Question on Lighting

[reefernewbie]

Currently I run a 20in 28 watt 50/50 corallife...Tank is doing fine, but growth is slow. I currently ran across a 20in 2x40w Satellite Dual(by current USA) with Dual Actinic (420nm/460nm) and Dual Daylight (6,700K/10,000K) bulbs and fixtures come with a fan and two switches for dawn/dusk control for $98.00 The 12in 2x18w Dual is also an opption.

My question is one of Wattage. Will a jump from 28w to 80w be too drastic? Will a jump from 28w to 36w be insignificant? My goal of course is to make my tank inhabitants as happy as possible :lol:

See my sig. below for tank specs.

The help is much appreciated.

 

[Anonymous]

Currently I run a 20in 28 watt 50/50 corallife...Tank is doing fine, but growth is slow. I currently ran across a 20in 2x40w Satellite Dual(by current USA) with Dual Actinic (420nm/460nm) and Dual Daylight (6,700K/10,000K) bulbs and fixtures come with a fan and two switches for dawn/dusk control for $98.00 The 12in 2x18w Dual is also an opption.

My question is one of Wattage. Will a jump from 28w to 80w be too drastic? Will a jump from 28w to 36w be insignificant? My goal of course is to make my tank inhabitants as happy as possible :lol:

See my sig. below for tank specs.

The help is much appreciated.

it's always best to bring things on slowly.
as for the 28w to 80w...i would cut my lighting time in half for the first day, and then increase the lighting cycles by about an 1/8 of a regular cycle until you are back to 100%.
chances are that nothing bad would happen if oyu were to skip this procedure for the 26w to 36w but why increase the risk, eh?

corals can withstand some drastic shifts from day to day, it is watching closely and adjusting the cycle down if stress occurs over the first initial week that will be the key in avoiding a shock scenario.

 

[Anonymous]

Remember, you cannot put more light on them than the sun can

More light will give you a larger option as far as other light loving animals go too.