Reef aquarium lighting advice needed?
I am building a 46gal bow front reef right now and needed advice on lighting. I am not too familiar with what I need. I read that I need 4 to 8 watts per gallon for reef aquariums. Is that the only parameter I should be worried about? I would like to not be limited on the types of corals I can keep but I know that is unlikely due to my budget, but what do you recommend? Should I be looking to get compact fluorescents, VHO T-5s, metal halides or what? I’d like to keep the lighting under $200 if possible
power compacts tend to break frequently (had 2 both broke within a 2 years)
I’ve never used theVHO T-5 ‘s so I won’t comment on those
MH are great to use for reefs you just have to watch your tank temp they run hotter than other lighting.
3 wattts per gallon will let you keep any soft coral
5 watts per gallon is needed for most hard coral
and if you want anemones or clams you will need about 7 watts per gallon.(unless you can put them close to the light)
I have MH 5 watts per gallon and can grow almost anything.
not sure what you will be able to find under $200 (maybe look on craigslist or ebay?)
Cannon LED Aquarium Light Pendants from Ecoxotic
|
|
84” 250 Metal Halide 4×96 Compact Aquarium Light Moon $699.99 |
|
|
Aquarium Lighting -2 compact floresent 32W Ballast. 1-175W Metal Halide Ballast $20.00 |
|
|
84” 400 Metal Halide 4×96 Compact Aquarium Light Moon $999.99 |
|
|
96” 400 Metal Halide 4×96 Compact Aquarium Light Moon $1,299.99 |
|
|
AQUARIUM LIGHT METAL HALIDE COMPACT 24″ 36” 48” 60” 72” 250 HQI 150 400 WATT $179.99 |
|
|
AQUARIUM LIGHT METAL HALIDE COMPACT 24″ 36” 48” 60” 72” 250 HQI 150 400 WATT $219.99 |
|
|
AQUARIUM LIGHT METAL HALIDE COMPACT 24″ 36” 48” 60” 72” 250 HQI 150 400 WATT $299.99 |
|
|
AQUARIUM LIGHT METAL HALIDE COMPACT 24″ 36” 48” 60” 72” 250 HQI 150 400 WATT $449.99 |
|
|
AQUARIUM LIGHT METAL HALIDE COMPACT 24″ 36” 48” 60” 72” 250 HQI 150 400 WATT $489.99 |
|
|
60 Metal Halide Power Compact Aquarium Light 1072 watt $449.99 |
|
|
72 AQUARIUM LIGHT METAL HALIDE COMPACT AQUARIUM LIGHT W/ LED LUNAR MOON LIGHTS $489.99 |
|
|
24” Metal Halide Power Compact Aquarium Light 280 watt $219.99 |
|
|
36” Metal Halide Power Compact Aquarium Light 342 watt $219.99 |
|
|
84” 250 Metal Halide 4×96 Compact Aquarium Light Moon $899.99 |
|
|
96” METAL HALIDE 5 X 250 HQI METAL HALIDE +4X 96 COMPACT AQUARIUM LIGHT REEF $1,099.99 |
|
|
48” METAL HALIDE 2x 250 COMPACT AQUARIUM LIGHT 760 WATT MARINE REEF NEW 2012 $299.99 |
|
|
30” Metal Halide Power Compact Aquarium Light 380 watt lighting fish tank $199.99 |
|
|
Compact Metal Halide Lamp – 150W – Double Ended – 14,000K $56.95 Aqualite metal halide lamps feature the best combination of color balance, color rendering and light output for healthy marine aquarium and reef system lighting. Aqualite 14,000K and 20,000K lamps simulate water color at deeper depths and with differing wavelength spikes. Coral fluorescence will be excited in some species under the enhanced blue spectrum of the 14K and 20K lamps. The superior spe… |
|
|
Compact Metal Halide Lamp – 250W – Double Ended – 10,000K $59.99 Aqualite metal halide lamps feature the best combination of color balance, color rendering and light output for healthy marine aquarium and reef system lighting. Aqualite 10,000K lamps have a high color temperature from a single point source which simulates the appearance of sunlight near the equator in ocean depths of approximately 5 meters. The superior spectral balance of the Aqualite lamps ar… |
|
|
Compact Metal Halide Lamp – 250W – Double Ended – 14,000K $69.95 Aqualite metal halide lamps feature the best combination of color balance, color rendering and light output for healthy marine aquarium and reef system lighting. Aqualite 14,000K and 20,000K+ lamps simulate water color at deeper depths and with differing wavelength spikes. Coral fluorescence will be excited in some species under the enhanced blue spectrum of the 14K and 20K + lamps. The superior s… |
|
|
70 Watt 10000K Metal Halide Bulb – Ushio, Double Ended $59.99 ###############################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################… |
|
|
Aqualight Pro 72 Strip 150w Hqi Halide (Catalog Category: Aquarium / Lighting-compact Halide) $1,950.53 Aqualight Pro 72 Strip 150w Hqi Halide. Coralife – 72 AQUALIGHT PRO HALIDE STRIPAqualight Pro Professional Series… |
|
|
Double Aqualight 36 96watt Power Compact Strip (Catalog Category: Aquarium / Lighting-compact Halide) $631.06 Double Aqualight 36 96watt Power Compact Strip. Coralife – 36 DBL AQUALIGHT 96W PC STRIPAqualight Deluxe Series Double Linear Strip… |