How many Watts for Softy's

CoMMaNdeR · 01/29/2006, 05:08 AM

Normally how many watts are used to light a 145 gallon/750 litres Soft corals only Tank ?

LOTUS50GOD · 01/29/2006, 05:33 AM

Most soft corals will thrive under more light.... It really depends on the depth of the tank.... I have sinularia and xenia 6" away from my 250w HQI Geismann (13.5K) and the corals are doing well.

CoMMaNdeR · 01/29/2006, 05:51 AM

I wish to know how many watts I need to use on this 145 gallon tank please. The tank is 30" deep.

Do you think 200 watts are enough ?

Avi · 01/29/2006, 08:26 AM

No, Commander, I wouldn't think that is enough wattage in a tank that's as big as that. You'd have an even harder time keeping anything below the top of the rockwork. Another issue is which kind of lighing you'd intend to have. Some kinds of lighting, like metal halide, have much better penetration into the depth of the tank than others, say, like power compacts.

It's definitely not a great way to judge, but a very general rule of thumb, IMO, is that in a tank that's as deep as yours, you should have at least 4 1/2 to 5 watts per gallon. I like more than that though.

Bojan · 01/29/2006, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CoMMaNdeR
I wish to know how many watts I need to use on this 145 gallon tank please. The tank is 30" deep.

Do you think 200 watts are enough ?

It is enough that soft corals will surrive. I am sure.

techigirl78 · 01/29/2006, 09:42 AM

I threw a bunch of mushrooms and colt corals in my QT and refugium, both lit with normal florescents, both seem to survive, but there is minimal growth. Do you have a canopy on your tank?

corals b 4 bills · 01/29/2006, 09:43 AM

I have 3 250 w halides and 2 96 w actinics in a 155 bowfront. I started with 2 150 w halides and 2 30 w actnics and no one was happy, I even lost some corals. So, this seems to be just barely enough to get by for now. The more the better. The first week I put more lights in I only turned on one for a week, then two, then three...etc.

Slight algea bloom at first, but that is to be expected. All the corals are much happier now. Dramatic difference (I have mostly soft corals and very few fish). Hope this helps.

01/29/2006, 05:08 AM	#1
CoMMaNdeR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 703	How many Watts for Softy's Normally how many watts are used to light a 145 gallon/750 litres Soft corals only Tank ?

01/29/2006, 05:33 AM	#2
LOTUS50GOD Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,210	Most soft corals will thrive under more light.... It really depends on the depth of the tank.... I have sinularia and xenia 6" away from my 250w HQI Geismann (13.5K) and the corals are doing well. __________________ Vertex Alpha 300 Skimmer, AI SOL Blue, Neptune Apex Controlled 360 gallon Reef Current Tank Info: born 6/26/2008- 340 reef + 100 fuge, 300lbs of figi LR

01/29/2006, 08:26 AM	#4
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	No, Commander, I wouldn't think that is enough wattage in a tank that's as big as that. You'd have an even harder time keeping anything below the top of the rockwork. Another issue is which kind of lighing you'd intend to have. Some kinds of lighting, like metal halide, have much better penetration into the depth of the tank than others, say, like power compacts. It's definitely not a great way to judge, but a very general rule of thumb, IMO, is that in a tank that's as deep as yours, you should have at least 4 1/2 to 5 watts per gallon. I like more than that though. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

01/29/2006, 09:43 AM	#7
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	I have 3 250 w halides and 2 96 w actinics in a 155 bowfront. I started with 2 150 w halides and 2 30 w actnics and no one was happy, I even lost some corals. So, this seems to be just barely enough to get by for now. The more the better. The first week I put more lights in I only turned on one for a week, then two, then three...etc. Slight algea bloom at first, but that is to be expected. All the corals are much happier now. Dramatic difference (I have mostly soft corals and very few fish). Hope this helps. __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

01/29/2006, 05:51 AM	#3
CoMMaNdeR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 703	I wish to know how many watts I need to use on this 145 gallon tank please. The tank is 30" deep. Do you think 200 watts are enough ?

01/29/2006, 09:42 AM	#6
techigirl78 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,739	I threw a bunch of mushrooms and colt corals in my QT and refugium, both lit with normal florescents, both seem to survive, but there is minimal growth. Do you have a canopy on your tank?