2x250watt + 2x54watt T5 36" pendant or 24" 1x250watt 2x24watt t5 pendant for 36" long

[Kinetic]

2x250watt + 2x54watt T5 36" pendant or 24" 1x250watt 2x24watt t5 pendant for 36" long

From my other posts, you might know I'm planning on selling my display tank that I've been trying to setup, and getting one that's slightly longer.

I was planning on getting the Aquamedic T5/MH combo that's 24" long with a single 250watt HQI and 2x24watt T5 supplements for a 30" x 25" x 25" custom tank.

Now measuring the wall again, I found that it has 40" of room, so I might as well up the size to at least a 36" long tank.

Will a 1x250watt HQI 24" pendant cover the entirety of a 36" tank? Or should I opt for a 36" pendant with 2x250watt HQI?

The setup was going to be cube like, and I think I'd keep the rock formation such that it would still be the same as it would be in the 30" long tank. I might have a few islands on both sides with some lower light zoanthids. THough if I got the 36" pendant I'd probably fill it all up with SPS.

ALso, the tank will be in the living room, and I don't want too much light to scatter around. I also love the open top look, so I'd like to go with a pendant instead of canopy. I think the 36" may have too far of a spread.

Any ideas?

thanks!!

 

[ViPeR_930]

A single halide generaly only covers about two square feet. I'd go with the 2x250 watts.

 

[Kinetic]

cool! thanks for the info =)

anyone else?

 

[Ti]

def 2 X 250

 

[Elite]

How about something like this??

It's hard to pick the right MH light bulb. I'm talking about color here. If you add T5, you can change the light bulb for cheap if you don't like the color .

 

[Natterjak]

Sunlight Supply's new LumenMax 2 pendants supposedly cover 3' x 3' space.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=810830

 

[GreshamH]

And Luminarcs cover a 4x4 if the reflector is mounted high enough.

I own luminarcs and I'd go with 2 MH's over that tank. I use a single 150 on my 30" tank and it by far is not enough. It covers 2/3's only.

 

[Kinetic]

I think I'll go for the 36" pendant with the two halides. Then I can put sps everywhere, rather than just in the middle =)

thanks for the suggestions!

 

[dannieboiz]

what I also notice is, HQI doesn't cover a wider area. I always vote for better to have room for spare than having to upgrade later.

In for two!

 

[raddogz]

You may want to consider the Lumenarcs - it has pretty good coverage and you would be using only one metal halide vs. two.

It is a good option if you want the open top, if it wasn't an option (e.g. in my tank upgrade/addtion-fairy wrass) you could go the enclosed canopy.

 

[Kinetic]

luminarcs are really big! and don't look so great? maybe I can make a custom pendant for them?

hmm