Shallow Tank Lighting (1 Viewer)

[Trey]

Hello All,

A quick question for everyone. I currently have a 55 gallon tank with 260 watts of PC lighting. By my calculations that's about 5 watts/gallon. It seems more than adequate for my collection of softies and hardy species of SPS coral. I am currently putting together a shallow frag tank (8" deep) and am wondering for a tank that shallow, how much lighting will be required. I assume that with only 8" of water to penetrate, I should be able to get by with less lighting than typical. Assuming the 5 watt/gallon rule, I should be able to accomodate this 21 gallon tank with 100 watts of light. Is this overkill?. Would a combination of NO and a small PC do the job? I am hoping someone will have an opinion they want to share.

Thanks,
Trey

 

[Cakepro]

Hi Trey ~

Personally, I would go all pc or all vho and skip the normal output fluorescent. Your frags will grow faster in a tank with better lighting. If it were my frag tank, I'd do two VHO's, one 10K and one actinic. See the Buying/Selling/Trading forum for a good price on some Workhorse 7 ballasts for DIY VHO's.

I take it you found a 36" long tank, eh?

~ Sherri

 

[Trey]

Thanks for the advice Sherri.

No I didn't find the 36" tank I am looking for, but I'm still on the hunt. I have plans to run a larger tank with my current show tank for seahorses off of the same water system. That means a larger tank like a 45 or 58 gallon. This tank I just happened up on and decided to get it. I plan to convert my 10 gallon QT into a regugium for it. This still only leaves with with two water systems to maintain. I seem to be fragging more than I had originally planned so I need something for grow out.

Thanks Again,
Trey