LIGHTING CHART: CHART FOR CHOOSING THE BEST LIGHTING HOOD FOR A REEF AQUARIUM
 

Below is a chart to help determine the best aquarium light for your tank based on the dimensions of your tank and the types of corals in the tank. We separate reef tanks into three categories based on the lighting needs of the organisms in the tank:
  • Reef tanks with soft corals and live rock (low wattage)
  • Reef tanks with soft corals, LPS corals and live rock (medium wattage)
  • Reef tanks with soft corals, LPS & SPS corals and live rock (high wattage)
Basically, soft corals and live rock need the least amount of light. LPS corals need more light that live rock and soft corals. And SPS corals need more light than live rock,  soft corals and LPS corals.
 
This Reef Chart is limited to lighting reef tanks with lighting hoods. Hoods are complete lighting systems in a housing that sit on top of the tank, or are raised up from the tank using mounting legs (that come with some lights and do not come with others). For those with existing canopies, you should look at the Chart For Choosing the Best Retrofit Lighting for a Reef Aquarium. We also have a Chart For Choosing the Best Lighting For Planted Tanks & Fish-Only Aquariums.

CF = compact fluorescent (aka power compact)
MH = metal halide
T5 = T5 fluorescent
Aquarium Size
(length X width X depth) 		Reef Tanks with Soft Corals and Live Rock Only Reef Tanks with Soft Corals, LPS Corals and Live Rock Reef Tanks with Soft Corals, LPS & SPS Corals and Live Rock
 16" x 8" x 10"
 5 gallons		 -11" Mini Aqualight T5 2X6W
 
20" x 10" x 12"
10 gallons		 -TWO 11" Mini Aqualight T5 2X6W - THREE 11" Mini Aqualight T5 2X6W -20" Nova Extreme Pro 6X18W
20" x 13" x 17.5"
(24 Gallon Aquapod without lighting hood)		  NA  NA  NA
18" x 16" x 20"
20 gallons HEXAGON
   NA
   NA
20" x 21 " x 18"
30 gallons CUBE
  NA   NA   NA
23" x 20" x 24"
35 gallons HEXAGON
    



- Hamilton 1X250W Pendant MH
24" x 8" x 12"
10 gallons LONG
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24" x 12" x 12"
15 gallons
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-24" WavePoint T5 4X24

-24" Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 4X24

-24" JBJ Trinity T5 4X24
24" x 12" x 16"
20 gallons HIGH
-TWO 24" AquaticLife T5 2X24W (fixtures link together)
 
 
 
 
 
24" x 12" x 20"
25 gallons
 

 
 

 -24" AquaticLife T5 HO 4X24W

 
 
24" x 15" x 21"
26 gallons BOW
 
 

 -24" AquaticLife T5 HO 4X24W

 
 
24" x 12" x 24"
30 gallons HIGH
 
 

-24" AquaticLife T5 6X24W (144W Total)

27 " x 24" x 28"
60 gallons HEXAGON
-Hamilton 1X250W Pendant MH -Hamilton 1X400W Pendant MH
30" x 12" x 12"
20 gallons LONG
 
 
 
30" x 12" x 18"
29 gallons
 -30" Coralife Lunar Aqualight CF 2X65W
 
 
 -30" Coralife Lunar Aqualight CF 2X65W

-30" Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 4X31W
 
 

-30" AquaticLife T5 4X24W

30" x 15" x 21"
36 gallons BOW
 -30" Coralife Lunar Aqualight CF 2X65W
 
 
-TWO 30" Aquatic Life T5 2X24W (fixtures link together)
 
 -30" Coralife Lunar Aqualight CF 2X65W

-30" Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 4X31W

-30" AquaticLife T5 4X24W

34" x 24" x 21"
30 gallons CORNER
  




-Hamilton 1X250W Pendant MH
36" x 12" x 16"
30 gallons
 
 
-TWO 36" AquaticLife T5 2X39W (156W total) (fixtures link together)
 
 
 
36" x 12" x 20
38 gallons
 
 
-TWO 36" AquaticLife T5 2X39W (156W total) (fixtures link together)
 
 
 
36" x 18" x 16"
40 gallons BREEDER
 
 
 
36" x 16" x 21"
46 gallons BOW
 
 
-TWO 36" AquaticLife T5 2X39W (156W total) (fixtures link together)
 
 
 
 
36" x 15" x 20"
50 gallons BREEDER
36" x 18" x 18"
50 gallons BREEDER
 
36" x 18" x 20"
55 gallons BREEDER
 
 
36" x 18" x 24"
65 gallons BREEDER
 -36" Marineland Marine Series 1X150W MH, 4X24W T5 (246W Total)
 
38" x 27" x 22"
54 gallons CORNER
 -Hamilton 1X150W Pendant MH
 -Hamilton 1X175W Pendant MH
 -Hamilton 1X250W Pendant MH

- TWO Hamilton 1X150W Pendant MH
48" x 13" x 12"
33 gallons LONG
 
-TWO 48" AquaticLife T5 HO 2X54W (216W total) (fixtures link together)
 
The following fixture is over 13 inches wide
 
The following fixture is over 13 inches wide
 
 

 
48" x 13" x 16"
40 gallons LONG
 
-TWO 48" AquaticLife T5 HO 2X54W (216W total) (fixtures link together)
 
 
 
 
The following fixture is over 13 inches wide
 
48" x 13" x 20"
55 gallons
 
-TWO AquaticLife T5 HO 2X54W (216W total) (fixtures link together)
 
 
 
 
THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING, BUT ARE WIDER THAN A 13" TANK
 
 
THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING, BUT ARE 13.5-15.25 INCHES WIDE AND WILL BE TWO INCHES WIDER THAN A 13 INCH TANK
 
48" x 15" x 18"
55 gallons LONG
 
-TWO AquaticLife T5 HO 2X54W (216W total) (fixtures link together)
 
 
 
-48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)


 

48" x 13" x 24"
65 gallons  HIGH
 
-TWO AquaticLife T5 HO 2X54W (216W total) (fixtures link together)
 
 
 
 -48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)
48" x 18" x 22"
72 gallons BOW
 - 48" WavePoint T5 4X54W

-48" JBJ Trinity T5 4X54W (216W Total)

- 48" AquaticLife 4X65W

-48" Coralife Lunar Aqualight CF 4X65W (260W Total)

- 48" AquaticLife T5 HO
4X54W (216W Total)

- 48" Nova Extreme T5 4X54W (216W Total)

-48" Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 4X54W (216W total
 -48" AquaticLife T5 6X54 W (324W Total)
48" x 18" x 20"
75 gallons
 -48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)
48" x 18" x 24"
90 gallons

-48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)


 -48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)

-48" Acan Lighting A104-AC Aquarium LED Light
48" x 24" x 25 "
95 gallons WAVE
 - 48" AquaticLife 4X65W
(260W Total)

-48" Coralife Lunar Aqualight CF 4X65W (260W Total)
 - 48" Coralife 4X96W
(384W Total)



 -48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)
48" x 18" x 30"
110 gallons HIGH

-48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)

-48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total) 		-48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)

-48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)

-48" Acan Lighting A104-AC Aquarium LED Light

48" x 18" x 30"
120 gallons
 -48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)



48" x 24" x 20"
100 gallons
 -48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)
 -48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)
 
-48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total)
48" x 24" x 24"
120 gallons
 -48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X54W T5 (566W Total) -48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X250W MH, 4X54W T5 (716W Total)



 -48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X250W MH, 4X54W T5 (716W Total)




48" x 24" x 30"
150 gallons
 -48" Aqualight Pro 2X150W MH, 2X96W CF (492W total) -48" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X250W MH, 4X54W T5 (716W Total)
48" x 34" x 24"
92 gallons CORNER
 -Hamilton 1X250W Pendant MH


 -Hamilton 1X250W Pendant MH

-Hamilton 1X400W Pendant MH
 - TWO Hamilton 1X400W Pendant MH
60" x 18" x 20"
100 gallons



60" x 18" x 24"
125 gallons
 - 60" Belize Sun 2X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (660W Total)

- 60" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X80W T5 (670W Total)




60" x 18" x 30"
140 gallons		 - 60" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X250W MH, 4X80W T5 (660W Total)

- 60" Belize Sun 2X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (660W Total)

 - 60" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X250W MH, 4X80W T5 (660W Total)

- 60" Belize Sun 2X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (660W Total)

- 60" Hamilton Cebu Sun 3X175W MH, 4X80W T5 (845W Total)
60" x 24" x 24"
150 gallons
 60" Belize Sun 2X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (660W Total)

- 60" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X175W MH, 4X80W T5 (670W Total)




 - 60" Hamilton Cebu Sun 3X175W MH, 4X80W T5 (845W Total)



60" x 24" x 30"
185 gallons
 - 60" Hamilton Cebu Sun 2X250W MH, 4X80W T5 (660W Total)

- 60" Belize Sun 2X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (660W Total)

 - 60" Hamilton Cebu Sun 3X175W MH, 4X80W T5 (845W Total)

- 60" Hamilton Cebu Sun 3X250W MH, 4X80W T5 (1070W Total)


72" x 18" x 18"
125 gallons
72" x 18" x 24"
135 gallons
72" x 18" x 30"
170 gallons
72" x 24" x 20"
150 gallons
 
 
 
72" x 24" x 25"
150 gallons BOW

-72" Hamilton Cebu Sun 3X250W MH, 4X80W T5 (1070W Total)


72" x 24" x 24"
180 gallons
 
 

-72" Coralife Aqualight Elite 3X250W MH, 2X96W CF (942W total)

-72" Hamilton Cebu Sun 3X250W MH, 4X80W T5 (1070W Total)

72" x 24" x 29"
210 gallons
 -72" Marineland Marine Series Pro 3X150 MH, 8X39W T5 (762W total)

-72" Hamilton Cebu Sun 3X175W MH, 4X80W T5 (845W Total)
 
 - 72" Hamilton 3X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (910W total)

-72" Coralife Aqualight Elite 3X250W MH, 2X96W CF (942W total)
 
72" x 24" x 30"
225 gallons
 
 -72" Coralife Aqualight Elite 3X250W MH, 2X96W CF (942W total)

-72" Hamilton Cebu Sun 3X250W MH, 4X80W T5 (1070W Total)
 
96" x 24" x 24"
240 gallons
 -TWO 48" Marineland Marine Series 2X150W MH, 4X54W T5 (1032W Total)
 
 
96" x 24" x 24"
300 gallons