90gal Corner Tank Lighting

[FLKnifemaker]

I just combined two smaller tanks into a new 90 gallon corner tank. Right now I'm using a Current USA fixture with a single 250 plus the night LED's. I realize I need more lighting but the tank is rather deep front to back, being 36 radius from the back corner to the curved front glass. In the location where the fixture is now, between the two "mounting lips" on the tank, there's not any light reaching the back of the tank.

Anyone have any experience or suggestions for ligthing a corner tank like this?? I'm figuring I need at least 2 250w mh lamps possibly setup front to back instead of side by side

If anyone has any experience with lighting a corner tank like this, I would appreciate any suggestions!

I tried searching but no luck

 

[james3370]

24" t5s in the back maybe?? or 36" down the side walls??

think i have seen both of those done before

 

[FLKnifemaker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15505488#post15505488 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by james3370
24" t5s in the back maybe?? or 36" down the side walls??

think i have seen both of those done before

The tank measures 36" down the side walls, I'd have to go with 24's if I put anything down the sides. After looking and measuring again, I'm thinking 2 250's in the front and a 24" T5 in the back. I was hoping to mount everything from the tank instead of attatching them to the top but that might not be an option. Being so deep, it's going to be hard to lift the top off with all the lighting attached

 

[sirjohn]

Here's what I did:

That's one 24" T5 in the front, followed by 4 36" T5s and finally 3 more 24" T5s. It's a tight fight, but they fit as you can see.

 

[FLKnifemaker]

Wow!! :eek2:

I guess I need to read up on T5 lighting. I've just had very good results with MH over the years growing hard and soft corals. I considered it for suplimental lighting but not main lighting. Everyone I know around here is running MH, I'd like to see larger tank, in person using T5s only.

 

[FLKnifemaker]

Yesterday at another LFS here in Lakeland, a guy showed me a corner 90, exactly the same as mine. He has the entire tank lit with LED's!! It really looked nice. He's also using T5's on all his other tanks. After some discussion with him, I'm going to supliment my current MH wiht several 24" T5's and 4-6 LED fixtures. Based on what I saw in his shop, I think that will look great and work well for my needs. I'll take some photos soon