Enough Lighting????

Hi everyone,

So I know there is a bunch of threads out there on lighting but I'm wondering if this specific unit will be enought for my 120. As for the type of corals I would like to keep. I have a frog spawn, elephant ear mushroom, colt coral, and clam that will all move to this tank. As for future corals I do not want to be limited by my lighting. Will this be enough to keep my options pretty open???

48' Metal Halide HQI Power Compact Aquarium Light 2 250 - eBay (item 190263003683 end time Nov-28-08 05:58:15 PST)

 

im assuming your tank is 24" deep. it will all depend on the bulb used.
http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-lighting/250w-hqi-10k-par-values-54178.html

 

The tank is 24 deep. Thanks for the link. I'm not really sure what the numbers are though. The guy at my lfs said that I would want about 4 watts a gallon. so I thought if I went with 2 20k 250w MH that would get me there.

 

I am not a fan of picking up lighting on eBay unless it is a proven brand. I tried this and lost. Only $120 thank goodness.

I would look up Maristar and check them out. They are pricey but the craftmanship is very good. You get what you pay for. A bad ballast will ruin your entire day.

 

24" deep assuming you have a 3" sand bed puts floor for corals at 21" deep, not much really resides on the sand bed anyway you could easily get away with T5HO also, the watts per gallon isnt a great rule to follow anymore with the new spectrum lighting options

 

Iraf is correct. Even if your sandbed is 1.5" deep, you have about 1.5" to water surface from the top of the tank. A nice Tek 8x54W with UVL bulbs would rock. Hopefully, my bonus check comes in tomorrow and I am able to spend money!!!!

 

Well Bulb is really only 1/2 of it. The ballast/Bulb combination will really determine the amount of usable light available.

watts/gallon really doesn't mean squat. You really need to know what ballast comes with your lighting. Then determine the best bulb based on the PAR from the link above

J

 

every coral needs a certain amount of power regarding light, par or lumens are a good way to measure it. to keep it simple. heres a site.Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine - Lateral Lines: Classification and Terminology For Reef Aquarium Lighting

it will, depending on your bulb combo.

i have a par meter, let me know your what bulbs your using.