Lighting: Sufficient or Not?

[Guest]

I have a 20 gallon tank I would like to keep some corals and anemones. I have purchased PCs that have a total 110w. Is that sufficient for a 20 gallon? It's a little over 5 watts per gallon. Too much, too less?

 

[JohnNLuc]

You could keep some beginner hardy corals such as mushrooms and zoo's as far as an anenome You would probably need more lighting and a mature system. You will hear many say if your tank has not been running for atleast a year you should not try an anenome due to your tank not being fully mature. HTH

 

[Guest]

One more question:

I've read that lights tend to heat up, does this generally mean that the light itself heats up or that the light heats the aquarium itself up?

Thanks...

 

[Heineken]

Both, but what matters is the temp. of your tank(water). Some lights, esp the MH 's, get really hot and it may bring the temp up to unsafe levels. I have a PC fixture and I've noticed that when I turn off my lights, the temp drops .6 deg. F In an hour or so. I'm pretty sure that temp changes that small are negligable.

Which PC lights do you have?

 

[lando]

You have plenty of light to keep a large range of corals. Mushrooms, polyps, zoos, leathers, LPS and even some select SPS. You also do have enough for a low to mid light anenomes. I suggest a bulb tip of some kind. I agree with John in the fact that you should wait around a year before adding one.

 

[revhtree]

You have plenty of light to keep a large range of corals. Mushrooms, polyps, zoos, leathers, LPS and even some select SPS. You also do have enough for a low to mid light anenomes. I suggest a bulb tip of some kind. I agree with John in the fact that you should wait around a year before adding one.

I totally agree! You could keep soft corals with less light than you have now, and even some type of anemone's.