Lighting is so confusing

[HMarcks]

Hey Guys
I have that same tank as Shift_K9 24galAquaPod but I did not get the fancy metal hallide lighting system. I was just wondering if it was necessary for the first timer soft corals, like the zoanthids, mushrooms, and polyps. What mine came with in the hood was two dual compacts one daylight and one actinic. I believe these are them Lights They are each only 32W giving me a total of 64W in a 24gal tank. From what I have been reading that doesn't seem like enough at all. I know the spectums and the wavelengths are in the recomended range but the wattage seems totally to low.
Is apx. 3W/gal enough for easier soft corals?
Is it more important to have the right type of light as opposed to the right wattage?

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Will probably be fine. I'd personally like a little more but for just soft coral you don't need a MH for sure. PC lights can grow softies fine. I have some mushrooms in a cave made from my rock getting no direct light and my mushrooms are growing like crazy. My Zoas do fine in low light areas as well.

 

[HMarcks]

Thanks Cman now I atleast know I am not dooming my future corals.

Now I know everyone is pretty much against this and I know I'll get reprimanded but lets say one day (distant future) I decide to put a Bubble Tip Anemone in here, would I have enough lighting? I have gotten very conflicting view on this. Some say they rely mostly on light others say they rely mostly on catching food still others say it is a little of both, so what are some opinions here?

Secondly I have got to ask for some high school science lessons here. Now correct me if I am wrong and please fill in anything I left out.

When determining the type of light for a fish tank we are looking into the visible specturm of wavelengths, specifically I think blue and white. The length of a wavelength determines its color (?). The wavelength is measured in nanometers. Corals and other things prefer light in certain color ranges or wavelengths (nm). Now Kelvin is the measure of heat/energy (?). Different wavelengths give off different amounts of energy ie blue flame hotter then yellow which would coincide with their different blue flame having a higher nm measurement (?). Now then here comes the Watts which totally throws me off all together. Watts is a measurement of electrical energy. How does wattage fit in here? Does the wattage determine how much of the wavelength a light can put out, or the intensity of that light wave? Can anyone clear this up for me?

Sorry about all this I just feel like I will be able to get the right products if I understand the meaning behind it all.

 

[kay-bee19]

I upgraded my lighting by going from 288watts of power compact fluorescent lighting to 195watts of T5HO lighting.

I'm nowhere close to being a lighting 'guru' but other aspects of light include lumens/lux and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). These are probably more important than 'watts of lighting'.

One (of perhaps many) interesting/informative link on the subject:
Aquarium Lighting; Kelvin, Nanometers, PAR, Bulb, CRI, Watt, light basics.

 

[TRe]

the answer to those lights being enough for any anem the answer is no.... personally i wouldnt attempt a anem in ther unless there wer no other corals and you upgrade the lighting, the reason i say only if no other corals is because if the anemone isnt happy for what ever reason he will roam around the tank until he finds a spot he likes and IMO that tank doesnt leave much room to roam without stinging every coral in site... another reason not to keep an anem in that tank is because they require prestine water conditions which are much harder to mantain in smaller tanks
lol i dont kno much about wave lengths but corals thrive most under 10k bulbs and the blue (actinics) are more for your viewing pleasure
to give u an idea if those lights are enough, i used to have a regular 10g which i made into a nano reef and i had 1 40w pc over it and IMO i wouldnt have wanted any less. that was 4 watts per gallon but id say u wanna shoot for closer to 5 (when using pc's) btw under my 40w pc i successfully kept xenia, shrooms, and zoos... if u decide to attempt any corals id just keep them closer to the top
HTH

 

[TRe]

oh yea FYI bubble tips require MH's or T5

 

[HMarcks]

Thanks for the help guys. I think I'll look into upgrading the lights one day, but for now I stick to the easier soft corals and see how they go.*thumbsups

 

[santiago_crabberman]

Hi people in the forum again, I need more info, you maybe help me to take myself out of doubts:

Can a LED display that mixes UV light and white light may work for having well some annemonaes and corals that I have in my new nano reef??

Most of the living things inside the live rock need a water current.

In a 15 gal. tank how much live rock would I need, and what kind of power head might I use??

Thanks again