Lighting calculator

[robo241]

Does anyone know how I can figure what lighting requirements I need? Is there a lighting calculator somewhere I can look at and maybe plug in what my tank h x w x d is and what kind of corals I want to keep.
Thanks,
Rob

I have a 80 gallon bowfront tank, 48 x 18 x 27. I have mostly softies and want to get into some hard corals.

[45commando]

I'm not aware of a lighting calculator.I think there are too many variables to consider.As for your tank,if the 27" refers to height,then you are going to need at least a pair of 250 watt metal halides.Sure you can use T5 or VHO's,but nothing can punch down with such intensity as halides.HTH.

[DtheDude]

If only it was that easy...picking the right light is just too complicated for that...plus it really depends a lot on your preferences too. There are tons of factors to consider: tank depth, what you plan to keep in your tank, water quality, heat issues, water volume, etc.

But there are some "rules" out there to give you a start. Think of this more as a guideline, but for SPS coral and clams you'll want at least 5 watts per gallon. Another useful "rule" is to have two feet of tank per MH bulb.

What do you want to keep?

If you want to keep light-loving stuff, for your tank I would suggest two 250w MH bulbs. There are several options to use other than MH, like T5 and VHO, but I think MH would be best for your tank given how deep it is. IMO over 24" needs MH, although apparently some people have had good luck with T5s at this depth. If you find MH-only to be too bright/white looking, then it wouldn't hurt to add some actinic supplements as well.

HTH