quick question on tank size and T5 lights?

Dan Thrash · #1 07/24/2007, 08:52 PM

i just bought a Tek 24" T5 fixture (4x24W). it was on sale and i had a gift certificate. i bought it because i was thinking about setting up a 29 gal tank. i looked into it beforehand and i thought it would be perfect for that tank. although, the lfs had a 40g tall tank (30x18x18 i believe). would the light fixture be enough for that tank? would it cover 18" wide? i plan to house lps, zoos and shrooms right now...and probably try SPS and clams after a little while.

thanks for the help,
Dan

Dan Thrash · #2 07/25/2007, 05:45 AM

bump...anyone?

avp · #3 07/25/2007, 08:49 AM

Yeah, it should work for what you are looking at keeping, esp. if you hang the fixture over the tank instead of using legs to set it on the rim of the tank.

-avp

Dan Thrash · #4 07/25/2007, 10:31 AM

thanks for the reply. anyone else have any thoughts? i'd appreciate it.

RichConley · #5 07/25/2007, 10:35 AM

Does it have individual reflectors?

Dan Thrash · #6 07/25/2007, 10:41 AM

yes it does.

Wryknow · #7 07/25/2007, 11:11 AM

Will it light the entire tank well enough to keep SPS and clams? No. It will light the area directly underneath the fixture pretty well though, depending on how close your specimens are to the fixture. If you build a tall live rock island in the middle of the tank and put the fixture right over it you will probably be able to keep some SPS and clams directly under the light IMHO - shrooms and zoanthis will do just fine lower in the water and around the edges.

RichConley · #8 07/25/2007, 12:21 PM

I think he'll do fine with pretty much anything in the middle 12" of the tank. The edges (both front ot back, and left to right) will need to be LPS, etc.

Dan Thrash · #9 07/25/2007, 02:36 PM

yeah, that sounds fine. i'm thinking if i did a 40, it would be like a center island with the outsides around the glass fairly open anyway.