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Saltwater Aquarium Lighting - Chapter 2 - Page 1 - Introduction - The Fundamenta

By Stan & Debbie Hauter, About.com

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The Reef System Wattage Rule of Thumb Formula

Wattage Rule of Thumb

Stan & Debbie Hauter
The general rule of thumb for a reef system calls for 3 to 5 watts per actual gallonage of water. A classic example of this is best visualized using the industry standard, a 55 gallon glass aquarium.

Using the above "Rule" this reef tank should have a minimum of 165 watts to 275 watts in order to provide the intensity necessary for photosynthesis to effectively take place within marine organism's polyps or tissues. Here are few more examples of reef system wattage requirements using the "Rule".

From these simple examples you can see how easy it is to determine the wattage requirements for your particular reef aquarium needs.

Stan & Debbie Hauter
Guides since 1997

Stan & Debbie Hauter
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