24" depth, who runs t5, who runs MH?

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Myka

Another issue with lighting that many many people fail to consider is water clarity. There are many reasons for higher or lower water clarity, and generally people with less experience are less likely to have high water clarity. This HUGELY affects the amount of light penetration, and is not as easy to achieve as you may think.

Very good answer, the differance in PAR will be a little more at 24" though, more like 50 to 100% more depending on reflectors and such.

only thing I am interject into this is water clarity makes way less differance than people think. unless the water is so cloudy you notice it and have a hazy look to it, you are going to get less than 1% atinuation in a 24" deep tank, once there is a slight haze you get about 1 to 2% and if you can't see the back of the tank clearly then it gets bad. the only reason I know this is when my tank crashed due to a crapy heater I figured I would take something good out of it and did PAR readings at various stages of clarity. Had to get something good out of loosing over 7K replacment value in corals Also glass tops only make a differance of about 3% for 1/4" glass. acrylic would be less.

Steve