Center Brace Shadow?

[Amador]

I have a 125g tank that I am accumulating equipment for. It has a center brace that is made of 1/2" glass and is pretty wide. I will probably go with MH lighting (175W x 3), however if I put a bulb over the center brace, how bad will the shadow be? Should I bother putting one in the center at all?

[SeanT]

I wouldn't.
Use the center for lower light corals such as LPS, Rics etc.
That's just my opinion though. :)
Sean

[Buster4900]

I had 46 gallon with a center brace and a 250w MH pendant hanging above. The shadow was visible but not that bad. At least it did not bother me. My brace was brown plastic, your being glass should be better.

[Omar H]

you could also try just leaving 2 MH pendants in there and save some electricity. There would be a very noticeable shadow though if you go this route.

Like this:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/14332mini-05-04-24_180.jpg

HTH

Omar :strooper:

[pad]

I did this on my 150 Just pinched the 250 MHs in from the ends a few inches. The shadow is not that noticable, and like Sean said put some lower light corals in the middle.

[SeanT]

In my head I imagined VHO's spanning the length of the tank.
Not a dark center like Omar has. :)
Sean

[Amador]

Cool, thanks for the input! :)

[chrisc615]

You could run 2 halides along with 2 VHOs or 2 T5s to help eliminate the shadow.

[Torghn]

Originally posted by chrisc615
You could run 2 halides along with 2 VHOs or 2 T5s to help eliminate the shadow.

Yeah, I'd leave out one MH and add some florecent.