Lighting

[fish_master]

How much lighting does the average reef tank need? say 100ltrs? 3 foot

 

[n3ont3tra]

It depends on the kind of corals. Zoo, mushrooms, softies and some LPS can do okay with PCs or T5's. Other LPS, most anemones, and most SPS need more T5's or metal halides.

 

[Lynden]

With a three foot tank, a single 150- or 175-watt metal halide or a few PC's/T-5's would sustain most corals, depending on the tank's height.

I have read that limited spectrum metal halide bulbs (20000k, 14000k, and to a slightly lesser extent, 10000k) degrade quickly compared to full spectrum bulbs (6500k), and thus can be detrimental to corals as they are "always trying to adapt to the changing light". Consider buying a 6500k metal halide bulb and couple it with actinic flourescent to hide the yellow cast of the 6500k light. Will save a lot of money and will be better for your corals (in theory).

-Lynden

 

[Danno]

Lets see, 3 feet, 36", 26 US gallons.

You can keep softies with this:
Lighting

$80 - 3.5 watts per gallon. Perfect!

 

[SkiFletch]

I have read that limited spectrum metal halide bulbs (20000k, 14000k, and to a slightly lesser extent, 10000k) degrade quickly compared to full spectrum bulbs (6500k), and thus can be detrimental to corals as they are "always trying to adapt to the changing light".

At the risk of highjacking, where'd you read that Lynden? Data produced by our own local reef club, and a recent face-to-face with Sanjay Joshi seems to indicate the opposite...

 

[fish_master]

Ok today when i was at my LPS i was looking at a tank she has in and i rather like it she didnt know how many ltrs it was but my guess would be about 500 ltrs it has inbuilt lighting 2x 30W and 2x 15W fluro is that sufficent lighting or would i have to add more because there isnt much room
she also said she would knock 100 off for me

 

[SkiFletch]

Sorry, but that's not enough light on a tank that big... You'd have to look at retro-fitting some PCs or something into the canopy.