Light in my FOWLR 2/4/08
Hi guys,
<Dan>
So finally I decided which tank and set-up I want :)
It is going to be 125gal FOWLR (5ft long).
Now I have problem with choosing right lightning for that tank. At first my LFS wanted to put in my canopy some standard fluorescent fixture (I didn't like it), so my idea was to put there like 2x96watt PC, but now I am thinking about HO T-5's, like 2x54watts. What do you guys think about it? Which idea is better, remember that this T-5's are going to be only 4ft long, is it going to cover the whole tank? No darker spots? It is very important, I would be very thankful if you give me an answer about these T-5's.
regards'
Dan
<Lighting on a FOWLR is mostly personal preference for viewing. If you like the T5’s, I say go for them (less wattage). They can easily be added to if you wish to convert this tank to a reef later. If you are concerned about the ends of the tank being dark you can always off set the bulbs 6” from one another, much like you would have to with the PC bulbs you propose. Have fun, Scott V.>

Lighting FOWLR  10/18/07
Gentlemen,
First let me thank you for the helpful advice over the past year.
<You're welcome.>
I've had my 75 gallon FOWLR up and running for about 10 months now. Without your information I wouldn't have made it this far. It's time to replace my lighting (bulbs) and I have a quick question. I have a standard triple strip fluorescent fixture. I currently have 1 50/50, 1 20k and 1 blue actinic bulb. I'm on a tight budget, can you recommend which type bulbs to use? Due to my limited experience I do not plan on adding any corals. I currently have 2 True Percula Clowns, 1 Blue Damsel, 1 Yellow Tang, a Coral Beauty, 1 cleaner shrimp and about 20 assorted crabs and snails. I'd greatly appreciate any guidance you can offer.
<If you are on a tight budget and do not plan on keeping any corals or invertebrates that require specialized lighting, I
would just go with daylight tubes which are rather inexpensive, and most home improvement stores should carry them. If you like the look of actinics, then go with one of these and the others daylight.
James (Salty Dog)>

FOWLR set up   3/3/07
<Greetings, Mich here.>
I am planning on setting up a 72-gallon bow front w/corner filter for fish and few inverts such as crabs, shrimps, and snails. I will not be going to a reef in the future.  
<Famous last words.>
No corals or anemones.  
<Yep, Mmmhmm, sure, righto, I believe ya!  Hee!  But I will go with the info given.>
The tank will have  about 50 lbs of live rock.  The system will be filtered with a wet/dry with  bio balls, in sump skimmer, and power heads.  I already own this  equipment.  
<OK.  But would be better to skip the bioballs and go with a small in sump refugium to reduce your nitrates.  Simple to do.  More here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/refugium.htm  many more related links in blue.>
I have a strip light that holds to 48" T-12 40 watt  bulbs.  Would this be sufficient?
<For fish and inverts, is fine.>
What type of bulbs would be best?  I  was planning to use 2 50/50's or 1 10 K and 1 actinic.  
<I would do the a 10K and a 50/50 or 2 50/50.>
Finances are limited and was opting to buy an R/O DI instead of upgrading the lighting.   
<A wise decision.  No need to upgrade since you're not doing corals... correct???  Hehehe!>
Thanks for your assistance.
<Welcome!  -Mich>

Lighting, 45 gal. FOWLR   12/28/06
Hi All,
<And to you>
I hope all of your holidays were joyous and your new year is a happy and prosperous one.  
<Me too!>
As always, many thanks for your website.  It's been crucial in me and my partner's aquatic endeavours over the last year.  Now for the fun part . . .
<There's an even more fun part?!>
We've been through the archives and the FAQs and (literally) countless other websites and haven't really figured out what we need to know.  By all means, if I've missed this information, please point me in the right direction and I'll happily do the reading.  
<Okay>
First the specs:
Our tank is a 45 gallon established (just under 1 year in life) FOWLR bow front with no fish right now; only inverts.  We are planning on getting fish but we're still gun shy after out tomato clown and rusty angel died of saltwater ich in our quarantine tank and are taking our time before purchasing new ones.  The tank itself is a bit over 30" long and a bit over 20" deep at the peak of the bow, standing just over 30" high and is populated by two emerald crabs, a chocolate chip starfish, two cleaner shrimp, a blood shrimp, a peppermint shrimp (that wouldn't stop jumping into the net when we were getting the emerald crabs), six zebra hermits, four electric blue hermits, two Halloween hermits, a hatpin urchin, a pencil urchin, a fighting conch and five turbo snails.  Everyone is happy, healthy and living life to its fullest, due mostly to my partner's obsessive compulsive water changes which are about 10% every three days or twice a week.  The substrate is about three inches deep and we've about fifty pounds of live rock and a giant piece of coral (dead) that provides hiding places for the shrimp, urchins and snails. As things stand right now, we are not planning on moving into a reef setup although with the live rock we do have a fair amount of coralline algae growth which Spike and Ursula (the hatpin and pencil, respectively) love to eat.
<All right>
Currently, the aquarium has a power compact hood that came with the tank and the bulbs that are in it are due up for replacement and we were thinking about replacing the entire hood with a raised fixture as the hood sits only an inch or so from the top of the water and tends to add a fair amount of heat to the water (that and the cooling fans are failing; the aquarium is really nice but the hood has given us much grief since we got it - the fans sound like a 747 taking off when they first turn on in the morning and it takes about an hour to two hours for them to silence).  So we're struggling with figuring out which lighting is the best; for critters primarily, but also for us from an aesthetic point of view (so to speak).
<Am with you so far>
In most of the aquarium stores we've visited since we got the tank up and running; we've seen metal halide lighting in use and really, really liked the visual appeal of the lighting.  The livestock seemed much more colourful, vibrant and active and the tanks just seemed all around healthier than in the stores that were using plain actinic and power compact fluorescents.  However, most of the tanks we've seen have been in excess of 100g which is obviously a bit bigger than ours.   
<Yes>
So here are the questions that are plaguing us:
If we are to upgrade the lighting, we want it to be the best as we don't plan on doing this again for a very long time (lighting is SOOOO expensive).
The consensus seems to be that metal halide is the best aquarium lighting with the caveat that it isn't necessary for FOWLR tanks but it is also not detrimental (that of course is a seriously simplified view of the hundreds of hours of investigation and wading through multiple grey opinions of what lighting is best that we've done on this subject; so please correct me if I'm wrong as I trust your opinions above all others).
<Mmm, yes... this is about the common spiel>
Now, assuming that the above statement is correct, if we upgrade to metal halide lighting it would be strictly for aesthetics which brings me to the TRUE question:
Is metal halide OK for such a small tank?  I noticed in one article that the author (I can't remember who the respondent was but I do remember it was a WWM crew member) stated that as much light as possible is a good way to go.
That was in reference to a reef tank though and I don't know if that applies to FOWLR tanks.
<Mmm... there is such a thing/expression as "too much" light...>
In one of Bob's articles he states that a good rule of thumb for lighting is 3 to 5 watts for each gallon and if that is to be used faithfully, we should be able to use a small metal halide without hurting our animals (this is the absolute main concern; their health and safety comes before all other considerations).  Now for the pinch, I also read in one article (I think it was Anthony responding) that expressly said that too much light (it was in response to an individual who was using two 400 w MH lights on a 125 g tank) could be potentially hazardous to the animals in the tank.  
<Yes, this is so>
The fixture that we are looking at is a 36" Odyssea light with a single 250 w MH bulb; two power compact fluorescent bulbs including one 10000 K and one blue actinic bulb and four blue LED 'moon' lights.  The total wattage is only about 75 watts more than the 3 to 5 rule states is 'acceptable' for our tank at its high end (it maths out to about 6.7 Watts/Gal) which doesn't seem like a lot but again, being new at this, a professional's input would be most helpful as I certainly don't want to sacrifice the comfort and health of my animals just so the tank looks good.
<Could be made to work...>
And last, if you do think it's OK to go with this amount of lighting, do you have any opinion on the Odyssea line of lights?
<Jebo products seem to be well-regarded... nowadays>
I found a site on the net with posts from about three years ago that were describing situations where the Odyssea ballasts actually caught catching.  I haven't seen anything to that regard posted recently and was curious if you guys had any opinions about that particular brand of fixture.
<Best to search, sort product lines in/on various BB's... like Reef Frontiers, Reefs.org...>
As always, your help is invaluable and I look forward to hearing from you.
Warmest regards,
D
<And now a couple of summation comments... The choice of lighting presents a balance of considerations... Functional and aesthetic... Having more light intensity here is going to cause/entail more maintenance... and possibly an excess heat issue... Which you appear to be aware of. However, considering that you've stated that this is to be a "one time" upgrade... and the fact that you might well "go reef" in the future... I do encourage you to pursue the single MH fixture route here. Bob Fenner>

Lighting Questions   10/29/06
I have been visiting your website for several months and it has helped me so much.  I have a 46g bowfront tank that has been up and running for almost 2 years.  It has been a FOWLR tank and is doing great.  I have only been running it with NO Fluorescent lighting but now would like to start adding some corals.  As for what corals I am interested in, I have no idea yet!!  Today I ordered a Metal Halide Combination light with a 150w MH, 96w 10K Daylight, 96w Actinic, and some lunar lights.  Would you consider this as a "moderate" light?
<Mmm, not here... more "intense" for this size/shape system>
What type of corals could I expect to keep under this light?
<Posted on...>
I have researched your sight
<site>
and read the articles about lighting but still am a little confused.  Any help/clarification would definitely help me.  
Thank you!
Trina
<Keep reading my young friend. Bob Fenner>

Lighting Info! - 10/18/06
Hi Guys,
Great site, my productivity has dropped 150% since finding it! I have read just about every article and FAQ here about lighting and I am still having a difficult time choosing the right light set-up for my tank. I have a 54 gal AGA Corner Bowfront tank. What I do know is that I don't want to hang lights from my ceiling and I have an 18 month old daughter that loves fish and have no desire to expose her to the possible dangers of MHs. So that obviously  leaves me with the fluorescent options.
<Actually you still have quite a few options. T-5's and my new favorites LED's.>
My space on top of the tank being a bowfront corner is limited. I plan to do a FOWLR set up. My wife is mostly interested in the fish (so they take priority) but I would like to do some corals and my wife would really like a clownfish with an anemone (which I know might not be possible from what I read). I realize my lighting choice will limit the choice in corals I can get  but I have to think about safety of the little one first and foremost. I will stick with mostly soft corals but would like to have adequate lighting that I might be able to try some hard corals at the top of the tank.
<You might be able to get by with some LPS but I don't think you'll find any lighting without halide that will get you SPS.  I know at MACNA there was an amazing new led set up by PFO that just knocked peoples socks off.>
Also if you could comment on the rest of what I plan for my setup I would appreciate it. Because of the limited space I am going to go with an Aqua C Remora or Remora Pro, about 50 pounds of live sand, 30 pounds of live rock and two power heads in the tank.
<I'd add more live rock!  My personal recommendation is one pound per gallon and I've been known to go higher if I have the room.>
This is a new approach for me. The last marine tank I had was 20 years ago and the state of the art was an under gravel and canister filter. Thanks for any advice and help.
<Lord I hate to admit that I was doing it way back then, but I was.  Its a lot more fun now because the animals are a lot more diverse and you can do things you never dreamed of.  Good luck Rob!>
Rob

FOWLR Lighting/Coralline Growth - 08/09/06
Great web site.
<<Thank you...a collective effort>>
I wanted to get your opinion on the lighting for a 75 gallon FOWLR set-up.
<<Okay>>
I currently have a Finnex 47" T5 with a 54W actinic and a 54W 10,000K white bulb.  A glass cover is on top of the tank and the light is supported by legs about three inches above the glass cover.  Is this sufficient and correct lighting to promote coralline algae growth and should I be concerned about the build up of salt etc. on the glass cover and or height of the light above the tank.
<<Hmm, well...there are differing species of coralline algae with differing light requirements.  This wattage/spectrum will probably suit one or more of them...as long as the required mineral elements are available as well...though I would replace the actinic bulb with another 10,000K bulb unless you are planning to keep "low light" fishes.  As for the glass cover, yes, salt build-up will be a concern as this will greatly reduce light penetration.  My preference is to remove such covers/tops to allow better gas exchange and evaporative cooling.  If jumping fish are a concern a piece of plastic "egg-crate" material laid over the top will usually prevent such occurrences...and the three-inch height of the bulbs over the water is ideal>>
Thanks again for your help.
<<Quite welcome.  EricR>>

Actinic Lighting Needed on a FOWLR? - 04/25/06
Hi Crew,
<<Morning>>
I have a 200 gallon FOWLR setup and was using 4 four-foot daylight bulbs.  I was wondering if I need to add actinic blue bulbs to my setup or are the daylight bulbs enough?
<<Is just fine as is.  Regards, EricR>>

Lighting/FOWLR   2/9/06
Hello, <Hello Lee>
Two quick questions. My current substrate is fairly course (CaribSea Aragonite 5-10mm, 1" to 1.5" in depth) and I would like to add a fine sand (Seaflor Aragonite reef sand, 1" to 1.5") on top of it, would this be alright or would the fine sand eventually work it's way to the bottom? <It will eventually work its way down.>  Second question, is my current lighting (Current Orbit fixture- 2x65w dual daylight, 2x65w actinic) adequate to support live rock? I have a 135 gal tank. <Yes, as long as there are no light loving animals on the rock.>
Thank you <You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>

Aquarium lighting for large fish-invertebrate tank   1/31/06
Hello to the Crew !!!<Hello>
I have a 220 gallon saltwater aquarium (72 inches long, 24 inches wide and 30 inches deep) in the basement of my home.
I wish to install a new lighting system because I would like to have a mixed tank (fish and invertebrates). Before, I had fish only so lighting was less important.
There is approx. 250-300 pounds of live rock that covers the bottom half of the tank so the invertebrates on the top of the rocks are approx. 15
inches under the surface of water. I have tried metal halide (3 X 250 watts HQI) with electronic ballasts
but I did not like it because it generated so much heat that we were suffocating and I had to open the windows, even during the coldest
Canadian winter times !!! Not to mention they were very $$$$$$  Also, I am very uncomfortable with the high level of ultraviolet radiation and
the risk of explosion of the bulbs. So I have begun to install the Aqualight retrofit kit from Coralife.
There is an actinic blue and a white 10,000 K compact fluorescents, both 96 watts. I have 2 of those installed and I will install 4 more for a
total of approx.575 watts. I like this product very much and the few specimens of invertebrates that I have at this moment (mushroom, blue
tip anemone, green polyps, leather coral) seems to be ok with that form of lighting.
Do you believe I can go ahead and operate successfully a large
fish-invertebrate tank only with those compact fluorescents ? <Yes, as long as you stay with moderate light loving inverts.  What you have at present should be fine. They are probably not going to get the light they require if they are placed on the bottom of the tank, stay mid level to above.>
Thank you very much for your help. <You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>
Robert
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Lighting For A FOWLR... Must Make A Choice – 01/19/06
Hello WWM,
<<Hello Matt>>
I am grateful for you in reviewing my email.
<<Thank you for writing in.>>
I just have a quick question.
<<That's what they all say <grin>.>>
I have a 240 FOWLR and am curious as to what sort of bulbs
(color spectrum etc.) to use as far as lighting goes.
<<A combination of Daylight (6500K) and 10000K bulbs would work well here in my opinion.>>
I have two ballasts in use with the following bulbs...2 POWERCOMPACT 96W 10000K, 2 POWERCOMPACT 96W ACTINIC03, 2 POWERCOMPACT 96W ACTINIC03/10000K.
<<WAY too much Actinic.  Leave the two 10000K bulbs and replace the others with 6500K bulbs and I think you'll find your fish's colors look better.>>
My main goal is to illuminate my fish to the greatest degree and maintain and grow as much coralline algae as possible.
<<Mmm...pick one or the other my friend.  My vote is to illuminate to show off the fish (6500K lighting)...after all...this is a FOWLR tank...not a LRWF tank (Live Rock With Fish)...isn't it?  You will still get coralline growth as long as the necessary earth elements of the water are in correct supply/balance.>>
Thanks for your help,
Matt
<<Cheers, EricR>>

Lighting for 70 gallon FOWLR
Hello Crew,
  I am currently redoing my 70 gallon (36" long, 18" wide, 27" tall). I have planned everything except the lighting--a topic that confuses me the most when it comes to this hobby. Since this is just going to be a fish only tank with live rock I want some color on the rocks so coralline algae is a must for me. So my question is--what lighting (please specify bulbs and hood/fixture name) would be the best for sufficient coralline algae growth? Previously I had two 30 watt fluorescent bulbs (one actinic and one white spectrum). That grew some coralline, but not as much as I see at most local shops and other saltwater hobbyists' tanks. I really don't want to spend too much money. My budget would be less than $125 for the bulbs and hood. Here's my species list of fish:
- Marine Betta
- Dwarf Fuzzy Lionfish
- Hawkfish (not sure what species, but not aggressive)
Since the fish I plan on keeping are secretive and almost nocturnal, will the light needed to coralline algae stress them?  <I don't believe I can help you Greg.  I've looked at several sites and you can't even get into retro fits for $125.00 and since you want the complete fixture we are way over your budget.  With your deep tank and wish to grow coralline, you would need two 96watt PC's.  Coralline does not require a lot of light to grow, in fact it does better at lower light intensity, but with a 27" depth I feel you would need the two 96 watters, and the least expensive one I found was $177.00.  For bulb selection I would go with one true actinic and one 10000K.  James (Salty Dog)>

Lighting for a FOWLR 10/13/05
Hi crew, I have spent the last three hours reading about lighting, however I can't seem to come up with a definitive answer. I am starting my first marine in a standard 55 gal from All-Glass that was given to me when a friend upgraded to a 125.
<A great way to get started! Welcome to our addiction!>
I have spent about the last two months researching, (including THE book) before I found this website trying to save my daughters goldie from ich (too late :( ).
<Glad you found us! Sorry it was too late for Goldie.>
Anyway, I have decided on a FOWLR, but I am not sure that my lighting is sufficient. I am running the NO 48" fixture that came with the tank. The bulb is a 50/50 bulb from Coralife. Is this enough to promote the growth of coralline algae on the live rock? 
<It should be. Adding a second of the same is a very inexpensive way to be sure you have plenty.>
I don't want to upgrade to PC yet as my wife is already screaming about how much I have spent on my free tank, (filter, heater, test kit etc) and I don't even have any fish yet!
<PC's are not necessary at all. And you may want to start figuring out clever ways to hide aquarium expenses from your wife! Ha!>
I also I have read a few places that that LR needs the addition of certain trace elements, notably, strontium and Iodine. Is this true? Thanks for your help. Evan H. 
<Calcium and Alkalinity are very important for healthy coralline algae growth and alkalinity is also important for pH stability. These should be tested and maintained. All other "trace elements" can be adequately maintained through regular partial water changes (20% per month is a good starting point). Be very wary of "trace element" preparations. If you are adding something without testing for it, you can easily over dose it! Best Regards. AdamC.>

Lighting For Tall FOWLR Tank (And Inverts? - II) - 05/09/05
I understand and agree. By invertebrates I was thinking more of crabs, snails and such and not coral (except perhaps some mushrooms if I see nice looking ones). My highest rock will be about 18" below the surface so I can probably attach some things there.
<Agreed, mushrooms would probably do fine at that depth under those lights. Though they even may suffer some predation depending on your fish species. But overall, have a good chance to be left alone.> 
I will be watching the rocks to see what grows there. I am also looking at some of the synthetic coral (Nature's Image) as my service guys reports it looks pretty good when mixed in with live rock and underwater.
<Ughh...do these guys sell them by chance? Do check them out in a display for yourself before you buy if you can; make sure YOU like the look.>
Thanks for the advice.
<My pleasure, Eric R.>

FOWLR lighting
I'm setting up a 54 gallon corner tank - FOWLR. I'll use about 50 lbs. of live rock. The lighting is a 30" twin strip with standard fluorescent T-8 bulbs. Will this be OK with the live rock or should I replace the bulbs with different ones, and if so, which ones?
Thanks.
Mitch
<Should be fine. Read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/lrlightingfaqs.htm Bob Fenner> 

Re: Lighting for Fish Only With Live Rock Tank
Hi Bob,
<Gary>
Thanks for your timely response. Can you please offer me your opinion
on the following light fixture in terms of what you recommended below.
Thank you in advance.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?
pcatid=12109&N=2004+113030+22749
Best regards,
Gary
<The price is right, and I do like the 3/4 watt LED moonlight... This is about right in terms of the amount of light I'd look for you FOWLR system... but would likely pull the actinic lamps and replace with other whites. Bob Fenner>

Lighting for FOWLR
I am setting up a 180g oceanic reef ready tank (72" * 24" * 24") and would
like to know your recommendations for lighting.  I plan on housing primarily
fish and live rock.  I have read through many of your FAQs and when I think
I have got it a wrench is thrown in.  You seem to favor PC lighting but
every once in a while you throw some metal halide in there and even a VHO
bulb or two.  What is your suggestion (type of lighting, quantity, spectra,
etc.) for what I should use.  Whatever you suggest is going in a custom wood
hood 12 inches in height.
Thank you for your time,
Dwayne
<Well, Dwayne, if this is FOWLR then enough to see the fish is what you need.
In that case maybe 4x96w pc with 4 10,000K or 2 10,000K and 2 actinics. Combinations
like this look very different to different people. The best bet is to find other
tanks in your area that have different lighting so you can see for yourself. If you
would think that corals are 'down the line' then at least 3 175W MH for low to
medium needs or 3 250W for medium to high lighting. Good luck, Don>

RE: Lighting for FOWLR
If I went with 3 250W MH will that be too much light for any fish?  Do you recommend one manufacturer of MH bulbs over others (maybe better quality/value/etc.)?
<Well, D'Wayne, that will certainly provide ample light for a FOWLR <G>. Should not cause a problem. The Aqualine/Buschke seems to get high marks around here. Don>
D'Wayne

RE: Lighting for FOWLR
Will any of the suggestions you made require the use of a chiller given the
following (My biggest concern are the metal halides):
<That will depend on a number of variables. If heat becomes a problem, many
have been successful using evaporative cooling by putting small fans
directed across an open sump.>
- The tank is in a basement that stays between 72&75 degrees F
- I will use an inline pump so that should not add to much heat
- In addition to the custom hood the tank will be covered by a full glass
canopy
<I would not use a glass canopy but egg crate instead>
- I will have 2 4" fans (105CFM each) one to force air into the hood and one
to pull air out of the hood (I plan on placing them on the sides in the
center of the hood unless you suggest something different)
<Lots of work and experimentation documented here on the issue of fans and hoods.
Use the search engine at the bottom of the WetWebMedia home page to search the
archives. Or use a search engine (like google) to find DIY plans on the web.>
Is there a big difference in the heat generated by 3 175w as opposed to 3
250w halides?
<Yes as 3 250s are the same as 4.28 175s. The type of ballast and the location
of the ballast will make a difference too.>
Thanks again,
D'Wayne

Lighting for a 15 gallon salty - 10/10/03
Hi guys, <Hiya>
You have the best, most comprehensive site on the web for marine aquarists. <Well......I agree>  I have a question regarding a 15 gallon FOWLR system. <OK. Shoot> I currently have only a single florescent bulb, a Rio powerhead, and an AquaClear 150 running on my tank. <On a 15 gallon? Is this enough? Heheheh>  I'm thinking about moving up to a power compact lighting of some sort and possibly a Prizm skimmer. <The Prizm skimmer is fairly loud and not exactly getting rave review from aquarists. Please, check through the many reef forums out there for some opinion. (make the best decision possible the more you know) I like the CPR Bak Pak or the Aqua C line of skimmers. It doesn't hurt to have skimmer rated a bit higher than your system. Lighting is always a nice upgrade if it can be afforded and in most reef cases, even very necessary>  I have a pair of ocellaris clowns, <In such a small space....hmmm......> jaw fish, <Deep sand bed?> a royal Gramma, a star fish, one cleaner shrimp and a few snails.  Do you have any suggestions as to what types of lighting would be good? <Well a power compact will likely be fine here. Again, only to bring out colors of the fish as you didn't mention any corals. Lighting in a Fish Only With Love Rock tank is less necessary than if you were to say....plan coral additions or macro algae, in my opinion> I am thinking about the new custom Sealife PC/moonlight systems (are they worth the $$$?) <Well, I use them. Have for years. Good quality for the money, in my opinion> or a Coralife PC (or anything you suggest, hehe). <All good choices here>  Also would it be OK to add some corals or should I get some kind of sump going before I do that? <Get the sump going for the fishes sake not the coral. It is up to you, but be sure to find the corals you are interested in and then research their needs for lighting, compatibility with your current inhabitants, water quality needs, feeding, flow, etc. and then purchase your items around that information. This is an often overlooked and very important step in my experience>  THANKS!!!  Mike Chang <Thank for asking. -Paul>

Lighting for FOWLR
hello, I just got 7lbs or live rock for my 55gal (I'm going slow), and I am using 1 PowerGlo and 1 marine Glo. is this enough lighting for my FOWLR tank?<it should be> or should I replace the 1 Marineglo with another PowerGlo?<you could> do the live rocks need actinic lighting?<they look better, most of the LR will die anyways w/out reef chemistry>  I like the look of 2 PowerGlos better.<me too>also, I have a remote 5 gal tank with 4 inches of DSB in it. will this give me denitrification if run slow water to it thru my system? if so, how much water turnover? <you could make this into a small refugium and then upgrade to say a 20gal aquarium later, It will be very beneficial for your fish-do read about refugiums on the WWM site http://www.wetwebmedia.com/refugium.htm>
what plants do u suggest I add to that refugium to help with water quality? I was thinking of Chaetomorpha or tang heaven.<yeah these two sp. have proven to work well> I heard of staying away from Caulerpa.<agreed> also, what supplements do I need to add now that I have live rock? calcium or Kalkwasser? and how about if I add macro algae?<you really don't need to add any supplements in a FOWLR system, good luck with everything, it sounds like you are on the right track, IanB>

-Lighting a 'FOWLR'-
Hi Guys, Am setting up a 125 gal. reef set-up with anemones, fish live rock, live sand, shrimp, crabs, etc. (no coral). <Keep in mind that you should only have one anemone per tank (unless it's a cloning BTA), and that, generally speaking, it's best to get your feet wet in keeping coral (you'll find that many species are much easier to keep than anemones)> The tank is 72 Lx18Wx22H. I would like to hang 2or3   Aqualine 175 ,10,000k pendants 12" over  top. How does this sound? <Sounds great!> Also, should I cover the tank with a glass hinged cover, egg crate type ceiling light cover, or just leave open. <If fish jumping is not an issue, I'd leave it open. The egg crate is pretty blinding when you walk up to the tank, and glass can trap beaucoup heat, along with adding a potentially significant light reduction.> How long should I leave on every day and should I put on a timer to go on and off during the day e.g. on at  7am for 4hrs, off at 11 for 4 hrs., on at 3 for 5 hrs.??? <I'd put them all on timers for 8-10 hours straight per day.> I figure I could probably get away with Fluorescents but I like the look of metal halide light and the open top style of tank. <I hear ya, I'm a halide user for life. -Kevin> Thanks in advance. Louie

- FOWLR Lighting -
I wrote earlier this week about a problem, but I'm not sure if the email went through or if you have been backed up and unable to respond. Anyhow, the question I had was about the lighting for my 72g Oceanic (23" height).  The lighting I currently have is the typical Twin tube strip light that accommodates 2 48" bulbs with a polished aluminum reflector (AGA light, Oceanic tank).  The bulbs I am using are a 50/50 Actinic/Daylight 6000k and a 10000k daylight. I will eventually have a FOWLR tank w/90 lbs of live rock, assorted hardy inverts, and 5-6 small, peaceful fish. From what I have been reading in 'CMA' and other sources, the lighting I currently have may not be strong enough to sustain some of the life that may grow on the live rock. Is this the case? <I don't think so... do believe this will be plenty of light for a FOWLR tank. The live rock will do fine.> If so, what type of lighting would I be able to use along with the canopy I purchased w/the tank (Space/heat concerns)? <You could upgrade to Power Compacts or VHO if you wanted more lighting intensity, but I don't think it's necessary.> If not possible to use w/the canopy, then possibly something that will rest safely upon the glass top? Any recommendations are more than welcome. Thank you very much.
-Brian
<Cheers, J -- >

-Lighting for FOWLR-
I am considering purchasing better lighting for my 72g bowfront w/the canopy. The lighting that came with the setup is a typical Twin tube strip light that accommodates 2 48" inch bulbs.  I will eventually end up w/90lbs of live rock, assorted peaceful fish and hardy invertebrates.  From what I have been reading in 'CMA', this type of lighting may not be sufficient for the live rock and invertebrates. Before I go spending the money, is this the case? If so, what type of lighting setup could I go with that would also fit in well with the canopy I purchased (not too hot or bulky)? I currently have one 10,000K daylight bulk and one 50/50 Actinic/Daylight. <This question has been answered plenty of times here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/lrlightingfaqs.htm Try to use our search feature more often, as this site is spilling over with information. Hope this helps! -Kevin>
Thank you, Brian

FOWLR Lighting
Hi crew.<Howdy!>
I've been reading you site for the past few months and its very informative. I'm in the planning stage of setting up a 100G FOWLR (no corals for me). My question is about lighting. You recommend getting around 2-3 watts per gallon. Why is that? Any special reason? Is it for the algae (coralline algae growth?) or for the fish? 
Thanks and more power.<It is a very good idea to have upgraded lighting with live rock as it keeps many of the photosynthetic creatures from dying and there for less pollution. I think it also looks much better.>
Jeto
PS. I intend to follow what you preach in fishkeeping.<We try no to preach but thank you for the complement. And as Bob always says take any advice like a grain of salt and make sure you get as many different opinions as possible, or some thing to that extent. Cody>

Lighting a 40 gallon FOWLR
Hello Bob, I have been using this site ever since Christmas Day when I first set up my tank.  Anyways,  I have a question about my lighting.  I have a 40 gallon breeder tank, with a cardinal fish and a sergeant major, about 35 pounds of Fiji / gulf live rock, and I was wondering, what would be a good amount of light to have to keep the coralline algae and Caulerpa growing well?<< More blue light for coralline, and more red light for Caulerpa.  So, I guess a good balance is needed here. >> I'm pretty sure about the fish not needing much light, but I'm still not sure about the algae and plants, any help would be appreciated, << Well, I like lots of light, and I don't think you can ever have too much.  I would go with 4 VHO tubes.  Two actinic and two whites.  I think you will be very pleased with that.  Best of luck. >> Anthony
<<  Blundell  >>

Lighting For A FOWLR Tank
About how many watts of light does a 135 gallon tank need? the ballast I'm looking to purchase is a H4 electronic ballast from J&L Aquatics. It can run either 4-96W PC Bulbs 4-75W VHO Bulbs 4-95W VHO Bulbs or 4-110W VHO Bulbs
<Well, there really is no "correct" number for "watts per gallon". What you need to do is get sufficient light of the proper spectrum for the animals that you intend to keep. PC and VHO bulbs are excellent, economical lighting methods for many animals.>
What would be the best to get for a FOWLR tank. There will be no corals.
<For a FOWLR tank, either configuration that you are considering would be just fine. I'd go for a mix of daylight and actinic bulbs or nice coloration, myself- but it's your call.>
Thanks again.
<My pleasure! Regards, Scott F.>

Lighting a 55 gal FOWLR
Hi I have not written to you guys for about two years, since all my problems w/ my baby morays. Anyways I feel I have come a long way, and am past the point of no return :). Anyways, I'm nearing completion of my tank setup, and was really hoping you could give me your views on how it is going, and I also have a few specific questions as well. Well, here's the setup:
55 gallon tank, FOWLR, inhabitants are 1 medium purple mouth moray (Gymnothorax vicinus - what a pain it was identifying this guy! I know this cannot be his final tank, he will be moved in about a year's time to his final home which will be over double this size), 1 coral banded shrimp, 1 skunk cleaner shrimp ( they have homes on opposing sides of tank, and haven't killed each other yet), 1 starfish, maybe 15 snails. 
1 hang on tank mechanical/biological filter, with some ceramic beads I'm slowly removing because they are a detritus factory, and the unit has 2 carbon holding sponges, of which I change one side every other week. 
1 aqua C remora skimmer, with maxi 1200 upgrade, constantly cleaned
2 maxi jet 1200s on the ends of tank for circulation, thinking of throwing in a Rio I have sitting around, don't even know if it's necessary in the tank though. << You can't have too much flow. >>
1 pc lighting unit, w/ a 36 watt 50/50 bulb
<< That is very little light. >>
also I'm very good about water changes / top offs etc..
okay, any criticisms / ideas would be greatly appreciated, now on to my questions. as far as biological filtration, I have a 1.5 '' aragonite bed ( probably doesn't' do much at all), and only about 20 lb of live rock. << I'd double that. >> here's question 1: instead of purchasing live rock, which turned out to be a disaster (I used to have more than 20lb, but any piece that wasn't large the eel would bang into the glass when he played w/ them), I decided to make 2 large structures w/ the Aragocrete method. the first, which should be done curing in about a month, is 30 lb, and is composed of 20 lb dry Tufa base rock and the rest an Aragocrete mixture. the second structure is 30 lb, but is a mixture of maybe 4 cement : 1 crushed oyster shells, and the exterior is totally covered in oyster shell. << I've heard, and personally seen, really bad results with oyster shell. I'd be hesitant to use it ever again. >> I know adding aragonite helps with porosity, but I painstakingly made this structure day by day for weeks, adding layer by layer of pebbles of cement/oyster shells, so I'm pretty sure water can get through the entire structure. << I just saw a fantastic presentation the other day on Aragocrete construction. This guy (who is amazing) said the key was to use as little water as possible when mixing up your cement. That was the key to increasing porosity. >> this is actually a multiple part question. will coralline develop quicker on concrete, especially if it is covered in oyster shell? << Hmmm, no. I'll say light is more important than the material. But darker colors help. >> can I count the second structure pound for pound in my LR: gallons ration if it is a very loose structure? << I don't like that measurement anyway. I'd say just fill your tank so there is plenty of rock. Whatever weight it is what it is. >> will 80 lb of rock in the tank be too much? << Impossible. Don't worry that won't happen. >> the second structure weighs 30lb, and only has 3 points of contact with the tank.
<< That is cool. >>
my next question is about lighting. I had been told by some people that 1watt no= 1 watt pc, but in re reading all the lighting faq's I see you're saying 1 watt pc is 2-3 times brighter than 1 watt no. << Absolutely. >> all I plan on doing in my tank is keeping it looking nice aesthetically, keeping it feeling natural enough to the inhabitants, and making coralline grow like crazy. (side note - just turned around and saw cleaner shrimp - just got him yesterday - cleaning eel for first time!!!) like I said I have 1 36watt pc 50/50 over the tank. I also just ordered 4 moonlight led bulbs (matching the moon's spectrum). now, my plan was to purchase another lighting unit, and a new 50/50 bulb (mine's like 2 years old, making the Cyano come in!!), and then run a timer system like moon: dusk: day: dawn: moon, with the dawn/dusk being the new lighting fixture which would be 100% actinic, and daylight being the 50/50 plus the actinic, so during the day it would have a bluer effect. like I said I am concerned with coralline to grow as well as possible, and I want to have a blue effect even during the day. << This should be fine for what you're looking for. Still very little light, but that is what you want for coralline. >> what type / wattage lighting fixture would you suggest for the actinic one? << Well I'd probably run two VHO tubes, but if you already have one pc, then I'd just rig up another 55 watt pc. >> I was thinking of getting a NO fluorescent strip, which would be 40 watts, but actinic doesn't' look very bright, and the 36 I have is pc, so if I add 40watts actinic NO I feel like it won't seem that I've done very much. so maybe VHO 48''? << That would be great. >> I don't want to get a multiple bulb pc system, and the 1 bulb, I believe 96 watts, wouldn't really cover the length of the tank, and since my pc is only 24'', I want something that will provide better lighting. oh my bro goes to trade school and does carpentry/cabinet stuff, so he's coming down to my school in the next few days to get measurements, going to build me a custom hood, super deep so I can feed the eel by hand w/o worrying of him diving out of the tank (I feed him off a fork now w/ the tank cracked 1/4'', he's too crazy to open the top when he smells food! the hood will have a fan on both sides, creating a decent current over the lights, so I think they will be fine as far as heat goes, although I don't' have experience with this so I could be wrong.) Oh, if I wanted to add to the blue effect during the day, could I just leave the moonlights on always? << Yes, but they are very dim. I don't think you could see them during the day. >> if you would even be able to see them once the other lights are on *doubtful*. Well, sorry for such a long email. I've been shopping these questions around reef central and other places, but am getting mixed / insufficient responses. I just read through your LR lighting faq, and answered some of my q's, those faq pages are the greatest. thanks again, I think once I get these issues taken care of this tank should be quite nice, but I'll wait on your response before getting too comfortable << Good luck. >>
<< Blundell >>

Lighting for a 180 FOWLR
If I run 2 48" T-12's (one being actinic and the other white, 80 watts total) in the rear of my 180 FOWLR tank over a pile of live rock, will that allow coralline algae to grow without blinding my Lionfish? << Yes, but that isn't much light. >> or do I need to double that? << I would >> I just don't want blind lionfish!!! << Don't worry you could have a ton more light on there and be fine. Blundell >> 

How much light do I need for a 45 gal tank?
Hello. << Hi >>
I was running a FOWLR 135G tank for several years and looked to your sight for assistance from time to time. You were always helpful to guide me in overcoming any issues that I may have had and it has always been  appreciated. I am setting up a reef tank and have a very generalized question about my lighting and what I may be able to keep in this setup with the lighting that I have readily available. I am currently reading several books on the subject of corals and reef setups and, as always, am looking to Bob's book for some of the usual helpful info.<< Best thing I could have advised. >>
Sorry for rambling and here is my question:
The tank I will be setting up is a DAS 45G show tank (prefer non show tank but might work better with my lighting anyway- besides, it's free) with dimensions of approx. 33Lx16Dx26H.
I have a PFO hood setup with 1x175 10000K m/h and 2X URI super actinic VHO which I intend on using with this setup. << Great lighting. >> Temps in tank will be resolved with a chiller so I don't need to worry about potential overheating.
Again, I understand that this is a very broad question that will result in a vague answer but I would appreciate any info you can give me about what could be successfully put in a tank such as this. << Just about everything.  I would put stonies and clams towards the top, and everything else just spread around.  You could have two halides, or go with a 250 watt, and that would be better, but I don't think you'll have any problems. >>
Thank you very much for your time and all the help that you have given to me in the past.
<< Good luck. >>
Chris
<<  Blundell  >>

Halides for a FOWLR
I've read probably every one of your FAQ pages and articles on metal halide, lighting for a FOWLR tank, but still have a few questions. Do I definitely need a 72"hood for a 72" tank (180 gal, 24" deep)? << No way.  You don't need a hood at all.  In fact I kind of like the new trend of no canopy tanks. >> Is the fire/heat hazard situation, with adequate ventilation, enough to forego the use of metal halides? << I think halides are fantastic.  Yes there is a risk, but still think they are fantastic. >> Do the good characteristics of VHO and compact fluorescent preclude the use of MH for this application ;cost considerations aside? << For fish only, I'd probably use a bunch of VHO bulbs.  As you said you really don't need the halide lights if you don't plan to grow coral.  I think it would be better to invest that extra money into a refugium or something along those lines. >>
Thanks,
Scooter
<<  Blundell  >>

Lighting for Fish Only With Live Rock Tank
Dear WetWebMedia crew,
<Gary>
Thank you once again for putting together and consistently maintaining
such a wonderful site. I greatly appreciate all the help you have
offered me in the past. Before I ask any questions I also want to wish
everyone a very happy and healthy holiday season.
<Glad to share>
My question is regarding what kind of lighting system you would
recommend for my system. My tank is a 175 Gallon (72x28x18) with the
following inhabitants:
7" Volitans Lionfish
5" Clown Trigger
6" Imperator Angel
5" Passer Angel
4" Yellow Tang
4" Humu Trigger
well grown snowflake eel
<Quite a collection>
I also have about 45lbs of Fiji Live Rock (I will be getting some more
to replace the bioballs in my sump shortly)
<Good>
I would like to purchase a new light that would best serve the
following 2 goals:
1. Bring out the natural beauty of my fish, while keeping them healthy.
2. Encourage as much growth on the live rock as possible.
<I see>
What do you recommend?
<A "boosted" format of fluorescents... either T-5's or VHO's... with a mix of 6,500 to 10,000 K whites, perhaps one actinic>
Thank you in advance for your help and I look forward to hearing back
from you.
Best regards,
Gary Belyalovsky
<Bob Fenner>

Lighting for a 55
Greetings,
A great website! I have a quick question, can't seem to find exact answer on web. I have a 55 gallon FOWLR system. I have approx. 20 pounds of live rock and plan on adding a few pounds at a time until I get about 50 lbs or so. System has been up and running for about 4 months and doing quite well. I have an Emperor 400 and a remora skimmer running. Ammonia =0, nitrites=0 (have been that way for over 3 months). Nitrites vary from 20ppm 40 ppm, hoping skimmer will help out there, along with additional live rock. The LFS sold me a piece of LR with some mushrooms on it. He said that they are hardy and should be ok with my system. My question concerns the lighting. Having started out wanting fish only, after seeing the beauty of the mushrooms, I
would love to be able to keep these beauties as well as fish. I have only the two lights than came w/ aquarium and I have changed to 1-50/50 and 1-Triton ( 15 watts each). I know this would be fine for a FO system, but with LR and some mushrooms, is this enough?
<No>
I cringe when I see how much upgrades cost! What can I do without breaking me up?
<I have a 55 and I use four 40 watt N.O. fluorescents. This is plenty of light for mushrooms and various LPS's and a few low light SPS's.>
Will the LR be ok with this lighting.
<Your coralline will not grow very much.>
Aquarium is 48" long by 12 5/8" wide by 20 7/8" deep. Could I buy an extra 24" hood and add in front of existing hood?
<You are going to be better off using four foot lamps. Four foot lamps cost about the same as two footers and you will need less of them. Also, look into compact fluorescent lighting.>
Any suggestions or sites to visit to find a solution would be appreciated.
<Check out the various e-tailers on the WWM links page as well as AHSupply.com>
Again thanks for a great site, Keith Caudill
<You are welcome. -Steven Pro>

Lighting Wattage For FOWLR
Happy (???) Last Day Of Summer :(
<Ah, tempus fugit, indeed>
As I am about to switch my FO to a FOWLR, I am noodling around with how to upgrade my lighting. I would like to maintain coralline and grow a few inverts in my tank to make it look more natural, but yet keep the emphasis on the predators I own. Hence I am not desiring 7 watts/g to grow the most light hungry corals, but something more moderate in intensity. Note that I will have two morays in this tank, and I don't want to freak them out by making the tank too bright -- though I will have caves and overhangs for them. I am currently at 1 watt/g. What do you recommend for wattage for a 180g with these parameters, and are power compacts the way to go or will a number of simple NO tubes do???
<Maybe doubling to two watts per gallon of full spectrum fluorescent (either CFs or added fluorescents of whatever output fits) will do, be best (life is a series of compromises... in general) will serve to boost the photosynthetic aspects/life of your LR and accommodate your muraenids. Bob Fenner>
Thanks gentlemen! Steve

Lighting for FOWLR
Anthony,
On lighting for a FOWLR can PC and VHO lighting be used together?
<certainly... very attractive color/rendition. If the tank is less than 24" deep it may be more light than you need though. No harm for most fishes though. Aesthetically attractive for sure>
Thanks, Mark
<kindly, Anthony>

FOWLR
I have a 280 gallon FOWLR tank (72x30x30). I'm looking to upgrade my lighting from normal fluorescents to maybe (2) 175 watt Metal Halides or (4) 96 watt Power Compacts from AH Supply or (3) 160 watt VHO lamps driven by an Ice Cap Ballast. I'm having a hard time trying to see what would be my best bang for the buck. The fluorescents are not doing the job compared to my old setup that had (2) 160 watt VHO bulbs on it that I no longer have.
<175 watt MH's won't cover your 72" as well as the PC's or VHO. Other than that, it's a matter of taste. If you intend to make future changes the VHO would be the most adaptable (you can drive pc lamps with the IceCap)>
Another thing is a question about circulation. I wanted to use my Ampmaster 3000 in a closed loop situation and use an old Mak 4 pump to feed the sump. Will this be okay? Right now there is no way that I can get rid of all of the bubbles that the Dolphin Pump is making because of its flow rate (2700 gph). I'm currently using a Turbo-flotor in the sump but seriously considering getting a Aqua-C 240 because the turbo-flotor isn't pulling out much of nothing in my opinion.
<Engineer it backward....up to ten times turnover. So the dolphin is right....I'm not up on the flow rate of the Mak 4 but I would make sure all possible air leaks are totally resolved before blaming flow rate. I doubt it's the pump flow rate, more likely sucking minute amounts of air from fittings. Resolve these.
The skimmer upgrade is a great idea.  Craig>