Is 500 Watts too much for a 55 gallon?

strike2867 · 01/02/2010, 12:56 PM

I understand I would be keeping mostly SPS, and maybe a few LPS in the shadows. I am guessing I would have large evaporation and heat problems. Is 500 Watts just too much?

The tanks inhabitants currently is about 15 heads of Xenia(which I will take out/place in shade), Hammer head(also take out/place in the shade). Blue Tang, Scopas Tang, Maroon and his large Carpet Anemone. Tank temperature stays around 76. Current lighting is 110 T5. The reason I want to get these lights is the great deal, not because I actually want/need that much light, I would like more than my current setup though. My plan is change the T5's to all Actinic and have a schedule of 3 hours Actinic only, 6 hours MH, 3 hours Actinic only.

Anemonebuff · 01/02/2010, 12:59 PM

I used 440 watts of VHO when I had a 55. Placement will be key though. Fans for evaporative cooling will be necessary.

Spssteven · 01/02/2010, 01:02 PM

I have just about 500 watts over my 60ga I like it

tgray3 · 01/02/2010, 01:03 PM

I have 500 watts of MH over a 55 and my temp is a steady 78.5 with a fan in the canopy.

01/02/2010, 12:56 PM	#1
strike2867 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buffalo Grove, IL Posts: 700	Is 500 Watts too much for a 55 gallon? I understand I would be keeping mostly SPS, and maybe a few LPS in the shadows. I am guessing I would have large evaporation and heat problems. Is 500 Watts just too much? The tanks inhabitants currently is about 15 heads of Xenia(which I will take out/place in shade), Hammer head(also take out/place in the shade). Blue Tang, Scopas Tang, Maroon and his large Carpet Anemone. Tank temperature stays around 76. Current lighting is 110 T5. The reason I want to get these lights is the great deal, not because I actually want/need that much light, I would like more than my current setup though. My plan is change the T5's to all Actinic and have a schedule of 3 hours Actinic only, 6 hours MH, 3 hours Actinic only.

01/02/2010, 12:59 PM	#2
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	I used 440 watts of VHO when I had a 55. Placement will be key though. Fans for evaporative cooling will be necessary.

01/02/2010, 01:02 PM	#3
Spssteven SCRK member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Huntington beach ca Posts: 3,071	I have just about 500 watts over my 60ga I like it

01/02/2010, 01:03 PM	#4
tgray3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 258	I have 500 watts of MH over a 55 and my temp is a steady 78.5 with a fan in the canopy.