48 watt nano good for hard corals? (1 Viewer)

[mr_surfer_Dude]

i was wondering if my 14 gal nano cube could support hard coral it has a 48 wat light system, which gives it well over 4 watts to the gallon. And wat i have read says it is enough

 

[AquaNerd]

i wouldn't focus on watts per gallon. you could have a bunch of standard t-12 bulbs dangling over your tank but it wouldn't give the same effect as a metal halide or t5ho. it's the brightness you should be concerned with. there needs to be enough light intensity reaching as far down as possible, and that's something standard fluorescents and compact fluorescents just can't accomplish.

for that kind of lighting (assuming pc lights) you could get away with lps and softies, but not sps.

 

[Scott]

I'm guessing it's a BC14. PC's are no good for anything but color IMO but you need VHO/T5 or MH to really support stonies properly.

I asked about modding it HERE but nobody had any ideas for me.

 

[karlo]

Have you tried nanotuners.com they have all the diy parts

 

[Scott]

I saw a 70/150w MH retro, but that's it.

 

[bdblkta1]

i keep some hydnophora, and some orange and a green montis. under 36 watt pc. and they do quite well but they are only about 6 inches under the light and they are less demanding of light than most. most euphyllia (lps) species will do well close to the top. i have another brown sps that does well but cant think of the name, picked it up from fish gallery for like 5 bucks. you could also try some montipora digita if you can find it (t&t had some recently). there are a few others hopefully someone will share. i think depth is your biggest concern keeping anything under pc.

 

[mr_surfer_Dude]

this weekend im gona go to bay area aquarium and get one of those small frags