SantaMonica
Reefing newb
Should always be at least 12 watts per 3x4 inches. If all 12 watts are on one side, it's 1-sided. If the 12 watts are divided into sides, then it's 2-sided.
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Glad you like the info :)
Here is the sizing and lighting guide:
An example VERTICAL waterfall screen size is 3 X 4 inches = 12 square inches of screen (7.5 X 10 cm = 75 sq cm) with a total of 12 real watts (not equivalent) of fluorescent light for 18 hours a day. If all 12 watts are on one side, it is a 1-sided screen. If 6 watts are on each side, it is a 2-sided screen, but the total is still 12 watts for 18 hours a day. This screen size and wattage should be able to handle the following amounts of daily feeding:
1 frozen cube per day (2-sided screen)
1/2 frozen cube per day (1-sided screen)
10 pinches of flake food per day (2-sided screen)
5 pinches of flake food per day (1-sided screen)
10 square inches (50 sq cm) of nori per day (2-sided screen)
5 square inches (50 sq cm) of nori per day (1-sided screen)
0.1 dry ounce (2.8 grams) of pellet food per day (2-sided screen)
0.05 dry ounce (1.4 grams) of pellet food per day (1-sided screen)
High-wattage technique: Double the wattage, and cut the hours in half (to 9 per day). This will get brown screens to grow green much faster. Thus the example above would be 12 watts on each side, for a total of 24 watts, but for only 9 hours per day. If growth starts to turn YELLOW, then increase the flow, or add iron, or reduce the number of hours. And since the bulbs are operating for 9 hours instead of 18, they will last 6 months instead of 3 months.
HORIZONTAL screens: Multiply the screen size by 4, and the wattage by 1.5
It is still at least 35 gph per inch.
Its a 26 watt Bright Effects curly cfl bulb. I did redo the overflow piping and raised it up so I have 7 1/2 inches of screen out of the water now with 1/2 inch in the water, got the lights placed close to 4 inches from the screen but I didnt have any algae to seed the screen. I am starting with dry rock and sand so that might make some difference.Soft white isn't ideal, I'd go for 6500k daylight CFL bulbs. And be sure to seed your screen.
Soft white isn't ideal, I'd go for 6500k daylight CFL bulbs. And be sure to seed your screen.