[Esteban the fish]

hey guys i just got my new 60 gallon tank set up. its 48" inches across by 15". i have everything but the lighting. i have noticed lighting pricing varies alot. i want to raise all the cool corals that you see in the store (im still learning the name of them) i would love to know the details of wattage and which lights support what organisms and all the other lighting terms. thank you
-stephen

[pyromaniac398]

MH= metal Halide- they have the most intense lighting and can penatrate the furthest into deeper tanks, but they also generate a decent amount of heat

VHO= Very High Output- Tube Light, Nice lighting puts out good light that penetrates pretty deep

T5- Another tube light- the last of what you can raise coral with

Pick one of those three if you want to raise coral, or a combination. I have a 50g with 175w Hamilton MH and a 96w Coralife T5. I have the MH over most of my corals and the T5 over the sand bed.
What most people will tell you is 3w per gallon for softies an 5w absolute minimum for LPS and SPS but 8 to 10 being the best. This can be an exact basis for your lighting because the amount of lumens ( high bright it is) affects how far into the water it will go, the depth of your tank plays a factor, but it can be used as a ball park figure for the amount of light you need.

That should be a pretty good start for Lighting info.