Need opinions on lighting arrangement for new tank

Wrassemeister · #1 07/25/2007, 10:33 PM

Im setting up 35 gallon 36" acrylic flat back hex tank and I have two choices for lighting:

1. 2x70watt hqi with 2xt5 on the sides
2. 2x150 watt hqi

What do you guys think would be the best way to go? do you think the 70 watters will be strong enough? the tank is 16 inches high.

Percula9 · #2 07/25/2007, 10:48 PM

I think the first arrangement will be enough. Your tank is not deep.

NewSchool04 · #3 07/25/2007, 11:39 PM

are those your only options? If so, I would do the 2 150W HQI.

If not, I would go with one 250W in either a Lumenarc or mini Lumenarc reflector. I have the mini and this thing spreads light. You could also keep your LPS and other lower light needing corals to the side.

Wrassemeister · #4 07/26/2007, 02:51 PM

You thing one 250w would be good enough for a 3 foot tank? I was worried about running anything more than 150 watt bulbs because the tank is acrylic and it has the opening on the sides; there is a brace in the middle.
My other lighting option would be to run two 36" t5's and two 24" t5's because of the shape of the tank and no metal halides at all but Im not sure about that.

Im swaying more towards the 70 watters with the t5's im still not certain though.

NewSchool04 · #5 07/26/2007, 03:16 PM

I'm not sure with that brace in the middle and what type of shaddow lines you'll get.

If you're not using the 250W, then I would choose the T5's. I used T5 with my old tank and loved them. You'll be able to keep anything you want, acros on the bottom if you choose.

Wrassemeister · #6 07/26/2007, 03:43 PM

if I go with the four t5's with no mh I will only be getting 126 watts of light, do you think would that be suffiecient for this type of tank?

NewSchool04 · #7 07/26/2007, 04:35 PM

With individual reflectors for the T5's, you'll be fine. Also, using watts to determine if your lights will be adequate is not a good way to figure these things out.
For an example, look at the difference between either running a 250 bulb without a reflector, with a cheap reflector or a Lumenarc reflector. All three examples are 250W but you'll have much more success with the Lumenarc reflector.
Same with the T5's. With good individual reflectors for the bulbs, you'll have plenty of light in the tank!

Wrassemeister · #8 07/26/2007, 05:21 PM

alright thanks for the advice, I will try running the four t5's and see how it works out... any advice on what bulbs I should use? I already have icecap parabolic reflectors and an icecap 430 ballast along with another ballast.