Lighting Advice for a 31" tank

jthomps123 · 08/13/2008, 11:07 AM

To light a 6ft long by 31" high tank would the following lighting options be feasible to keep SPS in the upper half? Heres some options i've come up with that might keep me within budget. I current own an Icecap 660 and 2 150w HQI fixtures.

T5:
6 x 80w (overdriven to 100w w/ Icecap 660s)

Halides/T5:
2 x 150w DE HQI
3 x 80w (overdriven to 100w w/ Icecap 660)

Halides:
2 x 250w with good reflectors.

Im asking about only 2 halide fixtures because my canopy has a brace right in the center. Could 2 good reflectors cover the majority of a 6 ft tank? Edge falloff would not be a problem?

Does anyone have experience lighting SPS in a 30"+ tank with t5's?

Thanks for any input.

george1098 · 08/13/2008, 12:18 PM

a tank that deep should probably be lit by 3 400 watt halides if sps is the goal. You could do well with the two 250 watt halides and only put sps closer to the surface directly under the light. If you used your icecap 660 for supplimentary lighting than you would be in good shape. the 150 watt fixtures wouldn't do much good in my oppinion.

jthomps123 · 08/13/2008, 04:29 PM

In a mixed reef with lps/softies towards the bottom and sps towards the top 250 watters would surely suffice no?

george1098 · 08/14/2008, 06:43 AM

Yes you could deffinately pull 250 watts if you get good reflectors and you're carefull where you put your corals that need allot of light. You could go with two, but three would be better. keep in mind you would have a dark spot in the middle as metal halides only light an area about 24 to 30 inches squared... depending on the reflector of course.

happyclam · 08/14/2008, 06:57 AM

I think as long as you keep your SPS in the upper half, and that you watch them to make sure they get enough light you should be fine. I have a 6' tank (24"tall though), and I plan on using 2 250w 12K ReefLux bulbs in Lumen Bright reflectors. I know that certain parts of my aquarium won't be well lit, but thats OK. I designed my aquascaping into 2 islands underneath the MHs, with a bridge that connects them. I plan on keeping SPS on the islands as there will be direct light, but keeping softies & LPS on the bridge where light is more diffuse. So you see, you don't need 3 MHs even if your tank is 6', you just have to be carefull with your aquascaping and make sure you "accent" the coral growing areas with MH. My $.02 anyway, although my therorie might be flawed. Good Luck!

08/13/2008, 11:07 AM	#1
jthomps123 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: East NC Posts: 249	Lighting Advice for a 31" tank To light a 6ft long by 31" high tank would the following lighting options be feasible to keep SPS in the upper half? Heres some options i've come up with that might keep me within budget. I current own an Icecap 660 and 2 150w HQI fixtures. T5: 6 x 80w (overdriven to 100w w/ Icecap 660s) Halides/T5: 2 x 150w DE HQI 3 x 80w (overdriven to 100w w/ Icecap 660) Halides: 2 x 250w with good reflectors. Im asking about only 2 halide fixtures because my canopy has a brace right in the center. Could 2 good reflectors cover the majority of a 6 ft tank? Edge falloff would not be a problem? Does anyone have experience lighting SPS in a 30"+ tank with t5's? Thanks for any input.

08/13/2008, 12:18 PM	#2
george1098 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Halifax NS Canada Posts: 1,336	a tank that deep should probably be lit by 3 400 watt halides if sps is the goal. You could do well with the two 250 watt halides and only put sps closer to the surface directly under the light. If you used your icecap 660 for supplimentary lighting than you would be in good shape. the 150 watt fixtures wouldn't do much good in my oppinion. __________________ I'm not as think as you stupid i am Current Tank Info: None at the moment

08/14/2008, 06:43 AM	#4
george1098 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Halifax NS Canada Posts: 1,336	Yes you could deffinately pull 250 watts if you get good reflectors and you're carefull where you put your corals that need allot of light. You could go with two, but three would be better. keep in mind you would have a dark spot in the middle as metal halides only light an area about 24 to 30 inches squared... depending on the reflector of course. __________________ I'm not as think as you stupid i am Current Tank Info: None at the moment

08/13/2008, 04:29 PM	#3
jthomps123 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: East NC Posts: 249	In a mixed reef with lps/softies towards the bottom and sps towards the top 250 watters would surely suffice no?

08/14/2008, 06:57 AM	#5
happyclam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,012	I think as long as you keep your SPS in the upper half, and that you watch them to make sure they get enough light you should be fine. I have a 6' tank (24"tall though), and I plan on using 2 250w 12K ReefLux bulbs in Lumen Bright reflectors. I know that certain parts of my aquarium won't be well lit, but thats OK. I designed my aquascaping into 2 islands underneath the MHs, with a bridge that connects them. I plan on keeping SPS on the islands as there will be direct light, but keeping softies & LPS on the bridge where light is more diffuse. So you see, you don't need 3 MHs even if your tank is 6', you just have to be carefull with your aquascaping and make sure you "accent" the coral growing areas with MH. My $.02 anyway, although my therorie might be flawed. Good Luck!