[eldalote2]

ok guys, will someone please tell me how you figure out how many watts per gallon you have or get or something. Im not a mathematical genius but i thought i would be able to figure it out by myself... well i was wrong. i have a Coralife Lunar Aqualight Compact Fluorescent Fixture, 2X65 Watt, 24 inch would someone please tell me how many/much/any watts per gallon i have in my 20 gal tall?

[JackedupSOB]

You have a hundred 130 total watts you divide that by 20 and get 6.5 watts per gallon. Thats pretty good you should be able to put alot of different coral.

[eldalote2]

Ahhhh!! thats amazing! thanks soo much!!

[JackedupSOB]

lol no problem

[pogodzib]

But, you shouldn't go by WPG to figure out what corals you can keep since different types of lighting penetrates the water differently and have different efficiencies. Here's a much better way to determine what corals you can keep under your lighting.

Originally Posted by mcintosh

I think the best way to go about the lighting issue is to break it up a bit.
High light - light loving animals throughout the tank, from the top of the tank to the bottom, clams on the bottom of the tank.
Medium light - Light loving animals at the top of the tank, lower light required species at the bottom.
Low light - Really, a softy tank. Maybe a few montis or LPS up top, and very low light animals at the bottom of the tank.

High light--
18 inch deep tank or less 150 HQI/175 MH plus supplemental lights per 2 square feet.
24 inch deep tank or less 250 W MH plus supp. lights per 2 square feet.
more than 24 inches 400W or greater per 2 square feet.

If using T-5's, as many T-5's lights as will fit across the tank (Probably need 8 T-5's spanning the full tank)

Medium Light --
18 - VHO/PC @ minimum of 6W per gallon or 70w MH/poor PAR 150/175, no supp.
24 - 150/175W MH or approx. 4 T-5's spanning the tank
>24 - 250W MH or approx 6 T-5's spanning tank

Low light --
18 - normal output Fluorescents over tank (ie 4 40W fluo. over 55 gallon tank)
24 - VHO/PC's no more than 3 or 4 watts per gallon (4 65W PC's over 90 gallon tank)
>24 - same as 24 inch tank above.

HTH. And feel free to flame me on any of the above statements. I know that there are exceptions, and I am more than happy to hear about them.

[Adam J]

Where would 4 T5s over an 18'' deep put me ?(30 gallon)

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Adam,if the t-5's have single lamp reflectors they would put you exactly where you want to be.

[WILLIAM1]

Heres a good set up for t5's
Sunlight Supply Tek Light T5HO Fixtures