46 bow front lighting suggestions - t5 -vs- mh or other?

[MCWarhammer]

I need help deciding on lighting for my 46 bow front.

I'm moving my current reef (a 20L) to this tank and would like to get new lighting. I believe the dimensions are about 36long x 12 deep x 20high

I currently keep a frogspawn, candy cane, zoas, gsp, mushrooms and what i believe is a xenia, but after seeing a different one in a store im not so sure. ill get a pic soon for id.

I may add more mushrooms and zoas, and eventually adding SPS. I don't have any sort of hood on this tank so I can't get a retrofit kit. I'll need a full hood.

I'm considering T5 lighting, but I started reading a thread about them, and its so long and quite confusing. And I have a friend with a MH bulb on his tank, but with the black support bar, it casts a huge shadow in the middle, which defeats the purpose and looks bad.

The confusing thing with T5's is I see 4x39 watt kits with bulbs for 200 and then others for 4x39 without bulbs for 400.. I'd like to spend less, since this is only a temporary tank as I start to save up for a 72 inch tank.

Anyway, what would you recommend? Thanks a bunch!

 

[fishes2889]

I personally get where u r coming from with the whole shadowness of the MH's. I personally dont like them at times. I f u dont want any shadows go with T5, it gives of no shadows and better color in my opinion. About the fixtures you are talking about .....The tek ligths from drsfostersmith 400$$ without bulbs??? and i think you are talking about the nova extreme 36in fixture 4x39??? If u are i would go with the tek lighting if u have enough$$$ but, if u are on a budget like me i think it would be best to get the nova. i have the 48in fixture on a 55g and i am keeping sps and a clam so its got enough lighting for yoru specific needs.

 

[PPi]

Just started my 46 bow and you have to consider the fat center brace. If you go MH, go with a dual fixture, because of the stupid brace. However, I put a OUter Orbit 2 x 150W, w 4 antics and lunar, it lit my living room up like the sun was sitting on the couch. The tank looked so bright, you couln't watch tv or look at the tank. Maybe a canaopy with similair retro fit would of worked better. I have been searching around and going to order the Aquanctincs 5 T-5 fixture from
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/ca...d=573&osCsid=a16c048c95e078afde61b4398f59e19e

I will comment when I get it.

Bulb Configuration in case you would like to compare.

1-Aquaz Blue Pro 39 watt
2-Aquaz Ocean Pro 39 watt
3-Aquaz Sun Pro 39 watt
4-Aquaz Blue Pro 39 watt
5-Aquaz Ocean Pro 39 watt