Minimum wattage per gallon on host BTA

[reefin101]

Please advise on this before I make a purchase...

thx in advance

 

[Mikef1]

I am not an expert with BTAs but I would say a min of 4 or 5 watts per gallon.

 

[madrefkepr]

Don't mean to hijack this post, but is WPG even relavent anymore? Made perfect sense with NO flourescent, but with VHO, PC's, and halide lamps, hasn't this changed?

Might be better to tell us what you have for lighting, and on what size tank.

 

[Mikef1]

Yes I agree I guess you really cant use this rule but it gives you an area to start and an idea of some sort. Without knowing any other info on his setup that is all I can say. -Mike

 

[madrefkepr]

Mike, I wasn't questioning your advice, in fact, sounds reasonable to me. Just questioning the method. :wink:

 

[Mikef1]

No dave you are right when using todays newer lights especially halides it really isnt accurate because of the intensity they put out. 175 watt of mh compared to 175 of no lighting or even pc is not comparable.

 

[monkeyboy]

Like was said before, WPG is a bad way to judge a lighting scenario most of the time. That said, i think 4 full length vho's or a 175w halide on a tank 18" or less deep would be fine. It's hard to say what the appropriate lighting would be without the dimmensions of your tank. HTH

 

[reefin101]

Thanks for your all your advice. I currently have 165w of PC in a 65g tank. I just wanted to know how much I need to get a 175w MH...which requires me to build a hood of some sort...

 

[Mikef1]

You could either buil a canopy with fans to cool the bulbs or you could get the pendant style that would hang over your tank.

 

[BobCReef]

ok here is the dumb question. whats a BTA

 

[Mikef1]

Bubble tip anenome

 

[jeffsdesigns]

Bulb Tip Anemone = BTA

 

[Anonymous]

Please advise on this before I make a purchase...

thx in advance

Thanks for your all your advice. I currently have 165w of PC in a 65g tank. I just wanted to know how much I need to get a 175w MH...which requires me to build a hood of some sort...

for a 65 gal. tank, if you want good long term succes w/a bta, or any other high light demand inverts, i would recommend at least two 175 watt MH bulbs-even better yet, at least one 250 watt MH bulb.

adequate lighting will also help keep the anemone from wandering towards the upper levels of the tank, where it may be more likely to encounter a powerhead, or overflow.

all of your powerheads, water intakes, etc. that are in the tank should also be covered w/sponges :wink:

it is very difficult to provide a bta w/too much light :wink:


hth

 

[Anemone]

IMO, if you added another 100+ watts or so of PC lighting you could keep a BTA. Adding a 175 watt MH would also take care of this.

I keep my rose BTAs in a 65 gallon tank under 300 watts of VHO lighting.

FWIW,
Kevin

 

[Bobzarry]

if you decide to go MH, look at the powerbuys. you may still be able to get in on januaries power buy, but act fast.


Bob

 

[Anonymous]

Please advise on this before I make a purchase...

thx in advance

Thanks for your all your advice. I currently have 165w of PC in a 65g tank. I just wanted to know how much I need to get a 175w MH...which requires me to build a hood of some sort...

for a 65 gal. tank, if you want good long term succes w/a bta, or any other high light demand inverts, i would recommend at least two 175 watt MH bulbs-even better yet, at least one 250 watt MH bulb.

adequate lighting will also help keep the anemone from wandering towards the upper levels of the tank, where it may be more likely to encounter a powerhead, or overflow.

all of your powerheads, water intakes, etc. that are in the tank should also be covered w/sponges :wink:

it is very difficult to provide a bta w/too much light :wink:


hth

reefin 101,

here are some words to remember (to the tune of "Puttin' on the Ritz)...

he will tell,
you how to keep your reef tank well,
from your bubble tip to bartlett's,
....listenin' to vitz!

:mrgreen:

 

[BobCReef]

bulb tip! ok gtoca now. told you it was a dumb question