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.
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 |
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-TWO 9" Mini Aqualight CF 2X9W |
20" x 10" x 12"
10 gallons |
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-20" Nova Extreme Pro 6X18W |
20" x 13" x 17.5"
(24 Gallon Aquapod without lighting hood) |
-20" Nova Extreme Pro 6X18W
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-20" Nova Extreme Pro 6X18W |
-20" Nova Extreme Pro 6X18W |
24" x 8" x 12"
10 gallons
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24" x 12" x 16"
20 gallons
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24" x 12" x 20"
25 gallons
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-24" AquaticLife T5 HO 4X24W
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30" x 12" x 12"
20 gallons
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30" x 12" x 18"
29 gallons
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-30" SunDial T5 4X24W
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36" x 12" x 18
40 gallons
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36" x 15" x 16"
40 gallons
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36" x 15" x 20"
50 gallons
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36" x 18" x 18"
50 gallons
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36" x 18" x 20"
55 gallons
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36" x 18" x 24"
65 gallons
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-36" Marineland Marine Series 1X150W MH, 4X24W T5 (246W Total)
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48" x 13" x 16"
40 gallons
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The following fixture is over 13 inches wide
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The following fixture is over 13 inches wide
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48" x 13" x 20"
55 gallons
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THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING, BUT ARE WIDER THAN A 13" TANK
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48" x 15" x 18"
55 gallons
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48" x 18" x 20"
75 gallons
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48" x 18" x 24"
90 gallons
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48" x 18" x 30"
120 gallons
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48" x 24" x 20"
100 gallons
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48" x 24" x 24"
120 gallons
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48" x 24" x 30"
150 gallons
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60" x 18" x 20"
100 gallons
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60" x 18" x 24"
125 gallons
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- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 2X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (660W Total)
- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 3X175W MH, 2X80W T5 (685W Total)
-60" Hamilton Metal Halide 2X250W MH, 2X96W CF (692W Total)
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60" x 18" x 30"
140 gallons
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- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 2X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (660W Total)
- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 3X175W MH, 2X80W T5 (685W Total)
-60" Hamilton Metal Halide 2X250W MH, 2X96W CF (692W Total)
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- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 3X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (910W Total)
- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 3X400W MH, 2X80W T5 (1360W Total)
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60" x 24" x 24"
150 gallons
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- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 2X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (660W Total)
- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 3X175W MH, 2X80W T5 (685W Total)
- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 2X250W MH, 2X96W CF (692W Total)
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- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 3X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (910W Total)
- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 3X400W MH, 2X80W T5 (1360W Total) |
60" x 24" x 30"
185 gallons
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- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 3X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (910W Total)
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- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 3X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (910W Total)
- 60" Hamilton Metal Halide 3X400W MH, 2X80W T5 (1360W Total) |
72" x 18" x 18"
125 gallons
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72" x 18" x 24"
135 gallons
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72" x 18" x 30"
170 gallons
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72" x 24" x 20"
150 gallons
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72" x 24" x 24"
180 gallons
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72" x 24" x 30"
225 gallons
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- 72" Hamilton 3X250W MH, 2X80W T5 (910W total)
-72" Hamilton Metal Halide 3X250W MH, 2X96W CF (942W Total)
-72" Coralife Aqualight Elite 3X250W MH, 2X96W CF (942W total)
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96" x 24" x 24"
240 gallons
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-TWO 48" Marineland Marine Series 2X150W MH, 4X54W T5 (1032W Total)
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- TWO 48" Hamilton Metal Halide 2X400W MH, 2X80W T5 (1920W Total) |
96" x 24" x 24"
240 gallons
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- TWO 48" Hamilton Metal Halide 2X250W MH, 2X96W CF (1384W Total) |
- TWO 48" Hamilton Metal Halide 2X250W MH, 2X96W CF (1384W Total) |
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