watts per gallon? - Aquarium Advice

choupic · 10-23-2006, 06:30 PM

I want to know how may watts per gallon I have. Where can I find a caculator or a chart to figure it out. I have a 55 gall standard size and lighting is a Nova t5 216 watts.

thanks

schoeplein · 10-23-2006, 07:21 PM

218w / 55gal = 3.91 w/g (general)

This of course is obviously offset by the depth of your tank.

sir_dudeguy · 10-25-2006, 05:28 PM

watts per gallon is a horrible rule to go by tho imo. For example 100 watts of pc lights compaired to 100 watts of metal halides...theres no comparison lol. The MH is going to be waaaay stronger. It penetrates more water, meaning that you could keep stuff all the way at the bottom. Where pc's dont penetrate so good so you could have like 20 pc bulbs over a single tank, but it still might not be enough to grow stuff at the bottom. Pc's are only good if the tank is rather shallow.

**roka64** · 10-25-2006, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir_dudeguy

watts per gallon is a horrible rule to go by tho imo. For example 100 watts of pc lights compaired to 100 watts of metal halides...theres no comparison lol. The MH is going to be waaaay stronger. It penetrates more water, meaning that you could keep stuff all the way at the bottom. Where pc's dont penetrate so good so you could have like 20 pc bulbs over a single tank, but it still might not be enough to grow stuff at the bottom. Pc's are only good if the tank is rather shallow.

I agree, but it is like the inches per gallon and LBS of LR per tank. It is the best way, with all the variables, to generalize an answer.

sir_dudeguy · 10-25-2006, 07:57 PM

ya you got a point there i guess. Like say you're starting...oh...a 55 gallon tank... Generally you'd want to go for like at least 6w per gallon of PC lighting right? and then you look at how tall it is and adjust your lighting from there. If its only 12 inches tall (that'd be a weird 55 tho lol) then you could prolly get away with just some 65w bulbs and not have the 6w per gallon. Where if it was really tall (just say like 25 inches) you'd need to bump that up to at least t5's. idk...i just dont like those lighting "rules" cuz they kinda give newbies a "false" information. YOu might have like 10w per gallon but if its too tall of a tank it wont do you much good.

**roka64** · 10-25-2006, 09:38 PM

True, but those variables also include salinity (the higher, the more dense the water, thus different spectrums of light might no penetrate to certain depths), how much LR, where the tank sits (in direct sunlight, or a dark room). The sam goes for flow, this depends on how much LR, how it is positioned and such. I think those are generally decent guidelines. I guess the expectations should be set, that they are not written in stone and are lose guidlines, at LEAST a bare minimum or a decent average. How does that sound?

**melosu58** · 10-25-2006, 10:34 PM

I agree that the watts per gallon rule is shaky but as Scott said it is a way to generalize esp to new people that would not understand par and intensity. Let them get this rule down and as experience plays in they will more grasp the concept of lighting.

flanque · 10-25-2006, 11:39 PM

Yeah I was looking at my smaller tank and my larger one, then thought... hmm, what if I could get the same wattage over that tank.. I'd have a huge WPG.. that got me thinking.. so what if I put all my corals in the top 1/3 of the water column?

Would that mean..

60 / (55 * 0.333) = 3.3 WPG?

That seems much better than my current WPG of 1.1 (60 / 55)...

That also got me wondering about the rock in there, since that reduces the total gallons of water..

10-23-2006, 06:30 PM	#1
choupic Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Thibodaux, Louisiana Posts: 170	watts per gallon? I want to know how may watts per gallon I have. Where can I find a caculator or a chart to figure it out. I have a 55 gall standard size and lighting is a Nova t5 216 watts. thanks

10-23-2006, 07:21 PM	#2
schoeplein Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 511	218w / 55gal = 3.91 w/g (general) This of course is obviously offset by the depth of your tank. __________________ Tank: 55g w 275# LR Fish: 2xPercula Clownfish, Cherub Angel, Scopal Tang, Zebra Barred Goby Invertebrates: Green Zoanthids, Serpent Starfish, Featherdusters, Various Hermits Snails: Turbo, Astrea, Bumble Bee, Cerith, Nassarius Lighting: Coralife 1x275w MH 20,000K, Coralife 2x65w PC 50/50 Equipment: 8w UV Filter, Rio800, BioWheel, 125 Skimmer Tank Birthdate: 12/25/2004

10-25-2006, 11:39 PM	#8
flanque Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Posts: 693 Images: 16	Yeah I was looking at my smaller tank and my larger one, then thought... hmm, what if I could get the same wattage over that tank.. I'd have a huge WPG.. that got me thinking.. so what if I put all my corals in the top 1/3 of the water column? Would that mean.. 60 / (55 * 0.333) = 3.3 WPG? That seems much better than my current WPG of 1.1 (60 / 55)... That also got me wondering about the rock in there, since that reduces the total gallons of water.. __________________ Kind regards, [flanque] View My Webshots Website Help save the Great Barrier Reef! Get involved in reef conservation!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
watts per gallon???	ryshark	Saltwater & Reef - Getting Started	13	11-20-2007 02:08 PM
7 watts per gallon	Scottm	Saltwater Reef Aquaria	4	12-08-2005 11:26 PM
watts per gallon	Lindsikins00	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	13	12-15-2004 10:23 AM
How to get more Watts/gallon	JamesMJ2	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	7	09-30-2003 03:20 PM
watts per gallon	swishyfishies	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	11	06-06-2003 11:17 AM

10-25-2006, 05:28 PM	#3
sir_dudeguy Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: arizona Posts: 515 Images: 1	watts per gallon is a horrible rule to go by tho imo. For example 100 watts of pc lights compaired to 100 watts of metal halides...theres no comparison lol. The MH is going to be waaaay stronger. It penetrates more water, meaning that you could keep stuff all the way at the bottom. Where pc's dont penetrate so good so you could have like 20 pc bulbs over a single tank, but it still might not be enough to grow stuff at the bottom. Pc's are only good if the tank is rather shallow.

10-25-2006, 07:57 PM	#5
sir_dudeguy Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: arizona Posts: 515 Images: 1	ya you got a point there i guess. Like say you're starting...oh...a 55 gallon tank... Generally you'd want to go for like at least 6w per gallon of PC lighting right? and then you look at how tall it is and adjust your lighting from there. If its only 12 inches tall (that'd be a weird 55 tho lol) then you could prolly get away with just some 65w bulbs and not have the 6w per gallon. Where if it was really tall (just say like 25 inches) you'd need to bump that up to at least t5's. idk...i just dont like those lighting "rules" cuz they kinda give newbies a "false" information. YOu might have like 10w per gallon but if its too tall of a tank it wont do you much good.