watts

[bonsai411]

I have a 48 (L) x 19 (w) x 24 (h) tank (90 gal). I am pondering the lighting upgrade I want to get. I am thinking of getting a hooded system with 2 x 110 watt atinic blues VHO , 2 x 110 watt 50/50 VHO, and 2 x 55 PCFs white = 550 watts or 6.1 watts/gal.

In your opinions, is this sufficient light to be flexible enough to house a reef enviorments with corals (soft and hard), clams, and other light driven specimens? I want to be flexible to purchase whatever comes my way without worrying about a lack of light, would you agree this kind of light is good enough?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[wayne]

Yes, but with 24 inches of depth you might still struggle at the bottom due to lack of penetrative 'punch'. You might well find it cheaper long run to go metal halide as you are going to be swapping a lot of bulbs every 6 months

 

[gbolton]

I agree with wayne you may be better off with jsut the VHO actinic and a coupe of 250 Watt MH.

 

[S.Reef]

lighting will be an issue. Clams and Hard Corals really flourish under metal halide. I'm not saying that its impossible to use VHO, its just going to be more difficult.

Sam Reef