Important Factors In Lighting?

[Doug72]

I am currently looking into new lighting and would be grateful is someone could give me some pointers about the lighting required. I read a lot about T5's, VHO and Metal Halide, but what are the important characteristics of the lighting. I know colour is important to for visual effect with marine glow etc but what else plays a big part? Is it the dominant wavelength / colour temp or lumens or something else which is important for coral growth.

Any help would be welcome Please.

Dougie

[cronicreef]

Alot of it has to do with what kind of corals that you want to keep.

[tendar]

Par is probably one of the bigger readings on lighting.
Metal halide and VHo cant even really be compared since halides are a point of light source and VHO and it like thier light is spread out over a larger area thus the need for several bulbs to do the same as one halide.
Color temp is partial to what a person is looking for thier color of their tank but the color temp also effects corals as well. The higher the color temp the less acutal light you will get but you usally get some of the better colors out of your corals as well. Also lower temp bulbs tend to last longer before lossing thier spectrum. YOu usally get better growth rates with lower spectrum corals also with 65K iswaki's supposivly being the best for coral growth.

[marcusbigdady1]

look at your kelvin rating also depth penetration

[marcusbigdady1]

Depth (cm) Fluorescent 150 W 250 W 400 W
0 HSF HSF HSF HSF
10 HSF HSF HSF HSF
20 SF HSF HSF HSF
30 SF HSF HSF HSF
40 F SF HSF HSF
50 F SF SF HSF
60 F F SF SF
70 F F SF
80 F F
90 F