tank I am talking about later on and you can use your opion nemo but IMO I would say with the 2 9in fixtures I think for what your talking about they would be fine I am even keeping GSP's in my tank along with a caribean ricodea with out any trouble. sorry if I stepped on anyones toes here just My Opion.

Aaron
 
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reefman23

New Member
Over time, any photosynthetic coral in a 10 gallon tank with only 18 watts of light are going to go downhill. The corals require the light for their photosynthetic zooxanthellae from which the corals feed. The corals such as zoanthus, mushrooms, etc. get a big majority of their food from the light. 18 watts...or 1.8 watts per gallon if you want to go that route... over a 10 gallon tank with photosynthetic corals in it is not sufficient by any means. Two 18 watt lights is minimum. You will begin to see problems sooner or later, whether it is browning of the corals due to a growth of zooxanthellae to try to capture as much light as possible, or lack of growth, or other problems. Please do not begin to suggest 18 watts of light over a 10 gallon tank to other members without long-term observation of the effects on your corals. I just isnt beneficial to other members.

As far as 18 watts on a 5.5 gallon, that is all you are really able to fit on it. You could go with two of the Azoo Galxy lights...they are 13 watts each. You can find them on drsfostersmith.com...those are the lights that Mike G. had on his pico wave tank.
 
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amf82380

New Member
I wasnt suggesting 18 watts on a 10 gallon I was saying thats what I was running at the time but upgraded to the 36 watts and back to the whole its not the watts that counts thats excatly right its the intensity of the light so if you can get (which you can find because I inquired at my LFS) a 12k bulb for the 18w fixture and if you were running the 2 fixtures with 2 12k bulbs and the two atinics it would be fine My LFS has a nanoreef in a AGA 10 gal with the 2 18w fixtures on it for the past 3 yrs and to be honest with you its one of the best looking tanks I have seen. everything is thriving in it.
Aaron
 
NemoNano

NemoNano

New Member
I think 18W on a 10G tank is ok for a fish that is about it. I am going to order another 18 watt light and I have one of those Azoo lights I will get another (they will be the 9 watt model). I will put them in the back and I will have 18X2 + 9X2 = 54 Watts and that will give me 5.4Watts per gallon and only cost me about $40. That should get me started untill I can afford to do a light upgrade.

I want to get this light someday;

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/stor ... MH-CPENA20

Will that be too much for a 10G?

Thanks,

Eric
 
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amf82380

New Member
no just try not to go over 150w you will have some serious overheating water issues plus take a chance on burning the corals if you have them too far up in the tank.

Aaron
 
NemoNano

NemoNano

New Member
I would mount it a little higher to leave some room for air cooling but it might be a bit much for a 10G.

Eric
 
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