6 or 8 bulb ATI Fixture?

[Patrick Cox]

I just upgraded to a 48" tank and I am going to replace my 36" light fixture with a 48" T5 only fixture. My tank footprint is 48x24 and the tank is 20" tall. I am thinking the 6 bulb fixture will be enough but before I pull the trigger I just want to be sure. Hoping to grow lots of healthy SPS. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Here is the new tank. Just getting started with it. I plan to replace the Frogspawn on the left with more SPS. I will keep the one on the right for my Clownfish.

Thanks!

 

[Hentz]

6 bulb. But if I'm not mistaken, 8 bulb is just a little more money. I'd go with 8 bulb if it's not a tight squeeze on budget. That way you can absolutely grow whatever, wherever, whenever.

 

[moatdaddy]

8, if you want less use less bulbs. if you buy 6 and want 8 later your in for a new fixture.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Thanks for the comments. Decided to go with 8 bulb fixture. I like the idea of running two actinics for dawn dusk. And then I also have extra slots if needed.

 

[reefmutt]

I would have done the same.. It's a lot of light.. You could always experiment with raising or lowering the fixture as well, depending on how the corals react.

 

[plyle02]

Thanks for the comments. Decided to go with 8 bulb fixture. I like the idea of running two actinics for dawn dusk. And then I also have extra slots if needed.

Patrick,
Wise choice, I have a similar footprint, 24" depth instead of 20". The 8 bulbs will cover this footprint perfectly. If you check out my journal, I did a lighting update yesterday, new fixture, new bulbs, and led supplementation. Like Matt said, you can always raise the fixture, but as mentioned by someone else above, you have to get a new fixture to get them extra bulbs that you may want down the road, anyway, nice choice.

 

[Chris Lakies]

Always go bigger[emoji57]

 

[Acronic]

10 bulb!

 

[btb72]

Quick question. If my hood is only 6 inches or so can I get an ati fixture for that or would it be too close to the water. And too hot?

 

[Usernam Invalid]

Quick question. If my hood is only 6 inches or so can I get an ati fixture for that or would it be too close to the water. And too hot?

It may be to close to the water and a closed hood may not have adequate cooling for the fixture causing ballast failures or shorter life span of bulbs