oyf709
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Yes that is your watts of light output, but remember your lighting should have some umf to penetrate the water. As you go down in your tank the light refracts, dissipates and thus lowers your total amount of lumens your tank inhabitants need. I find the 250 watt neighborhood is good for a 50 gal with a depth of 18"-24". Btw t5 lights will give you a more even spread of light, less shadows gives you more space to place those lovely corals.
I am not a T5 hater, but there are few things i have to disagree.
watts per gallon does not apply to LED, threrefore can't really compare LED and T5 in watts. Also for salt water doesn't use "Lumens" to messure if the light is good for your corals. It is mainly PAR/PUR. If you choose to go with T5, I can bet money in it that the lumen would be higher. However in most cases, LED will put out more PAR with lower watts.
As far as for the spread of light wise. I have to say it is a personal choice. some people love to have their full tank light up, but some people is dying for shimmer. Both ways are fine and both are good choices.
the main reason for people go with LED is that LED has a lot more control over the fixture, and also it can provides a very vibrant effect on the coral due to its laser like nature.
T5 and MH has a lot better spread due to the light are using reflectors not lenses, threfore it will have a huge spread but much less shimmer to MH and close to none for T5.
and of course, I have to say that energy saving is another thing for LED, for a my 60g tank, i am using 72W LED and keeping SPS/LPS and RBTA, to prove that my RBTA loves the light. Here is a picture of it. =P