FOWLR Lighting K and Watts per Gallon

[Ef3s]

I have a saltwater fowlr tank with a 55 watt 8000k bulb and an 18 watt 10,000k Bulb. This equates to about 2 watts per gallon. I can retrofit the 18 watt hood to hold another compaq florescent 55 watt bringing total watts per gallon to about 3.

Should I change my bulbs K at all for FOWLR or will these work? Do I need to spend the money to bring it to 3 watts per gallon or is 2 enough to sustain the life on the live rocks. Is there perhaps a different combo of bulbs that will display better fish colors?

Any input would be helpful...

 

[Len]

:welcome:

It doesn't really matter much for FOWLR. I wouldn't change bulbs or add bulbs if you are getting good coralline growth (which usually does well under low lights). Fish will not benefit.

 

[Anonymous]

This equates to about 2 watts per gallon. I can retrofit the 18 watt hood to hold another compaq florescent 55 watt bringing total watts per gallon to about 3.

Incidentally, "watts per gallon" is a bogus parameter that for some annoying reason will not go away.
A tall 150 gallon, and a low and long 150 gallon, and a flat square 150 gallon all have vastly different lighting requirements.
Watts per gallon is meaningless.

 

[Ef3s]

Understandable that Watts per Gallon wouldnt work in all cases but is a good guideline...

JimM is there a way you would suggest aquiring proper lighting without buying a $200 lumen meter?

I was more looking for the K rating of a bulb which perhaps enhances fish color the best.

 

[Anonymous]

We're still just talking about a fish tank yes? Just lean toward the blue end and be done with it.

 

[cindre2000]

I eventually switch the 55w to a 50/50 bulbs (half actinic, half 10K) and have the 18w fully the same (since I assume the the 18w is on one side and the 55 is on the other?). Otherwise you could put a new 55 on the other side and half both 55w with 50/50 bulbs and then have the 18w as a actinic for dawn/dusk.

What fish do you have in your tank?