$100 is closer to my limit, and isn't 175 watts overkill for a 20? I thought you only needed 4-7 watts per gallon for coral.
Ballasting questions
- Thread starter QCppg
- Start date
Okay, sorry for the double post.
Would a single 65 watt 50/50 Power Compact be sufficient for a 20 long and entry-level corals?
Would a single 65 watt 50/50 Power Compact be sufficient for a 20 long and entry-level corals?
watts per gallon doesnt really apply to smaller tanks.
Over a 1 gallon tank a 10 watt light is 10 watts per gallon. But its still only a 10 watt light.
I actually had a 175 watt MH over a 20 for quite awhile and it did alright. If you buy smaller wattage MH, below 150, then the prices start to increase.
A 65 watt CF would be fine, as long as you only planned on keeping lower light corals. Most stony corals wouldnt do well, but alot of soft corals would be fine.
All the corals I plan on keeping at this stage are some mushrooms and whatever comes on the live rock. I had just realized that I could buy a CF for about the same as the monstrousity that I was planning on building! And if I ever need more light I can just add a second reflector. Thanks.
no problem, I had two 36 watt CFs over a 10 gallon for awhile and that worked fine too.
Alot of different lighting setups can work. As long as you meet your corals requirements, choose whatever is easiest, cheapest, or looks the best.
Alot of different lighting setups can work. As long as you meet your corals requirements, choose whatever is easiest, cheapest, or looks the best.
Hi,
I think that maybe they should do a sticky on the "watts/gallon" rule. I think that just like the "inch of fish/gallon" rule, it is very bad advice to hand out to beginers.
The other day I read a post here about someone saying how his need of light was decreased because he had a 15g tank filled with live rock and substrate so that his real volume was less. Some friend or someone told him that, naturally, he needed less light (watts).
That is really bogus.
Anyway, IME NO lights are not good for corals. Mushroom can survive (not thrive really) on NO lights.
I am glad you reconsidered and now are going with PC. It is a better choice and if you upgrade your tank, the PC system can be use as part of your next system.
Good luck.
I think that maybe they should do a sticky on the "watts/gallon" rule. I think that just like the "inch of fish/gallon" rule, it is very bad advice to hand out to beginers.
The other day I read a post here about someone saying how his need of light was decreased because he had a 15g tank filled with live rock and substrate so that his real volume was less. Some friend or someone told him that, naturally, he needed less light (watts).
That is really bogus.
Anyway, IME NO lights are not good for corals. Mushroom can survive (not thrive really) on NO lights.
I am glad you reconsidered and now are going with PC. It is a better choice and if you upgrade your tank, the PC system can be use as part of your next system.
Good luck.
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A good option would be a compact flourescent fixture made at www.drsfostersmith.com they sell a 40watt fixture for $40 and an 80watt fixture for $50 and at 4 watts per gallon there aren't many corals that won't grow. Plus the bulbs are made for saltwater aquariums so they won't make algae grow like crazy.
