lighting over 55g

[latazyo]

i'm looking to combine my three nanos into a 55, but i dont want to buy any new lighting gear

I have 1x250w MH
2x36w PC (for actinic)

will that be enough light over a 55?

I have no interest in sps, but i have a few, i can put them at the top of the tank

[Bruddah Chrispy]

I think that your biggest problem will be that the 250w mhs light about a 2'x2' area. If your 55 is 4' long, you could try to just light one side and keep everything over there.

[latazyo]

shoot...that is what i was worried about...the MH not covering enough...hmmm

any suggestions?

[Bruddah Chrispy]

I guess it would be possible to have a high-light half of the tank and a not-so-high-light half. Then do your aquascaping such that the high-light-but-not-mobile critters were positioned on that side.

I wonder if the heat differential would create some beneficial currents?

BTW - I don't even have a tank set up yet, and don't claim to know what I'm talking about on damn near any topic. So, take it with a large grain of salt.