How much lighting do I need?

PotatoPig · Jul 9, 2023

Preparing to try introduce some corals into a current FOWLR tank (all coral friendly fish) and not sure how much lighting I need, partly as a lot of the lighting discussion is around SPS corals that are a little outside my current goals.

Tank: 75 gallon rimmed
Coral Goals: Soft corals, potential anemones (have clowns), and *maybe* LPS at some point.

Currently looking at Nicrew 100W vs 150W (x2 of either), the 150 looks like a lot of light. Would it be overkill for my goals or would I be undershooting with the 100?

Uncle99 · Jul 9, 2023

Both fine, I like the three puck 150watts, just turned down in intensity, but available if you progress to SPS or some clams.
I did find the fan a bit noisy in contrast to say Visparspectra which runs absolutely silent and may be an alternative for about the same price.

Sleeping Giant · Jul 9, 2023

2 @noopsyche 140 Watt would be perfect. that's what I have over my 75 gallon

zoomonster · Jul 9, 2023

Remember there's more to it than wattage. You need to look the area of coverage each light provides.

mrpontiac80 · Jul 9, 2023

I have been extremely happy with my reefbreeders photons over my main tank, but just restarted a 65.4 waterbox… it measures 4’x 20”x18” roughly. Anyway, I bought a SmatFarms 95 watt for it to grow softies, and bubble tip nems. I’m more than pleased! I just finished setting it up a few minutes ago and used an apogee 510 par meter to test it.. all blues and purple at 100% with the other channels between 40 and 20%. Netted me a par of 100 at the bottom of the tank and about 150-190 at the top of my rocks which are at half depth.

I was looking at nicrew cause my friend uses them but the smatfarms are programmable with a ramp up and down. I will add another over my tank, but I think you’d be pleased with 2 of them. $145 on Amazon right now so about the same as nicrew.