Can my hood light handle it?

[BIG_ONE]

Hey there monsters!!!

Well I got some questions for you all. My stock lighting hood(from freshwater tank kit) says 19 watts. Does this mean I can only use light tubes up to 19 watts only? Or can I go over? Maybe sun brite led lighting or is that still too much for it to handle?
Although I know this lighting is made for FW, but im using this as my SW. Thanks in advance!

 

[Mr. Grumpy Gills]

How big of a tank is it going on? Is it a single, double, triple bulb setup? What is your plan on inhabatants for the tank? Soft corals, hard corals, fish only?

The 19 watts is a guideline for the bulb to be used. you can't stray very far from that guideline, because the ballast is only made for that wattage. Get a bulb that is rated to high will be dimmer than intended or may burn out your ballast, to low and it will bebrighter than intended and will burn out your bulb quicker or may shatter. Generally a certain size bulb wether it is a 12", 18", or 48" are usually rated for close to the same wattage for its size.

 

[Mr. Grumpy Gills]

the bulb will work for saltwater also, but many corals would need much more light and of a different spectrum.

 

[BIG_ONE]

Its only 24"...single bulb for my nano. Only fowlr for now, possibly soft corals later on. This is the reason why I ask if there are lightings that my hood light will be able to handle for soft corals. Or do I need to get a new lighting, and please no metal halide lights...I hate those and something tells me those causes a whopping electric bills.

 

[Mr. Grumpy Gills]

the current light will work with the fowlr setup. If you get some corals you may want to step up toa 10,000k bulb. 10,000k bulb is a bulb suited for satlwater corals and is about the same wattage as your current bulb.
how big of a tank is it?

 

[BIG_ONE]

It's a 20. 24Lx12Wx14H