24" fixture on 36" tank

wildjoe · #1 12/16/2007, 06:30 PM

By far the toughtest choice on setting up my Oceanic 58g rr tank has been the lighting. There are a couple of 36" hqi T5 fixtures that I have considered but the ones I really like are approx. 24" width. I'm now considering going with a 1 x 250w hqi - 4xT5 fixture. I'm not planning on any sps just soft and LPS so I feel like this amount of lighting should be fine. I will be hanging the fixture so the approx. 5" remaining on each side considering the light spread doesn't seem like it should be too much of an issue. Also, I have seen many pendants and fixtures that are not the full width of the tank and they appear to look great. My only concern is that I will have a scenaro with the smaller tank I am lighting that has only one halide source. Any experiences with this situation?-all feedback welcome.

photobret · #2 12/16/2007, 07:30 PM

If you are not going to keep SPS why go thru the expense of MH, then probably having to compensate for heat issues with an expensive chiller. I have kept softies, lps and zoas under PC's as they dont need that much light. A MH light is very directional and to spread the light out over that size tank you would need a single ended 250w with a lumenarc reflector. I am only speaking from experience here. I have a 36x18x18 tank and teklights 6x39w T5 fitting is the bomb and fits perfectly. The light might even be too bright for some LPS but I am acclimatizing them to it. I will be keeping SPS, LPS, ZOAS and Clams. If you dont need the light then the 4 bulb option would be sweet too.

NocturnalReef · #3 12/16/2007, 07:46 PM

you are good either way... first off your tank isn't that deep.. i run an 8 bulb t-5 setup on a 120... i keep EVERYTHING in that... on my lps and sps frags i have 2 20 gals under 2 48" t-5's and that's it, t-5's as long as you use reflectors are more than enough light i hang mine about 10" about my frag tanks. MH is more exspensive, causes more heat and you have to replace the bulb after 9 months... t-5's you can get the same light output and replace the bulbs once a year to a ear and a half, less heat and if you want they can be mounted closer for more light at the bottom of the tank if needed. i would 100% recommend a t-5 setup over halieds especiall on a small setup.

you might pay the price in the summer.

BUT i have never used halieds

only t-5 so i might be a bit predjudice! LOL

NocturnalReef · #4 12/16/2007, 07:47 PM

oh yeah my 120 is a show, so it's deep i think it's like 24" deep or so.... and i keep sps colonies at the bottom. BUT i also use ice cap ballasts.... do you know about them overpowering the lights??????

wildjoe · #5 12/16/2007, 08:39 PM

I must agree with the T5 setup alone as one of the best looking tanks I have seen on Reefcentral was a LPS dominated tank with T5's only---but I like the look of the metal halide and I know the light outut/par value of that scenario is a plus. I guess I feel like there is a balance between a halide/T5 combo between the health of the tank along with my "personal desire" aka selfish point of view that will acheive the result I'm looking for-a great looking and healthy tank for the long run.