[visionist]

How many watts should a 50g tank have for high lighting? tank is 48x12.75x18.75
I'm going to be doing a diy cfl fixture with bulbs mounted vertically, I'm thinking 5x23w bulbs?
Also would 2x54w t5ho be enough for high lighting?

 

[jrman83]

5 23W CFLs may get you close to high light. 2 54W T5HO may only get you to the high end of medium, just depends on how good the reflectors are and height of the tank.

 

[visionist]

Well in the event of CFLs I could just replace one or two of them with slightly higher wattage bulbs. The height of the tank is only 18.75 inches, the lighting would be pretty high at this depth would it not? If it helps, the tank will be dirted also.