Need Lighting help for my 55 gallon cube ASAP

NOVAcane · 03/03/2011, 11:09 PM

My tank is 30(L) x 18(W) x 24(H). Can I use a 36 inch 6 bulb t5 fixture?

Someone is selling the following fixture and I love it:

36 in. AquaticLife T5 HO Light Fixture - 6 T5 HO Lamps and 4 Lunar LEDs

I have been researching like crazy and there are not many options for a 30 inch wide tank. I cant find any 30 inch 6 bulb T5 fixture.

I guess my question is: does it matters that the bulbs will be a couple of inches longer than my tank? Tank is 30, bulbs are 36 Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

NOVAcane · 03/04/2011, 08:44 AM

Bump. Anyone?

NOVAcane · 03/04/2011, 05:37 PM

Bump. New to the hobby and would love to hear opinions from some veterans

nyvp · 03/04/2011, 06:02 PM

i would just use a 24" bulb . you don't need to light corner to corner , it just wastes light/energy and there is no gain.
that said if thats the only one you have then go for it.
another option is going one MH 175/w 15k iwasaki if your growing a little bit of everything or a 250/w 20k bulb if your growing more sps. In a good reflector those option will rock the entire tank

NOVAcane · 03/05/2011, 10:31 AM

Thanks nyvp. I thought about MH but have been told that the center brace in my tank will cause problems. Is it possible to get a 4 bulb t5 and a 2 bulb t5 and attach them/time them together? I saw a 30" current nova t5 that comes in either 4 bulbs or 2. Appreciate any feedback

03/03/2011, 11:09 PM	#1
NOVAcane Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 121	Need Lighting help for my 55 gallon cube ASAP My tank is 30(L) x 18(W) x 24(H). Can I use a 36 inch 6 bulb t5 fixture? Someone is selling the following fixture and I love it: 36 in. AquaticLife T5 HO Light Fixture - 6 T5 HO Lamps and 4 Lunar LEDs I have been researching like crazy and there are not many options for a 30 inch wide tank. I cant find any 30 inch 6 bulb T5 fixture. I guess my question is: does it matters that the bulbs will be a couple of inches longer than my tank? Tank is 30, bulbs are 36 Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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03/04/2011, 08:44 AM	#2
NOVAcane Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 121	Bump. Anyone?

03/04/2011, 05:37 PM	#3
NOVAcane Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 121	Bump. New to the hobby and would love to hear opinions from some veterans

03/04/2011, 06:02 PM	#4
nyvp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hollywood Florida Posts: 3,633	i would just use a 24" bulb . you don't need to light corner to corner , it just wastes light/energy and there is no gain. that said if thats the only one you have then go for it. another option is going one MH 175/w 15k iwasaki if your growing a little bit of everything or a 250/w 20k bulb if your growing more sps. In a good reflector those option will rock the entire tank

03/05/2011, 10:31 AM	#5
NOVAcane Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 121	Thanks nyvp. I thought about MH but have been told that the center brace in my tank will cause problems. Is it possible to get a 4 bulb t5 and a 2 bulb t5 and attach them/time them together? I saw a 30" current nova t5 that comes in either 4 bulbs or 2. Appreciate any feedback