Need Help with Light Upgrade for Uncommon size Tank

lilfirefly · 04/02/2010, 02:18 PM

Hi...Have a sw tank that is a very screwy size. 30long x 12w x 24"deep.It was called a breeder tank and I used to use it many years ago for freshwater. I currently have a custom made canopy that houses a fixture that holds two T8 24" bulbs and I have a coralife 50/50 and a powerglow 19k 20wt bulb. I am doing well with mushrooms and polyps and a few softcorals and fish but want to upgrade to be able to get more color and variety. In searching the net, it is really difficult to figure out what to do and get a good price. Should I go with a T5 HO, T5 HO metal halide combo, or something else. The top of my canopy could come of for a light on a stand. Should I go with a 24 inch or a 30inch (very limited choices) Any help, anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated. I might ad that I have about 60 lbs of live rock in this tank and it is doing really well. Using a bakpak II filter/protien skimmer, heater, and surface skimmer with powerheads and another nano koralia powerhead.

nanojg · 04/02/2010, 02:32 PM

I would do 4 x 24" t5 retro's. Check out reefgeek.

How high is your canopy?

04/02/2010, 02:18 PM	#1
lilfirefly Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Upper Peninsula of Michigan Posts: 1	Need Help with Light Upgrade for Uncommon size Tank Hi...Have a sw tank that is a very screwy size. 30long x 12w x 24"deep.It was called a breeder tank and I used to use it many years ago for freshwater. I currently have a custom made canopy that houses a fixture that holds two T8 24" bulbs and I have a coralife 50/50 and a powerglow 19k 20wt bulb. I am doing well with mushrooms and polyps and a few softcorals and fish but want to upgrade to be able to get more color and variety. In searching the net, it is really difficult to figure out what to do and get a good price. Should I go with a T5 HO, T5 HO metal halide combo, or something else. The top of my canopy could come of for a light on a stand. Should I go with a 24 inch or a 30inch (very limited choices) Any help, anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated. I might ad that I have about 60 lbs of live rock in this tank and it is doing really well. Using a bakpak II filter/protien skimmer, heater, and surface skimmer with powerheads and another nano koralia powerhead.

04/02/2010, 02:32 PM	#2
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	I would do 4 x 24" t5 retro's. Check out reefgeek. How high is your canopy?