wattage per gallon??

sponger0 · 08/03/2009, 09:15 PM

i thinking of retrofitting my new tank. but i wanted to do it with ho t5s. would the wattage per gallon be good at for any corals?

Flipper62 · 08/03/2009, 10:06 PM

Depending on the corals that you want to keep, but around 5 watts per gallon will work.

BUT again, check into the corals that you want to keep & their lighting requirements.

Some may need Metal Halides to survive.

Toddrtrex · 08/03/2009, 10:36 PM

Would be better off telling us what size tank you have, and what type of corals you want.

Watts per gallon aren't very useful, there are too many variables that it doesn't take into account.

BurntOutReefer · 08/03/2009, 11:51 PM

what he said ^

sponger0 · 08/04/2009, 05:24 AM

its a 29g. and for right now i would like to do some zoa and sps.

corbett_n · 08/04/2009, 09:04 AM

4X24w T5 with good bulbs and individual reflectors

sponger0 · 08/04/2009, 09:18 AM

ok now i just saw a coral im interested in getting in the future once im ready to drop some coral in. its a torch coral. what does this categorize under? are they hard to keep? would i need more light than 4x25 t5?

corbett_n · 08/04/2009, 09:33 AM

I kept a hammer coral, acropora, montipora, crocea clam, zoos, leathers, and tongue coral under 4X24w t5. (blue+, Aquablue, Blue=, Aquasun bulbs). they all grew and did fine now I upgraded to a 6X54w t5 on a 75g.

sponger0 · 08/04/2009, 09:43 AM

awesome sounds good. i planned on getting a total of 4 bulbs but wasnt sure what each one should be for watts. i want to be able to have enough lighting to have a diverse selection of coral and i dont want to buy something then realize i need to upgrade

corbett_n · 08/04/2009, 11:42 AM

24w are around 24" I had 4 on a 29g and that was all it would hold. They were retrofit.

foxhuntr · 08/04/2009, 11:22 PM

if your going with t5's then forget all about the watts per gallon.... you need to go for par rating ....IMO i would stay with ATI bulbs.... they have the highest par rating

Spartanman22 · 08/05/2009, 12:04 AM

PAR rating is much more important than the amount of wattage. One bulb with a high PAR would be better than 4 bulbs with low PAR. Also I would highly recommend using individual reflectors

08/03/2009, 09:15 PM	#1
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	wattage per gallon?? i thinking of retrofitting my new tank. but i wanted to do it with ho t5s. would the wattage per gallon be good at for any corals?

08/03/2009, 10:06 PM	#2
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	Depending on the corals that you want to keep, but around 5 watts per gallon will work. BUT again, check into the corals that you want to keep & their lighting requirements. Some may need Metal Halides to survive. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

08/03/2009, 10:36 PM	#3
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Would be better off telling us what size tank you have, and what type of corals you want. Watts per gallon aren't very useful, there are too many variables that it doesn't take into account. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

08/03/2009, 11:51 PM	#4
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	what he said ^

08/04/2009, 05:24 AM	#5
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	its a 29g. and for right now i would like to do some zoa and sps.

08/04/2009, 09:04 AM	#6
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	4X24w T5 with good bulbs and individual reflectors

08/04/2009, 09:18 AM	#7
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	ok now i just saw a coral im interested in getting in the future once im ready to drop some coral in. its a torch coral. what does this categorize under? are they hard to keep? would i need more light than 4x25 t5?

08/04/2009, 09:33 AM	#8
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	I kept a hammer coral, acropora, montipora, crocea clam, zoos, leathers, and tongue coral under 4X24w t5. (blue+, Aquablue, Blue=, Aquasun bulbs). they all grew and did fine now I upgraded to a 6X54w t5 on a 75g.

08/04/2009, 09:43 AM	#9
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	awesome sounds good. i planned on getting a total of 4 bulbs but wasnt sure what each one should be for watts. i want to be able to have enough lighting to have a diverse selection of coral and i dont want to buy something then realize i need to upgrade

08/04/2009, 11:42 AM	#10
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	24w are around 24" I had 4 on a 29g and that was all it would hold. They were retrofit.

08/04/2009, 11:22 PM	#11
foxhuntr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: PA Posts: 266	if your going with t5's then forget all about the watts per gallon.... you need to go for par rating ....IMO i would stay with ATI bulbs.... they have the highest par rating

08/05/2009, 12:04 AM	#12
Spartanman22 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oswego Posts: 1,314	PAR rating is much more important than the amount of wattage. One bulb with a high PAR would be better than 4 bulbs with low PAR. Also I would highly recommend using individual reflectors